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Best Tent Camping near Malheur National Forest

211 Reviews

Tent camping options throughout the Malheur National Forest region of Oregon provide a mix of established campgrounds and backcountry opportunities. Strawberry Campground, located along a creek with trail access to Strawberry Lake, offers tent sites in a wooded setting. Several small primitive tent campgrounds like Middle Fork, Looney Spring, and Trout Farm provide additional established options for tent campers seeking designated sites.

Road conditions can present challenges for accessing some tent campsites, particularly those at higher elevations or after rain. Strawberry Campground requires navigation along approximately 6-9 miles of dirt and forest roads that become increasingly rough near the campground. A camper noted, "It's accessed from a nine or ten mile dirt road, a bit of a challenge to navigate the last mile." Many tent campgrounds feature basic amenities like vault toilets, fire rings and picnic tables, but drinking water is rarely available. Campers should come prepared with ample water supplies or water filtration equipment to use at nearby creeks.

Tent sites in this region offer notable solitude and natural experiences. The area's tent-only walk-in sites provide separation from RV camping areas and motorized recreation. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, campsites along creeks like those at Strawberry Campground provide peaceful settings with wildlife viewing opportunities. "We picked a site next to the creek in the back and it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. We even got a visit from a few deer every night around dinner time." Several campgrounds connect directly to hiking trails, including access to the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. Weather can change rapidly at higher elevations, with visitors reporting experiencing "rain, sleet, snow, and graupel all in one day" even in warmer months, making proper tent setup and rain protection essential for successful tent camping experiences.

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Best Tent Sites Near Malheur National Forest (34)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Malheur National Forest

211 Reviews of 34 Malheur National Forest Campgrounds

  • C
    May. 21, 2022

    Southwest Shore Campground

    Lovely Spring Camping

    There are picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets. No water. Lots of birds singing and wonderful views. The lake is dry, but the scenery is amazing. Very clean and the sites are spacious and well separated. I’d come back.

  • Judy T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 26, 2020

    Idlewild Campground - Malheur

    USGS campground off highway 395

    This campground is located off highway 395 in the Malheur National Forest. We camped in space 11 near the entrance after driving the loop almost back to the beginning near the single rustic vault toilet. We stayed there in late October and paid $5, ½ of the $10 camping fee. The water was shut off but the toilet was open and clean with tp. We were the only ones who stayed there that night. Several people came in during the night to use the toilets as there is another one further back, the first as you drive in.

    The sites aren’t spaced too close together and the large pines create shade. Since we were there in October, we didn’t need the shade. We couldn’t hear the highway traffic as 395 isn’t that busy but during logging operations, yes, the log trucks can be heard. There is also a large timber day use structure. There are mountain bike trails nearby. If you need supplies, Burns Safeway is a good store for a small town.

  • Judy T.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 25, 2021

    Idlewild Campground - Malheur

    USFS campground along highway 395

    This is a basic USFS campground north of Burns, Oregon off of 395. There are few campgrounds off this highway so we always camp here. The fee is $10. There are vault toilets and seasonally a camp host with firewood. Standard clean vault toilets and water during high season. Fire ring and picnic table. There are pull through sites for larger rigs. You are surrounded by large pine trees. It is a popular campground in the fall for hunters. Highway 395 is not a busy highway so the campground is quiet. We always stay here when we visit this area.

  • Heather B.
    Aug. 1, 2018

    Strawberry Campground

    Nice, quiet and secluded

    This was a great little campground for getting away from the Memorial Day crowds. Over the weekend we stayed, there were only 2 or 3 other campers as well.

    Just south of Prairie City, this was a good location to explore the surrounding Strawberry Mountain wilderness and John Day Fossil Beds. As the road turns to a forest road, it’s gets a bit adventurous, but we just kicked it into 4 wheel drive and had no trouble getting there. We picked a site next to the creek in the back and it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. 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.

    From the campground, you can take the trails to the lake, which was a fun hike. The vault toilets were clean and the Ranger came around every day to check in. The only thing I would change is the temperature. We didn’t realize it was still so chilly at the end of May and we’re thankful for our extra layers and warmer sleeping bags we packed just in case.

    Tips for camping here:

    *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 so we needed some fun stuff to do between hikes and outings.

    *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.

    *The campground was a bit dusty so bring stuff to wash up when needed.

    *Lots of wildlife in the area so make sure to keep your food and other items locked up so the critters don’t get into it.

    *Bring your own firewood, as there isn’t a camp host to buy it from.

