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Best Dispersed Camping near Lyons, OR

31 Reviews

Quartzville Recreation Corridor offers free roadside camping along 12 miles of stream access past mile marker 17.2. Dispersed sites typically include fire rings only, though August fire restrictions are common. This National Wild and Scenic River area requires self-sufficient camping with no facilities, trash service, or cell reception beyond mile marker 12. Recent visitors report mixed conditions, with some noting that "people suck! So much trash thrown off the sides at each camp spot" while others indicate "a lot of the trash has been cleaned up." As of 2023, some locations may have changed status, with one reviewer noting "they removed all the fire rings and there are no camping signs in all the spots."

Additional dispersed camping can be found along Breitenbush River and Blue River Reservoir, which features pull-outs suitable for tent and car camping. The Blue River sites provide scenic water access ideal for swimming and fishing, though steep rocky drops limit river access in some areas. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "sites were secluded and quiet" with opportunities to camp near creeks. Several locations in this region, including Alder Flat, have been impacted by recent forest fires, with some areas described as "unrecognizable" following 2021 burns.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Lyons, Oregon (19)

    1. Quartzville Recreation Corridor

    6 Reviews
    Cascadia, OR
    18 miles
    Website

    "Such as August most times there are NO Camp Fires! Be prepare for fire danger, have axe, shovel and 5-gal of water, you will be the first to stop it and report it."

    "I love the dispersed camping. The sites are open, so good for solar, but do get windy. I have camped at the quarry a few times with my friends that have a camp trailer."

    2. Quartzville Road Dispersed Campsite

    Be the first to review!
    Cascadia, OR
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 897-2406

    3. Britenbush River Dispersed2

    1 Review
    Detroit, OR
    27 miles

    4. Britenbush River Dispersed

    1 Review
    Detroit, OR
    27 miles

    5. Alder Flat

    4 Reviews
    Mt. Hood National Forest, OR
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 630-8700

    "This gorgeous trail and dispersed camp is so unrecognizable from the 2021 fires that there is no turn off. May we remember it’s memories!"

    "Dispersal camping all year."

    6. Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping

    12 Reviews
    Blue River, OR
    45 miles

    "The coordinates take you to right by the reservoir with one or two spots but if you keep going down the road into the National Forest/Recreation area, (not in towards the reservoir— that road is rough,"

    "The marker on the map is where the information kiosk is. If you follow the road to the right of the reservoir there are some developed campsites/boat launches with a fee (and composting toilets)."

    7. Beautiful Spot NF 4630 by the River

    1 Review
    Welches, OR
    38 miles

    8. Round Lake Campground

    1 Review
    Detroit, OR
    32 miles

    9. Timothy Lake Dispersed Camping

    2 Reviews
    Government Camp, OR
    45 miles

    "Lots of open camping spots that you can drive into without even leaving asphalt. Short distance from Timothy lake. There are established fire rings and some debris from other campers."

    "Great spot on the lake with space for 2 smallish tents. Quiet, low mosquitos (early June) and a fire pit. What more could you ask for?"

    10. Whiskey Jack Dispersed Campsite

    3 Reviews
    Camp Sherman, OR
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 549-7700

    "We were looking for a dispersed camping site on Forest Service land outside of cell range so we used The Dyrt PRO maps to help us find this spot."

    "Nice little spot just off the road, there appears to be a very narrow double track road that goes a little deeper in, but driving back there would have come at the cost of the landscape and the paint on"

