Campgrounds near Malheur National Forest in Oregon range from basic dispersed sites to developed campgrounds with hookups, offering tent and RV camping across varied terrain. Several campgrounds including Strawberry, Big Creek, and Wickiup provide access to the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness and John Day River region. Most established sites accommodate both tent and RV camping, with facilities varying from primitive vault toilets to developed areas with hookups. Fawn Spring offers free dispersed camping options, while Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site provides more amenities including cabin and yurt options for those seeking alternatives to traditional camping.
The camping season generally runs from May through October, with some sites remaining accessible year-round depending on weather conditions. Many campgrounds at higher elevations experience significant temperature drops, even during summer months. Roads to remote locations like Strawberry Campground can become challenging, particularly during wet conditions or early season visits. The Forest Service roads leading to several camping areas require careful navigation and potentially high-clearance vehicles. Visitors should be prepared for variable conditions, especially at higher elevations where weather can change rapidly. "The road was slick. The ruts and holes in the road began to increase. When I was about 2 miles away from Strawberry Campground, I turned around. I just didn't trust my Mazda 3 to make it without bottoming out."
Campers consistently mention the quietness and seclusion of the area's camping options as major draws. Running water features prominently in visitor experiences, with several campgrounds situated along creeks or near the John Day River. The Strawberry Mountain Wilderness provides numerous hiking opportunities directly from several campgrounds, making them ideal base camps for exploration. Wildlife sightings are common, with several reviews mentioning deer visiting campsites during evening hours. Creek-side campsites near Malheur National Forest tend to receive the highest ratings, though accessibility can sometimes be challenging. As noted in feedback on The Dyrt, "Quiet campground Mid May. Great site to stay awhile and bike in the Strawberry Range topped with whip cream this time of year. Big Creek was swollen with run off and grouse were busy with mating calls from near by fallen logs."
$26 - $32 / night
"This is always such a great place to stop when traveling between Idaho and western Oregon. It has lots of shade, lawn, and hedges that offer privacy between the large camp sites."
"In general, Oregon State Parks are great. This is another nice one with plenty of tent and RV sites available. Bathrooms and showers on-site."
"Off the beaten path, but we'll worth it! Dropped 20 degrees from the hot valley floor. Around 8 spots, first come, but a few other spots on the way up, for dispersed."
"Nice sites with lots of separation and easy access to a trailhead. Multiple vault toilets available as well as water taps that I don’t think are potable but good enough to rinse dishes."
$8 / night
"Big Creek was swollen with run off and grouse were busy with mating calls (flapping wings) from near by fallen logs. Easy back-in sites for rv's, tables, fire pits, clean pit toilets. "
"little pond with camp sites surrounding. no portable water but next to the John day river, and clear to filter. bathrooms were really clean, sites were tidy. really nice spot"
$45 / night
"After a full day, driving, we were having trouble finding a place to stay near John Day, Oregon. All of the very few campgrounds available we’re already full."
"Stream running next to the sites. Close to town. It is next to the fairgrounds, but very quit when no events. Good place to spend the night while traveling through"
"Good little tucked away site with spring water, fire pits and lots of empty space for my truck. Make sure to stop at the sign, we went about 2-3 extra miles looking before we came back lol"
"It’s a bit of an uphill drive off 15, but it’s a pretty good gravel road. There was a fair amount of litter from what looked like a hunting group when we arrived, but we took it with us."
"Nice area close to the road. Plenty of room for my small trailer. Though it was close to the road it wasn’t very noisy. I camped in site 9 so 1/4 mile away from the road. Only issue last role of TP."
"great location. sites 1-6 are pretty close to the main road, but tidy little sites, a pit toilet. no running water."
TravelerA variety of site sizes/deapthes that all seemed to be easy to get into. Road noise near the highway could be annoying for light sleepers. Nice hiking path to a wayside to the west along the river.
GuideWe stayed here in early October, hoping the mosquitos would be gone so late in the year, but they were still out in force.
The potable water to the campground has been shut off since August 2026, with no time frame given as to when it will be turned back on.