  • K
    Aug. 16, 2021

    Dixie Campground

    Great low key spot

    We chose Dixie because it was a little closer to civilization than Yellow Pine, Wetmore & Oregon campgrounds further east on Hwy 26. There is no host, it’s at a higher elevation and it is a little off the highway. The loop is kind of on two levels so some spaces are well spaced out. Vault toilets distributed around the loop. The one we used was clean and supplied. There were only 2-3 other sites occupied and no one near us when we stayed. No reservations. We chose a site that sat a bit downhill from where our car was parked but was a really lovely spot. We didn’t mind hauling our stuff down. The wind picked up the first afternoon we were there and we actually saw a tree fall in the distance which was a little disconcerting. Just be aware of where you place your tent and the trees around you. Absolutely beautiful area with wild strawberries and blueberries and salmon berries, currants and more. Loved the peace and tranquillity of this campground but close enough to Prairie City which is where we got firewood (from Mountain View mini mart, no wood at Huffman’s Market & no wood at Austin House market at the top of the pass). We visited the little Sumpter Railroad interpretive site and Bates State Park both great for walking around with kids. Would definitely come back and do more hiking in the Blue Mountains.

  • Annell N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2020

    Union Creek Campground

    Union Creek Campground

    May 17-26, 2019 Very nice campground. Site C6 walk-up site had electric and water. Park has dump station, Restrooms had flush toilets but no hot water and no showers. Elevation 4,097. Verizon had 2 bars 4G.  Address: 17564 Sumpter Stage Highway, Baker City Oregon 97814. Hike 16 mile trail around the lake. Legally sale cannibus in Sumpter - 10 miles from the park. Enjoyed D&J Taco Shop restaurant downtown. No sales tax in Oregon.

  • James W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 11, 2024

    Millers Lane

    Nice spot on Lake Miller

    Just arrived today. I’ll update after our full stay. Come here to explore Sumpter and the mines. Dispersed but tables and fire rings. Some pull throughs. No hookups or trash service. Beautiful setting. 3 bars AT&T.

    Sites are not level. Large rigs will be fine, ours is 30’ TT

    After stay review. Had a great time. Cranes were hanging at the lake, two Bald Eagles were close by. Great location with a lot to explore.

  • K
    Jun. 25, 2018

    Burns RV Park

    Small but friendly

    Our truck broke down just outside of Burns and we ended up having our travel trailer towed to this RV park, as it was the only place we could stay for the week while waiting to get our truck repaired. We had a full hookup spot, which was super nice, but the spot itself was pretty small. This is typical of many RV parks I have been too - good amenities but small spot.

    There were some other spots in the park that were slightly larger and had picnic tables, but ours did not. We had only a tiny plastic table with 2 chairs, but we were so close to the RV next to us that we were basically either looking in their window or we would have to be right next to the "road'. Not ideal so we didn't spend much time outside.

    There was room here for all sizes of campers - from tents (I saw I guy on a bicycle who tent camped for the night) to giant motorhomes with cars towed behind. The park hosts were all extremely nice and helpful, given our circumstances. They also gave us a military discount since my husband is a veteran.

    Restrooms and showers were fairly small (only 2 toilets and 2 showers in each bathroom) but I think most folks used the facilities in their RVs. The shop/office sells propane and ice, so we were able to restock on both (plus they have wine and ice cream if you need a little splurge).

    The park is right off of the highway so you may get some truck/traffic noise but it didn't seem to bother us city folks too much. :)

    Wifi was fairly decent and you can get some local channels in the TV, if those things are important to you.

    Dog and kid friendly, but there is really not much for either to do here.

    Overall, this suited our purpose, in that we had a nice safe place to stay while our truck was repaired, but I'm not sure I would stay here just for kicks. Close to the Malheur Wildlife Refuge and a great stopover if you need a night to rest while driving through the high desert of Oregon.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 27, 2023

    Blue Mtn Sno Park

    Good sno park camping

    Free camping in sno park parking lot in Malheur National Forest between May and October. Huge parking lot, accessible for any giant RV. Lot is flat enough, not totally flat but good enough for the night. 

    There’s an accessible pit toilet here but it was locked when we stayed here in July. 

    We had the whole lot to ourselves for the night. Very peaceful and quiet, very minimal traffic and road noise. Nice forest roads to walk along. Lots of green grass and trees when we came in July. 

    No amenities here at all, please pack out your waste and keep it clean. Zero cell reception here in this entire area with Verizon or ATT but the lot is in a big clearing with no trees around so I’m guessing starlink would work well here.

Guide to Malheur National Forest

Tent camping near Malheur National Forest provides opportunities in small, secluded campgrounds nestled between 4,000-7,000 feet elevation. The region experiences significant temperature variations with summer nights dropping into the 40s even when daytime temperatures exceed 80 degrees. Many campgrounds connect directly to wilderness trail systems for extended backpacking opportunities.