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Lyons, OR

25 Photos of 19 Lyons Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Lyons, OR

31 Reviews of 19 Lyons Campgrounds

  • Mark F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2022

    Whiskey Jack Dispersed Campsite

    Beautiful site at base of Cascade mountains

    We were looking for a dispersed camping site on Forest Service land outside of cell range so we used The Dyrt PRO maps to help us find this spot. It is just off of paved roads on a smooth gravel road that our RV easily handled - it is a pull off from Whiskey Jack road and has room for 1 RV or several tents on flat land with some soft ground cover from grass and pine needles. There are no services so this is dry camping and you’ll need to be self sufficient. There is a fire pit circle but with recent fires we wouldn’t use it and it may be prohibited. I am sure this road could be snowed in in winter months but was dry and clear in June. We picked the spot with fewer trees as we were testing out a Starlink satellite dish on our RV to see if we could get internet access deep in the woods. Lots of ponderosa pines, manzanita bushes, and chirping birds in warm weather days and cool nights. There is some traffic passing the site during the day but there is a road that a 4 wheel drive could travel if you wanted to get away from the road for some extra privacy and quiet. Overall a classic Oregon Cascades mountain meadow location that is only 10-15 minutes off highway 20 and makes you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere to rest and rejuvenate!

  • Mark F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2021

    Historic Clackamas Ranger Station - Dispersed Camping - Roadside

    Convenient, free roadside site near trails, lakes, & meadow in Mt Hood NF

    I was running in an ultramarathon race in September in the Mt Hood National Forest and all of the local campgrounds managed by PGE around Timothy Lake were closed due to the end of the season.  I was able to use map layers in The Dyrt PRO to identify where I was within National Forest boundaries and was able to confirm with local officials that I was in a free, dispersed camping zone. So, using the map layers and the search function on The Dyrt I looked for an area near the race start at the Historic Clackamas Ranger Station to park my RV for a 2 night off-grid stay.  The location was a wide gravel area on the side of the road that allowed for enough space to park, put out my awning, set up some chairs and a propane fire pit (no live campfires - propane only) while being within a few hundred yards of the Ranger Station.  There was room to walk along the road on the shoulder and you are very close walk to the Historic Clackamas Ranger Cabin with a beautiful meadow view, the Joe Graham Horse Camp, and just a couple of mile drive from Timothy Lake.  Clackamas Lake Campground was nearby as well with many accessible miles of hikable trails, including access to the Pacific Crest Trail, for hikers of all levels. There was some smoke from local wildfires but that went away as the fall rains arrived that weekend.  If you are looking for a place to park your RV near all of these amazing views and experiences this free, dispersed camping site worked great for me and my family for a couple of nights.

  • Hannah M.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 19, 2019

    Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping

    Free camping beside the reservoir

    Free dispersed roadside camping beside the reservoir. There’s some nice sites off blue river reservoir road and across the dam. Nice lake and a vault toilet with a dumpster in the day use section. Nice basic free spot!

  • L
    Dec. 31, 2018

    Quartzville Recreation Corridor

    Rugged boondocking

    Beautiful recitation area... Mostly roadside limited facilities and or services but beautiful area.. large mountain lake tucked into beautiful mountain valleys ...windy narrow road a couple state campgrounds and day use areas... limited places to turn around... But well worth the adventure!

  • lauren C.
    Jun. 20, 2021

    Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping

    Magic River, Magic Forest

    The coordinates take you to right by the reservoir with one or two spots but if you keep going down the road into the National Forest/Recreation area, (not in towards the reservoir— that road is rough,) there are plenty of spots off the road to camp at. We found a spot to put our tent (right off the road) but still a safe distance away from it and was able to watch and hear this clear blue river while we fell asleep.

  • Michelle H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 13, 2025

    Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping

    Dispersed camp sites in NF

    The marker on the map is where the information kiosk is. If you follow the road to the right of the reservoir there are some developed campsites/boat launches with a fee (and composting toilets). Keep driving. This area is freshly burned, but there are still very treed dispersed sites past the more developed ones. Pass the sign for Mona campground but before the bridge and signs that warn about falling rocks. On the left side there are five dispersed sites along the river. There is a small marker "180" at the entry to the turnoff. Beautiful and quiet. Minimal trash that we cleaned up, steep routes to the river. We were there early March, no snow.