The vault toilets are... "vintage," with the lock to the door on one of the two outhouses not working. However, the camp host is at least diligent in keeping the outhouses clean.
There are only about a dozen campsites, but there were only two other parties camping at Chukar Park the night we were there, so finding a good site was still easy. Some of the sites are situated along a bank of the north fork of the Malheur River, and the setting with the river and mature cottonwoods is exceptional - or would be without the mosquitos. We spent most of our time inside our van.
The price is certainly right: $5 / night, or $2.50 / night if you have a Natl. Parks and Federal Lands Pass. Only cash is accepted, and the sites are all first-come first-serve.
ScoutIt's 5 miles off highway 20 up a washboard gravel road. The campsites are nicely spaced with trees between most sites. It's primitive with no hook ups and pit toilets. I was there in early Oct and the water spickets were still working. The price of $5 was perfect (1/2 price for America the Beautiful pass holders). Can't beat that! No cell service.
TravelerSite #27 great view of lake. Cost $8 with senior pass. Hiked around lake great trail with awesome views. Saw 8 otters playing and swimming in lake and a couple of grouse on the trail. Only negative is gravel road in, just go slow.
GuideAccess via primitive road on east bank of river to cross small channel to island hotspring. Half dozen campsites on this road. West bank road goes miles up into BLM land popular camping for hunting
TravelerThis is a decent affordable campground with two pit toilets and only costs $8 per night. No fresh water.
There are larches/tamaracks here but unfortunately they hadn’t changed to their fall colors yet when I was there.
TravelerUnfortunately, the water here smelled like death. The camp host was super nice and pleasant and came to warn me before I filled my fresh water tank. She even offered me free firewood because of the bad water. She said that someone is testing it daily and it somehow passes. I had rinsed my hands in preparation to fill, and I could not get the smell off for hours, so I don’t know how it passed! In light of the water situation, I decided to stay at a cheaper dry camp further down the highway.
GuideCame here on a Sunday looking for a first come, first serve site. Online it showed our site open but found a reservation card on the site pedestal. The camp host stopped and called the people who had the reservation. They had left early so we were in luck! The we visited both the Historic town of Sumpter and also the Oregon Trail interpretive center. It was well worth the visit!
GuideSeveral spots are very secluded and quite nice. Little water and no garbage but a great place to camp.
Malheur National Forest campsites range in elevation from 2,800 to 4,300 feet, creating temperature variations that affect camping conditions throughout the season. The forest straddles the Blue Mountains and features three distinct mountain ranges: the Strawberry Mountains, the Aldrich Mountains, and the Malheur Range. Camping areas frequently experience afternoon thunderstorms during summer months, with temperature drops of 20-30 degrees possible between day and night.
Wildlife watching at dusk: Big Creek Campground offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. "Grouse were busy with mating calls (flapping wings) from near by fallen logs," notes one visitor who camped at Big Creek in May.
Bike forest trails: The Strawberry Mountain area provides numerous biking routes. A camper at Big Creek Campground shared that it's a "Great site to stay awhile and bike in the Strawberry Range topped with whip cream this time of year."
Wade in the John Day River: The shallow portions near Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site are popular with families. One camper mentioned "a nice walking path next to a creek that some children were playing in."
Hike to Strawberry Lake: Access wilderness trails directly from camping areas. A visitor at Strawberry Campground reported: "From the campground, you can take the trails to the lake, which was a fun hike."
Creekside camping spots: Many sites feature running water access. At Strawberry Campground, visitors appreciate "a beautiful creek running through the campsite and great large pine trees."
Quiet seclusion: The remote location provides peaceful camping experiences. One reviewer described Strawberry Campground as having "nice sites with lots of separation and easy access to a trailhead."
Evening wildlife visits: Regular deer sightings occur at dusk in several camping areas. A camper at Strawberry Campground noted: "We even got a visit from a few deer every night around dinner time. They kept their distance but still came within 20 feet to check us out."
Free hot showers: Some established campgrounds provide unexpected amenities. At Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site, a visitor emphasized the "Fabulous free hot showers!" and mentioned that "Sites have paved parking, tables and fire pits."
