Searching for the perfect place to pitch your tent near Merlin? Finding a place to camp in Oregon with your tent has never been easier. Whether you're looking for a quiet, dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
Our beautiful forested land is located in Southern Oregon in the small town of Cave Junction off the 199 Redwood Highway. The land which we call home is 100 acres of beautiful protected forest. The land Cedar Bloom sits upon a mile of the Illinois River. Each June we host over 1,000 women to the land for the Annual Spirit Weavers Gathering! This is our home and we are happy to share it with you! The river is just a few min walk down to our own private beach and swimming. The camp is also just a 3 minute walk to the lands pristine swimming hole. These A-Frame Cabins are super cozy at 1000sf with an additional deck that is great for yoga or napping. The cabins include two twin size mattresses and linen bedding. This camp is a 1 minute walk to the main house, private commercial kitchen, cute compost toilet, shower house and sauna. These cabins are ideal for two people. The front part of the cabin can be closed off or opened up to the elements. Since one side of the cabin is clear you can see in a bit but can also drape something over for more privacy. The reason for the clear side to is allow for the feeling of sleeping right outside amongst nature. Cedar Bloom has available power and cell phone service. Cell phone service works great if you have AT&T or Verizon. Internet is limited but is available.We have several giant meadows with thousands of trees surrounding. We are right on the Illinois River with a mile of river frontage and 3 incredible swim spots. It's a great place to come and recharge and renew. We are surrounded by beautiful scenery in all directions! We are close to the Redwoods, The Oregon Caves and so much more. We are close to major cities such as Grants Pass, Medford, Crescent City and Ashland. MORE ABOUT CEDARBlOOM… Cedar Bloom was purchased in the spring of 2017 by Spirit Weavers Gathering as a place of peace and healing, for all walks of life. Spirit Weavers is an annual womens gathering which happens once a year each June. We host over 1,000 women in just two weeks on the land. We are located on the Illinois River just outside Cave Junction, Oregon. Our Main House was built in 1962 and retains the flavor of the 60’s with a beautiful Mid Century Modern feel. It houses a kitchen, dining hall, a living room, five bedrooms and three bathroom with a bathtub. It currently houses Agustin and Mea and their seven year old daughter Naia. Grateful to be voted#1 Staff choice for Campground on Hipcamp this year! FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE OF THE ILLINOIS VALLEY For thousands of years, the Takelma people lived in the Illinois and Rogue River valleys, what is now known as Josephine County. They lived in small bands close to the land. Interior southwest Oregon has pronounced seasons and the ancient Takelma adapted to these seasons by spending spring, summer and early fall months collecting and storing food for the winter season. Salmon was central to their food source and way of life. The salmon diet was supplemented by game, such as deer, elk, beaver, bear, antelope and bighorn sheep. Smaller mammals, such as squirrels, rabbits and gophers, might have been snared by both men and women. They gathered the root of the Camas plant, part of the asparagus family, as well as acorns from the two native species of Oaks, the Oregon white oak and California black oak. Other vegetation included manzanita berries, pine nuts, tarweed seeds, wild plums and sunflowers. The Takelma are also known to have cultivated a native tobacco plant, but otherwise relied on the fruits of the wilderness for their survival. The main utensils included horn, bone and wood-made implements and a great variety of baskets constructed generally by twining on a hazel warp. Stone was used in the making of arrowheads and pestles. The clothing and personal adornment of the Takelma was similar to the tribes of northern California. Notable characteristics include facial painting, red-headed woodpecker scalps for men and basket caps for women. The women also tattooed the skin in three stripes and men tattooed the left arm. European Settlement of the Illinois Valley began by the 1830’s, as the gold and logging industries developed. By the end of 1856, the traditional residents of the Rogue and Illinois River valleys were forcibly removed and relocated to the Siletz Reservation on the central Oregon coast. The Takelma were joined on the reservations by their neighbors, the Athapaskans and the Shasta, as well as tribes from even farther away, such as the Coos and Tillamook. It is reported that by 1906 less than ten Takelma were alive and able to speak their native language.In 1994, for the first time in over 140 years, an ancient ceremony took place to welcome home and give thanks for the returning salmon, on the Kanaka Flats of the Applegate River. People of all heritages were welcomed at the annual Salmon Gathering on the Applegate River until 2006. In 2007, the ceremony was moved to the place where