What to do

Hiking to alpine lakes: From Strawberry Campground, access trails leading to Strawberry Lake and beyond. "There was a beautiful creek running through the campsite and great large pine trees. Clean bathrooms," notes Joel M. The campground serves as a gateway to multiple wilderness trails.

Fishing opportunities: Trout Farm offers sites surrounding a small pond with additional fishing access to the John Day River. Kate W. reports: "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."

Wildlife observation: Multiple campgrounds provide wildlife viewing opportunities. Chris B. at Strawberry Campground notes the area offers "Trails to explore, wildlife to see." The diverse forest ecosystem supports deer, elk, and numerous bird species throughout the camping season.

What campers like

Creek-side camping: Several campsites position directly alongside flowing water. At Elk Creek Campground, Erico found: "On the plus side, our site was adjoining Elk Creek." The sound of flowing water provides natural white noise for sleeping.

Temperature relief: Higher elevation campgrounds offer escape from summer valley heat. Chris B. explains that Strawberry Campground "Dropped 20 degrees from the hot valley floor. Around 8 spots, first come, but a few other spots on the way up, for dispersed."

Local knowledge sharing: At Looney Spring Campground, Allison W. discovered: "Almost everyone else there was local to the region and it was a lucky thing for me, because they were quite friendly and generous with their knowledge." Campgrounds often serve as information exchanges for trail conditions and area insights.

What you should know

Unpredictable weather patterns: Mountain camping requires preparation for rapid weather changes regardless of season. Andrew S. reports from Strawberry Campground: "We got caught in rain, sleet, snow, and graupel all in one day but that's hardly the campground's fault."

Road accessibility challenges: Many campsites require navigation of rough forest roads. One camper at Middle Fork Campground notes it's a "Nice little campground right on the Middle Fork John Day River. Fairly close to the highway, so there's some road noise, but this highway doesn't have much traffic."

Water filtration necessity: Potable water remains scarce at most campgrounds. Kate W. at Trout Farm Campground notes: "no portable water but next to the John day river, and clear to filter." Campers should bring sufficient water or reliable filtration systems.

Map verification: Campground locations can be difficult to locate. Mia warns about Elk Creek: "Spent an hour driving to this spot, the pin took us through private properties and even after trekking through some rough roads it stopped us at a closed road."

Tips for camping with families

Pack entertainment: Limited facilities require bringing activities for children. Heather B. at Strawberry Campground advises: "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."

Safety considerations: Creek access requires supervision. "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," notes Heather B. about Strawberry Campground.

Wildlife education opportunities: Campgrounds provide chances to teach children about nature. Jennifer A. recommends: "My friend and I snagged a beautiful FCFS site here on out way out towards Tillamook and a coastal hike. We were quite please with the scenery."

Tips from RVers

Site selection strategies: At Elk Creek Campground, Lee A. advises checking campground status before arrival: "Dropped in to check out the site. Was listed as closed (due to covid) there's discrepancies with what is open/closed."

Walk-in requirements: Some campgrounds require carrying gear from parking areas to campsites. Erico found at Elk Creek: "It was a long way from our vehicle lugging our gear to the campsite." RVs requiring hook-ups should avoid most forest campgrounds as services are limited.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find tent camping spots in Malheur National Forest?

Malheur National Forest offers numerous tent camping options. Strawberry Campground provides secluded sites with good separation between campers and access to hiking trails in the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. Oregon Mine Campground offers simple sites in a remote setting with nearby hiking opportunities and wild horses in the area. For water proximity, consider dispersed camping at Social Security Point Trailhead which has four sites along a road leading to a water access point. The forest also features several other campgrounds with varying amenities and accessibility.

When is the best time of year for tent camping in Malheur National Forest?

Late spring through early fall (June to September) offers the most reliable weather for tent camping in Malheur National Forest. Looney Spring Campground is popular with locals during summer months when conditions are favorable. Billy Fields Forest Camp experiences mosquito activity near its stream during warmer months. Be prepared for variable mountain weather year-round - campers at Strawberry Campground have reported snow, sleet and rain even during traditional camping seasons. Higher elevation areas may not be accessible until late spring due to snowpack, while lower elevation sites can be visited earlier. Memorial Day through Labor Day represents the peak season when most facilities are open and maintained.

What are the camping regulations for Malheur National Forest?

Malheur National Forest follows standard US Forest Service regulations. Most developed campgrounds like Middle Fork Campground and Elk Creek Campground operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Pack-in sites are common at some locations. Campfires are permitted in designated rings but may be restricted during high fire danger periods. At dispersed sites, practice Leave No Trace ethics and use existing fire rings. Most campgrounds have vault toilets but limited or no potable water - water from streams and creeks should be filtered or treated. Some areas require self-issued wilderness permits for backcountry camping. Check with the Forest Service office for current regulations and seasonal closures.

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