Best Dispersed Camping near Marcola, OR

Mosquitos are a bit much at dusk so ensure to bring spray. Dispersed camping outside improved areas are the best bet on weekends as this site seems to be very popular. Once outside improved areas, seclusion is easy to obtain. Water access is limited once off the paved road due to steep rocky drops. 

Overall, this site is beautiful! The water is crystal clear and is ideal for swimming, fishing, kayaking as well as boating.

I have camped here numerous times over the years. 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. I have also camped in the pull outs.

My friends have found chanterelles in the woods, and fishing (last time I was there) has been great. It is great for fly fishing and for plunk and wait fishing.

It is dispersed so only a few areas have bathrooms, and not being a regular campground some neighbors can get rather rowdy. But, overall it is a definite favorite.

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.

Camped at the second site just after the paved road ends. Plenty of space. Great view of the reservoir and a nice big fire pit made of rocks was waiting. Plenty of dead branches and twigs on the ground nearby made fire starting easy. Had a few cars pass by through the evening but otherwise, this site was nice and quiet. About 100 yards towards the paved road theres a nice little waterfall coming down the hillside with lots of frogs and salamanders hangin out in the runoff water. Overall, really enjoyed this camping spot.

So much trash thrown off the sides at each camp spot. Why would anyone do that to such a beautiful place?? I don't get it.

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!

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.

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

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.

The only downside to this spot is that it's hard to get there before someone else. It's very popular, & for a reason. It's right by the water, fire pit, has a vault toilet down the road, & its great swimming. Weekends are a bit busier, but during the week not terribly so. Bugs are typical, but that doesn't bother us so much. Make sure to bring spray and you'll be fine. Closest Market we found me was in Vida, about 18 miles away off of 126 going West. Brought kids to this spot & they had a blast catching salamanders & scorpions (small non-lethal kind) Also, if you're going to camp here, make sure to pack up and take your trash out. People before us left dirty diapers in the fire pit. There's a dumpster next to the vault toilet. Please use it. Overall, wonderful place!

We went looking for the other campgrounds on this road that we’re closed so we were disappointed. We didn’t leave our van due to rain but we had a nice little pullover. No fires allowed due to recent fires on the area

Closed due to fire damage

I didn't want to destroy the rating, but currently closed as of August 14th

I read some of the reviews when deciding to go there or not. I am so glad that I decided to go ahead and go instead of listening to the reviews. I had no issues with Tweakers wasn't harassed by anybody or anything like that. All the people we ran into very nice very courteous and we ended up camping just up the creek a little bit and it just the first sight. The area is beautiful lots of privacy and the fishing was pretty decent caught three largemouth bass.

We have a 38 foot rv. We got stuck in a ditch. Rv almost tipped over trying to u turn… if you go down the main lower path you will find a area big enough to u turn! Dont do it until then! Other wise a wonderful time. So many many many bugs though at the area we stayed ar

Great 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.