it was held for thousands of years: the Tilomikh(Powerhouse Falls), on the Rogue River near Gold Hill, Oregon. Since then, the ceremony has taken place annually in its traditional location, demonstrating that the Takelma culture is alive and will continue into the future. Today, Takelma descendents continue to reside on or near the Siletz and Grand Ronde reservations. The Pilgrims brought back the Salmon Ceremony to Southern Oregon. Due to the Pilgrim’s contribution in returning the Salmon Ceremony to Jackson County, Agnis Baker-Pilgrim is known to some locals as the‘Keeper of the Sacred Salmon Ceremony. Agnes, one of the oldest grandmothers of the International Council of the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, has returned to the Rogue Valley and today her voice can be heard strong and clear, proving that the spirit and blood of her people are still with us. PLANT& ANIMAL RELATIONS We are very fortunate to be surrounded by a widely diverse population of flora and fauna. As caretakers of this sacred land, we feel a strong responsibility to honor our plant and animal allies by not only protecting them and their habitat, but also to help educate others about what lives and grows here by providing people with opportunities to experience the beauty of these plants and animals for themselves. For this reason, We are honored to host the many different groups who will gather here on this land for learning and communing with the nature that flourishes here. We feel very fortunate to be involved in this process of helping promote a sustainable and abundant future for all living things on this planet by sharing knowledge and skills from the human past that can make a sustainable lifestyle a reality for everyone everywhere. The animals here include, but are not limited to deer, foxes, coyote, raccoon, skunks, and sometimes black bear though we havent seen any yet! The birds that surround us are migratory geese, quail, wild turkeys, hawks, ospreys and eagles. The fish that call the Illinois River their home are the Salmon People, Steelhead& Trout along with their friends the otter and ducks. The Land is a no-hunting zone so the animals here are abudant and safe. The plant life here is incredibly diverse. This land is home to many native grasses, ferns, and berries, wild flowers, as well as many other edible and medicinal plants and fungi such as mugwort, self-heal, soap root, and a variety of mushrooms. The tree population is a blend of hardwoods like Manzanita, Madrone, and several kinds of Oaks along with mature Fir, Pine, Cedar trees, Alder, Maple and Apples. With special attention to management of non-native and invasive plants, Spirit Weavers is committed to maintaining a well balanced forest ecosystem with high biodiversity. TIMES Please clean up and check out of your site by 12:am on the day of your departure. You can check in by 2:pm on the day of your arrival. CLIMATE& THE ILLINOIS VALLEY Cedar Bloom holds the heart during the summer. Temps can range from 75-95 during the day and generally cools down to the 70's during the evenings. Swimming in the summer months is delicious. We have mostly pebbly beaches and a jagged rock and sand beach right where the Swimming hole is. The river is chilly until late June and it cools down again in late September. NEIGHBORS There is another campground right next door but since we have 100 acres, you never really see a soul besides us! Please use our pathways to travel property next to us, and respect the privacy and tranquility of our neighbors by not keeping late hours or playing loud music. EMERGENCIES If someone needs to reach you in an emergency, Cell phones work great on the land. If you don't get service and need to contact someone our land phones are available. SHOWER HOUSE& SAUNA We have twelve showers total. The first shower house is open showering with 4 showers and the 2nd shower house has 8 stalls. You are also welcome to use the sauna throughout your stay. COMPOST TOILET The"Honeydew Station" is our two chamber composting toilet. It looks like a tiny house and you will see it on your right as you drive in. Instructions are inside! FOOD& WATER Please bring your own food to camp. Town is close so if you need to run errands to grab food its a short drive away. All of our water is on a well and is super clean and ran through a UV light. Please keep food and garbage out of the reach and smell of animals so we don’t have animal visitors at night. GARBAGE If you pack it in, please pack it out when you leave. FIRES Depending on the time of year, cooking fires are permissible in the fire pits provided. June-Sept there can sometimes be fire bans in the county. Please NO bonfires. We have fire wood in the forest around the meadow for use for cooking fires but please bring your own wood to the land. We also have wood available for purchase in the Camp Store. PETS If you must bring your pet, please message us before hand. We ask that you clean up after your pup while here. We have doggie bags in the camp store. THE RIVER & SWIMMING HOLES We have a mile of river frontage and there is tons of space for all. Keiki Beach located down the trail from the sauna is