  • Cindy U.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2018

    Quartzville Recreation Corridor

    National Wild and Scenic River

    Bring it in Pack it out, be kind to others and take your trash. Nobody should pick up after messy campers who can camp FREE. Only thing you get is a Fire Ring and that shows where you can camp. But always follow the guide for the area about campfires. Such as August most times there are NO Camp Fires! Be prepare for fire danger, have axe, shovel and 5-gal of water, you will be the first to stop it and report it. No phone cell service about mile marker 12 can get a little signal. If you like to ruff it this is perfect area. Lots of forest roads to explore, and great hunting area too. A little bit of luck head to the stream and find some gold. BLM.gov Quartzville Recreation Corridor for more literature. Location is along the Quartzille Rd, pass mile marker 17.2 , for the next 12 miles feel free to camp along the stream.

  • Caroline E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 20, 2022

    Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping

    Peaceful camping

    Sites were secluded and quiet. I found a site nearby the creek so that I could hear the stream all night. It was so peaceful! There are a couple forks in the road but I kept right through the first two until I made it to a gravel road with pull-outs. Nice areas for tent or car camping. Only one other group out there

  • Salem R.
    Jul. 22, 2022

    Alder Flat

    Sadly Burned Down

    This gorgeous trail and dispersed camp is so unrecognizable from the 2021 fires that there is no turn off. May we remember it’s memories!

Guide to Lyons

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Lyons, Oregon, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, this area is perfect for those seeking adventure and tranquility.

Dispersed campers should check out Quartzville Recreation Corridor

  • The Quartzville Recreation Corridor offers a stunning backdrop for camping, with multiple pull-out areas that are great for small groups and fishing enthusiasts.
  • Many campers appreciate the open sites that allow for solar setups, although be prepared for windy conditions at times.
  • This area is known for its beautiful scenery and opportunities for exploring forest roads, making it a favorite among those who enjoy rugged outdoor experiences.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Lyons, Oregon

  • When visiting the Britenbush River Dispersed, be aware that there are no facilities, so come prepared with all necessary supplies, including water and waste disposal options.
  • It's essential to practice Leave No Trace principles, especially in popular spots like the Whiskey Jack Dispersed Campsite, where maintaining cleanliness helps preserve the natural beauty for future visitors.
  • If you're looking for a quieter experience, consider the Mini Enclave Dispersed, which is located off a less-traveled road, providing a peaceful escape surrounded by trees.

Scenic spots for dispersed camping adventures

  • The Alder Flat area is known for its lush greenery and proximity to hiking trails, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy outdoor activities.
  • For a unique experience, check out the Round Lake Camp, which offers a picturesque setting, although access may be challenging due to fallen trees.
  • The Historic Clackamas Ranger Station - Dispersed Camping provides a convenient location near trails and lakes, perfect for those looking to explore the Mt. Hood National Forest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Lyons Reservoir dispersed camping areas?

Dispersed camping areas around Lyons Reservoir are typically primitive with minimal amenities. At Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping, you'll find basic facilities like fire rings marking designated camping spots. The nearby developed areas have composting toilets and a dumpster in the day-use section. Similarly, at Quartzville Recreation Corridor, amenities are limited to fire rings. Remember that dispersed camping follows a 'pack it in, pack it out' principle, so bring your own water, toilet supplies, and trash bags.

Where are the Whiskey Jack dispersed campsites near Lyons?

Whiskey Jack Dispersed Campsite is located just off paved roads on a smooth gravel road. It's a pull-off from Whiskey Jack Road with enough space for one RV or several tents. The site is situated on Forest Service land outside of cell range, making it ideal for those seeking a more remote experience while still being accessible. The gravel road is well-maintained and easily navigable for RVs.

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Lyons, OR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Lyons, OR is Quartzville Recreation Corridor with a 3.2-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Lyons, OR?

TheDyrt.com has all 19 dispersed camping locations near Lyons, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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