Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Mapleton, OR is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Mapleton is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Discover great camping spots near Mapleton, reviewed by campers like you.
"Nice pull off dispersed place to camp. Some sketchy people around but availability to get away from people up the road"
"Good camp location, easy to find. Paved most of the way up."
"There are only a few flat spots for RVs but quite a few decent spots for tent camping next to the pond. The west side of the pond has at least 2 spots that are a good distance away from the others."
"Nice pond to camp near, several campsites to choose from and trails to explore"
"I drove back in a few miles and camped along the road, in some old growth forest. It was dark, and I mean truly dark in there when you shut off your lights off, and silent as a tomb."
"Excellent spot up 2 steep inclines. Some of the most beautiful views. Good fire ring. Do not attempt if wet."
"My visit near Fawn Creek Campground in Oregon was a refreshing experience, surrounded by dense forests and rolling hills."
"It was awesome to car camp here. I only saw two others- one camper van going further in the forest where there were several other spots."
"There is almost nowhere to stay in the Newport/Oregon Coast areas, so this spot was a life saver! After you hit the dirt road, there are a few good but smaller pull off spots and a few bigger ones."
"The marked coordinates are a little overgrown, but there's a good tent spot a couple hundred feet beforehand. Pretty chilly evening, but it was definitely secluded and peaceful"
"Needed a last minute to car camp that was close to the coast, found these dispersed sites online and figured it try it out."
"Nice and close to Bandon. No trouble accessing in our midsize suv. It was muddy at the site, and unfortunately, those before us left a lot of trash. Did my best to clean up when was left behind."
TravelerOur weekend at Hult Pond was unforgettable. I know because I have tried.
Disbursed camp sights sprawl along this man made log pond and nightmarish horror movie set along a footpath seamingly designed to dump its evening travelers into the muck that is Hult Pond. Jagged old logs poke out of the stagnant water as a reminder that someone used to get paid to spend the day here.
If this doesn’t sound like the most picturesque of settings I would direct you to the strange log loading equipment rusting just on the forbidden side of a gated barbed wire fence. Upon closer inspection you see what must be tetanus’s way of luring barefoot boys and girls into a summer of drooling lockjaw.
The access road is a still functioning rock quarry road that hosts a never ending parade of old rattling dump trucks and loaders. Nothing says ,”getting away from the hustle and bustle” quite like a convoy barrelling down a narrow road spilling basketball sized boulders before returning bouncing back up empty and clearly attempting to meet a quota.
The whole thing gave me an uneasy sense of nostalgia. Reminding me of the days we would gather by the dozens with red solo cups full of Hams. We would drink ourselves into a vomiting delirium in a parking lot off some old logging road. We would wake up with profanities drawn on our faces as punishment for succumbing to alcohol poisoning sooner than at least one of our classmates.
In fact I believe that’s exactly what the 58 kids in the campsite right next to ours we’re doing each night of our trip.
The girls learned all sorts of colorful language and I believed, based on the way my ten year old son was drooling that the tetanus had succeeded. I was not relieved to discover on our final morning, him wreaking of cheap beer and cigarettes and moaning how horrible he felt while proffering his undying love to a high school girl named Tiffany.
Not recommended.
ScoutNeeded a last minute to car camp that was close to the coast, found these dispersed sites online and figured it try it out. There was surprisingly multiple spots that I had cell service (AT&T) so I was able to navigate myself around through a satellite map. Lots of nice spots with good views, just takes a bit of driving around to find the perfect one. Didn’t see anyone up there and I was there from Tuesday to Wednesday. Hope to return at some point! Just beware some of the side roads are a bit overgrown and can scratch up your car.
ScoutWe stayed for a night on our way down the coast. Nice and close to Bandon. No trouble accessing in our midsize suv. It was muddy at the site, and unfortunately, those before us left a lot of trash. Did my best to clean up when was left behind. There was a fire pit but we did not use it due to fire restrictions. Nice misty views over the trees in the morning.
ScoutThe Elliott State Forest has more than 550 miles of roads and trails, but only a primary network has been maintained over the past 10 years since the 90,000 acre area was shut down with environmental lawsuits. Many of these roads lead to excellent camping sites, including old lookouts, fishing holes, secluded springs, and an undeveloped campground favored by local mudrunners. Met organization has worked with the local Community College the past seven years regarding recreational research on the Elliott, with our most recent (and likely final) focus being on historic trails and primitive campsites. The pandemic caused much of this work to be documented on student-level videos, indexed on YouTube: http://www.orww.org/Elliott\_Forest/Recreation/index.html and https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1JyKCHg2GmHjLtQzXXDks4Rb-LE9HoJ-
LegendDispersed camping is allowed in all state forests within Oregon. https://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Recreation/pages/Camp.aspx
We found an awesome spot along Marlow Creek Road, about 4 miles into the forest (coming in from Allegeny). There are plenty of pull outs all along the way, with room for 2-3 cars, as well as full tents and chairs set up. The road follows a babbling creek which was amazing to sleep next to. There are no amenities, follow any postings about campfire restrictions. (When we went- no fires were allowed). This is a logging forest, so we had huge logging trucks roll by in the morning - because of this, it may not be the best spot for kids or off leashed dogs. The trucks went by very quickly, stirring up a lot of dust- keep your car windows shut and use a pot while cooking breakfast! We had very few mosquitos or bugs, and loved being encompassed by the mossy trees!