the more shallow and flatter part of the river. This is a great spot for families and doggies! Mermaid Rock which is located down the trail to your left of the main house is our large swimming hole with deeper waters. This part of the river is clothing optional. Please be aware of the rocks down at Mermaid Rock& Dock. The rocks are tricky to walk on for both adults and especially children. Please keep your eyes on your children at all times while at the river. Feel free to bring rafts to play on. CAMP STORE If you happen to forget anything we have a camp store that is located in the main meadow. The Camp store sells everything from supplies to books and trinkets. If you text Mea she can meet you there anytime. GRATITUDE We feel honored to be stewards of this land. One of our main visions for this land is to protect its cultural and environmental heritage. We are excited to share about the native food forest we will be cultivating for the local community and beyond. We will also be placing the land into a conservation trust so no logging or future development can occur. For the many years to come, we will explore the ways can live in harmony with the natural world for the greater good of people and the plants and animals we depend on. We welcome you to Cedar Bloom! FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAND AND EVENTS HERE, PLEASE VISIT CEDAR BLOOM FARM & THE SPIRIT WEAVERS GATHERING WEBSITE OR ON INSTAGRAM @cedarbloomfarm @spiritweavers @daughterofthesun_
$60 - $95 / night
THIS FACILITY IS CLOSED TO RESERVATIONS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE Onion Mountain lookout sits atop a 12-foot tower at an elevation of 4,438 feet, offering guests expansive mountain views in southwestern Oregon. The original Onion Mountain Lookout was a raised platform, built on top of a tower in 1916. In 1924, a second lookout without a tower was built on site. The current structure was placed on site in 1952 and served as a fire lookout and Aircraft Warning Service observation station. The lookout offers a unique lodging experience in the Rouge River-Siskiyou National Forest, but visitors are required to bring a few of their own supplies to enjoy a safe and comfortable stay.
Hiking, mountain biking, stargazing and wildlife viewing are popular among guests to this lookout. On trails throughout the area, hikers will enjoy mountain views, old-growth forest canopies and natural pools for swimming. The lookout is located near the Taylor Creek/Onion Way mountain loop, a trail popular among mountain biking enthusiasts. At night, the rustic cabin becomes an astronomer's heaven as the expansive night sky is littered with a dazzling display of stars and planets.
On a clear day, Onion Mountain offers panoramic views of layered mountainous terrain and forest stretching out in all directions. Onion Mountain is named for the tiny wild onions that grow among the rocks at the summit. In early summer, the area is dotted with plumes of Bear Grass, bright yellow Snow Mountain Buckwheat and purple penstemon.
Visit Crater Lake National Park and learn about its unique natural and cultural history. Reaching depths of 1,943 feet, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and one of the 10 deepest lakes in the world. Oregon Caves National Monument is within a hour's drive.
Temporary Closure Order due to hazardous trees. These sites are located in a rustic camp. Campsites are suitable for tents and trailers. This site is home to what was once the world's tallest ponderosa pine tree--it is now the second tallest! Facilities 12 campsites with picnic tables, and fire pits Drinking water (hand pump) 3 vault toilets Garbage disposal (during open season)
Campsites are located along the Wild and Scenic Illinois River. There are 2 covered picnic sites across the road from the camping area. Facilities 4 walk-in campsites with picnic tables, and fire pits No drinking water 2 vault toilets (within walking distance from campsites) No garbage disposal - Please pack it out
Acorn Womans Lake Campground is nestled in the deep shade of a mixed-conifer forest on the banks of Acorn Womans Lake. The facility provides tent-only campsites that are reachable via foot trails. The unique, remote setting offers visitors stunning scenery and access to a multitude of recreational opportunities.
Hiking and fishing top the list of recreational opportunities at Acorn Womans Lake Campground. Two mountain lakes, a river and a handful of hiking trails are accessible from the campground. Anglers enjoy the remote location and scenic backdrop of two natural lakes, providing excellent fishing opportunities for coldwater and warmwater species. Acorn Womans Lake sustains rainbow and cutthroat trout, yellow perch, brown bullhead and black bass. The smaller Lake provides a rare fishery for 8-11" wild, native coastal cutthroat trout. A 0.25-mile hiking trail connects the lakes. Motors are not permitted on the lakes. From the campground, Acorn Womans Lake Trail is a 1-mile interpretive hike that provides visitors with many opportunities for picnicking and swimming. The 2-mile Summit Lake Trail travels through a mixed conifer forest and small water crossings.