High elevation temperature fluctuations: Night temperatures drop significantly even in summer. A Starr Campground visitor warned that while camping in the region "it got very cold at night."
Road conditions vary significantly: Forest Service roads can be challenging for standard vehicles. A camper attempting to reach Strawberry Campground shared: "It's accessed from a nine or ten mile dirt road, a bit of a challenge to navigate the last mile."
Livestock encounters: Free-range cattle appear throughout the forest. At Fawn Spring Dispersed Camping, a camper reported: "Lots of cows... funniest thing ever! One woke me up when it was sniffing at the tents rain cover!"
Site availability varies seasonally: Mid-week camping offers better site selection. A reviewer at Starr Campground noted: "Stayed here on a Wednesday night and there were only a couple other campsites taken but I have a hard time believing it gets much busier on the weekends."
Pack kids' entertainment: Limited organized activities means bringing your own fun. A Strawberry Campground visitor advised: "I had my 9 year old nephew with me for this trip and was thankful I brought our bikes and games. Since the campground wasn't busy, there weren't other kiddos for him to play with."
Watch for creek drop-offs: Some sites have steep embankments. A family camping at Strawberry Campground cautioned: "There's a steep drop off next to some sites that goes right into the creek. Keep an eye on kiddos or pick a site farther away from the creek if you're worried about that."
Consider noise factors: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds. A review of Depot Park mentioned it's "off the main drag" and has a "big lawn is well watered" plus "a museum and playground" adjacent to the camping area.
Pack extra layers: Temperature variations require preparation. One camper at Strawberry Campground shared: "We didn't realize it was still so chilly at the end of May and were thankful for our extra layers and warmer sleeping bags we packed just in case."
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require extra work to set up. A visitor to Depot Park noted: "Not to hard to level, but kind of tight on some corners for my 30' motor home."
Consider staying at county parks: Alternative options provide good amenities. At Grant County RV Park, a camper found "Shaded pull through and easy back in sites. Good value. Stream running next to the sites. Close to town."
Accessibility limits large rigs: Many forest campgrounds can't accommodate big RVs. At Wickiup Campground, a visitor described it as "small and full of trees. It was very shady, quiet, and clean."
Be prepared for temperature extremes: High elevation camping means significant cooling. A camper at Fawn Spring Dispersed Camping reported: "We ended up at this spot after finding roads closed by snow farther up the hill. It got very cold at night. We were fine in our bus, but our traveling partner had his water bottle freeze in his tent."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds in Malheur National Forest?
Malheur National Forest offers several excellent camping options. Idlewild Campground - Malheur is a standout choice located off Highway 395, offering spacious sites and a vault toilet for $10 per night (half price with access passes). For those seeking a unique experience, Murderers Creek Guard Station provides cabin accommodations with propane heat and powered appliances, perfect for small groups. Other notable options include Strawberry Campground south of Prairie City, which offers a quieter experience and serves as a good base for exploring the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness area.
What amenities are available at Malheur National Forest campgrounds?
Amenities vary across Malheur National Forest campgrounds. Blue Mtn Sno Park offers free camping from May through October with an accessible pit toilet and a large, flat parking area suitable for any size RV. Union Creek Campground provides more developed facilities with electric and water hookups at some sites, flush toilets, and a dump station. Most forest campgrounds feature basic amenities like vault toilets and fire rings. Water is typically available during the summer months but is often shut off in late fall and winter. Some sites have picnic tables, while others maintain a more rustic experience.
Is camping allowed at Malheur Lake in the National Forest?
Malheur Lake is actually part of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, not Malheur National Forest, and overnight camping is not permitted within the refuge boundaries. For lakeside camping in the region, Southwest Shore Campground at Phillips Lake offers a delightful alternative with 13 non-reservable sites in a beautiful setting near Baker City and Sumpter. For those preferring developed facilities near water, Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site Campground provides spacious, shaded sites along the John Day River with clean restrooms, showers, and a riverside trail, though it can be noisy due to proximity to the road.
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