Ranger Review of the Matador Freerain 24 L Backpack
https://matadorup.com/products/matador-freerain24-backpack?variant=47744934037
As a Ranger, I occasionally get the chance to test out gear in the field. I was really excited about trying out this pack, as I do a lot of canyoneering, and dealing with waterproof bags inside of soggy backpacks is always a hassle. Or you have to figure out a way to secure a typical waterproof bag to you. The bag is made of a lightweight rainjacket-like material, and has a roll top to it’s main compartment. I took the bag on a 3 mile hike to some waterfalls, where I could test out it’s waterproofness. At home, I went to a nearby lake to try submerging it.
Pros
This bag was extremely light, small and pack-able! You have no reason NOT to bring it with you if you may be heading somewhere wet. It folds into a small drawstring about the size of a baseball.
This bag has separate storage compartments whereas most drybags are a long tube where everything falls to the bottom. Within this bag, you have 2 water bottle holders (where I tossed things like keys), a easy access zip pocket on the front, as well as the small drawstring that the bag itself can be stored in (I put my packs of gummies in here for safe keeping).
Cons
The bag does not have a chest strap, so there was the potential for the backpack to slip off if you were doing strenuous activity, it also didn’t sit perfectly comfortable because of this. It does however, have adjustable shoulder straps (which I didn’t see as necessary).
I was nervous about putting my 1 L Nalgene bottles into the water bottle pockets because of the material of the bag…with just 1, it made the bag extremely lopsided, or with 2, it seemed to put a lot of stress on the bag itself. I tossed my water inside the bag instead, which made it pretty lumpy since the packable bag doesn’t have structure.
The front pocket is as advertised, water resistant, but definitely did not pass the waterproof test when I submerged the bag. It’s OK for waterfall mist or a light rain, but I wouldn’t keep my phone in there if we were getting dunked!
Conclusion!
If this bag had the chest strap, I’d be in 100% for using it for canyoneering adventures, however- since it doesn’t seem made for more rugged situations, I’m not sure why you would need such a waterproof bag. Most daypacks nowadays come with a raincover, or are made of a water resistant material to keep your goodies from getting soaked - unless you are planning a very casual dayhike where you are literally walking under waterfalls, I would most likely invest in a different daypack solution..
TravelerGreat spot for a quick stay. There are only a few flat spots for RVs but quite a few decent spots for tent camping next to the pond. The west side of the pond has at least 2 spots that are a good distance away from the others. At the moment, no fires or barbecues allowed but propane stoves and lanterns are fine. Look for Bandits blue squeaky disk! We lost it and never found it.
GuideNice area up a narrow forest road. When you get to the top of the road it Ts with another forest road, where there was a pull off that would fit one or two cars/vans. Turn left (where the GPS coordinates indicate) and there are three more sites, two are a few minutes down this other road. Turn right and there is one more spot. A few other very small pull offs. Very quiet, lovely views of the sky at sunset. The Beaver Creek park at the bottom of the forest road has a pit toilet and picnic tables for day use.
ScoutMy visit near Fawn Creek Campground in Oregon was a refreshing experience, surrounded by dense forests and rolling hills. The campground offers a quiet retreat with well-maintained facilities, making it a great spot for nature lovers. With temperatures ranging from 30°F in winter to 80°F in summer, it’s a beautiful destination year-round. Nearby attractions like Siuslaw National Forest and the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area provide plenty of opportunities for hiking and exploration. For families with kids, keeping them entertained is easy whether it’s exploring the outdoors or enjoying Toca Boca games, a fun and creative way for kids to play and imagine. Overall, this area is a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure, making it a great choice for a weekend getaway!
TravelerYou have to drive some winding forest service roads to get to a spot then find one on or near the road but there's a couple good camp spots.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Mapleton, Oregon, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations to choose from, you can enjoy the great outdoors while embracing the freedom of camping without designated sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find dispersed camping sites near Mapleton?
Several excellent dispersed camping options exist near Mapleton. Elliott State Forest Dispersed offers over 550 miles of roads and trails leading to numerous camping sites, including old lookouts and fishing holes. For stunning views, Forest Road 55 Pulloff provides spectacular vistas off paved and maintained gravel roads, with pulloffs perfect for car camping. Other nearby options include the Siuslaw National Forest and BLM lands near the coast, all within driving distance of Mapleton. Most sites are accessible via forest service roads, though road conditions vary seasonally and with weather.
What are the rules and regulations for dispersed camping in Mapleton?
Dispersed camping in state forests near Mapleton follows Oregon's standard regulations. At Hult Pond, seasonal fire restrictions apply – during high fire danger periods, no fires or barbecues are permitted, though propane stoves and lanterns are typically allowed. The Forest Road 51 near Beaver Creek area follows standard dispersed camping protocols. Generally, campers should practice Leave No Trace principles, pack out all trash, stay on existing sites, camp at least 200 feet from water sources, and limit stays to 14 days within a 30-day period. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip and obtain any required permits through the appropriate land management agency.
What amenities are available at dispersed camping sites in Mapleton?
Dispersed camping sites around Mapleton are primitive with minimal to no amenities. At Near Fawn Creek Campground (BLM), you'll find a quiet retreat in dense forests but will need to bring all necessities. Most sites have established fire rings, though fire restrictions may apply seasonally. Cell service varies significantly by location - some areas in Corn Spur Road BLM have no reception, while others like Elliott State Forest surprisingly offer AT&T coverage in spots. No potable water, toilets, or garbage service is available, so campers must be self-sufficient with water supplies, waste disposal systems, and pack out all trash. Some sites offer scenic views, fishing opportunities, and primitive trails for recreation.
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