The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is composed of two distinct geological provinces: the Cascade Range and the Siskiyou Mountains. The Cascade Range is dominated by snow-capped volcanic peaks such as 9,495 foot Mt. McLoughlin within the Sky Lakes Wilderness. The Siskiyou area embodies world-class rivers, remarkable fisheries and the most complex and treasured plant communities in the Pacific Northwest. Diverse landscapes provide habitat for a wide-range of wildlife, from spotted owls and elk to salamanders and sandhill cranes.
Please see the recreation.gov rules & regulation policies. These policies are system-wide, and not specific to each facility. We are NOT staffed to handle or manage cancellations and/or changes via telephone. Please do not call or leave any messages for these issues. Please NOTE: In Southern Oregon, we unfortunately get difficult conditions due to forest fire smoke. The USFS has the difficult decisions as to whether to temporarily close these facilities, or for them to remain open. If the facilities are closed, refunds will be honored. If the facilities remain open, the sites will be maintained, and reservations will be honored. If you have any specific questions regarding cancellations/changes or mofications to your existing reservation, it may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please email us at applegatelake@gmail.com.
$75 / night
This primitive camping area is near the historic mill site pond. This pond is stocked with rainbow trout annually by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fishing is best in the spring to early summer. There is an accessible trail and fishing platform. Facilities 4 campsites with picnic tables, and fire pits No drinking water No toilet No garbage disposal - Please pack it out
Mt. Ashland campground offers higher elevation (6,000 ft.) camping with great views and access to the nearby Pacific Crest Trail. Located along the Siskiyou Crest near the Mt. Ashland ski area, the crest is known for wildflowers, butterflies and bird watching opportunities. The campground has vault toilets, but no potable water, and no garbage service. Please "pack it out".
6 campsites with picnic tables, and fire pits No drinking water Vault toilet No garbage disposal - Please pack it out
Traveler
This little RV park is a hidden Gem tucked along the Rogue River. The campground is kept up very nicely, with beautiful trees and lush greenery around. The host is a nice older man who was very accommodating. We got he Wifi code and was able to stream our Netflix which was nice because we were rained in. The park is also close to the town with many restaurants and trails close by.
Scout
Found the location to be good. Close to Crater Lake and other outdoor nature spots. The bathrooms and showers were clean. The laundry was reasonably priced and convenient. Will stay again.
Scout
This is a crowded, run down campground. The campsites had personal items/a sofa left outside their unit. Many units had clutter and misc. stuff outside of their RV. We wouldn't advise staying here.
Ranger
Stayed in a cabin and it was beautiful. The front porch provided a fabulous view to the Chetco River.
If you fish and don't have a trailer or camper these cabins are perfect. Fire ring and table are provided as well.
Well worth the price.
Scout
Nice spot with good vibes. Staff was very friendly and helpful. There was coffee in the morning in the office which was nice. We had some privacy because we went during the off season. The nice ammeneties made it feel a bit like glamping even though we were car camping.
Guide
This was the perfect spot to spend a night. The creek behind us was beautiful and the sounds just put you right to sleep. Many spots along the road. Easy with our jeep, but I wouldn't recommend for larger trailers
Guide
The view was absolutely stunning on the first day then it turned to rainy with harsh winds and very cold the second day. Maybe I went a bit too late in the season:/ This campground is really only set up for tent campers. The place to park for vehicles is far from level. Even with camper jacks I was sleeping at an angle. If you have a van or camper I would recommend parking at one of the more level pull offs before the campground then just walking up for the view.
GuideWe stayed one night here during a trip down the Oregon coast. We have a 37' TT, it was a little tight trying to back in, our neighbor across from us was gracious enough to move his truck. The sites themselves are very spacious, with a picnic table and fire pit. The sites were surrounded by blackberry bushes which was cool.
We did not use the bathrooms, but the park and the outside of the facilities all looked clean, and they also had cabins available near the river, which was so peaceful!
Scout
Right off I-5 so if traffic noise bothers you this may not be the place for you. Lower part of D loop tends to be buffered by the hill and sites in E loop. The road for the sites in C loop is a bit small but can be managed.
This is a reservation only state park but you can make the reservations day of before getting there. A loop is now Yurts and group camping.
We were here over Labor Day weekend and although full, the campgound was quiet except for occasional traffic noise, mainly big rigs or loud groups of motorcyclist.
Scout
When I booked this, I was under the impression we'd be able to see the Ocean from the park. Don't get your hopes up. Only certain spots actually get that perk, and "premium" sites like the one I reserved are not among those that get a view. In fact, we were more than a little confused that the "premium" site we paid good money for landed us right next to the dumpsters and sewer station. Our "lawn" area between us and the nearest neighbor was a narrow patch of powdery dirt and dying weeds. From where we were, it looked like all the camper spaces on the Southeast end of the park were in the same situation. Zero shade, zero green grass, and campers wedged as closely together as the law allows.
The activity room in the lodge building was a plus. The kids had a blast playing ping-pong, arcade games, and foosball. We arrived at about ten minutes til 4pm, and the gal working the counter took every effort to communicate that to us as clearly as possible that we needed to leave by 4. If you want to have fun up there get an early start.
The showers/bathroom were nice, albeit in desperate need of ventilation.
This area of the OR coast is beautiful and there are plenty of things to see and do. It's not so touristy as the northern OR coast, and not as populated as the central OR coast. The beach is probably a 10 minute walk from most sites, which is okay unless you want to take chairs, picnic basket, etc, then you'll be driving to Ophir beach, which seemed to have its share of recreational smokers and the kind of "pilgrims" you tend to see along the 101.
My main problem with Honeybear was the price. We paid a premium price for a spot that ended up looking nothing like the photos I was looking at. There were no trees or shade, no ferns or other foliage. It was just a patch of semi-flat dirt. Walking through the park I did see a lot of far prettier spaces through the grounds where there were lots of trees, or an ocean view so I'd highly suggest you do your research before reserving a space. Avoid spaces 74 and up, unless you're fine camping in a parking lot.
Full disclosure: I did book this spot 1 month before our arrival date, so there wasn't much left at that point… that's on me. Even so, the term "premium" just feels like false advertising to me. Premium price, yes. Premium location, no.
Scout
Elk dispersed camping starts 8 miles up elk river rd. Everything past the fish hatchery is fair game. We found a great pull off that led under a bridge. Beautiful spot and no bothersome traffic
GuideThis campground is huge! We were in F loop, which is the last loop of the campground and our site was a partial hook-up site on the outside edge so we had a nice view of fields behind us. It was pretty much full sun though and the weekend (Fri-Sun) we were there it was HOT! On Friday when we arrived it was in the upper 90s with pretty high humidity. We pretty much ran our a/c non-stop. Saturday was overcast so we had a bit of a reprieve from the sun, it was still in the mid to upper 80s though. It was a nice walk to the paved trail and there were dirt trails off of that to get down to the river. Even though we had our a/c on at night, I could still hear the peaceful sound of crickets and other night time noises and I found the park to be fairly quiet even though it is right along I-5. There was a ton of space between our site and the sites on either side of us.
Scout
Site #7 has a fire ring (restrictions may apply) picnic table and excellent view of the Rogue River.
Restrooms have flush toilets and a code lock.
TravelerSite was very easy access after driving down a long back road. Quiet, clean, and pretty. No phone service.
ScoutStaying here is chill and peaceful. Abigail in the office is kind and very helpful. A bit expensive but everywhere is expensive lately (and the high sewer bill is on the city not the park).
Ranger
There was a few pullouts on the road and I wouldn’t exactly call it dispersed camping. I parked in what I think was a road for fishing access. Only positive was the river was right there
RangerWe did prior reservations, but the f loop was mostly empty. We had to book online, triggering the $8 convenience fee which is frustrating. The sites are nice, large and well spaced but pretty close to the highway from a noise standpoint. Showers are available, and flush toilets., we'll normally.... lightning took out power just as we arrived and that kills sewers to the showers too. River access is not what I had hopped for, no rocky beach to lay chairs and play with a dog. Instead there is a wonderful river path with intermittent drops down into the river. It was running very fast when we where thwre and this didn't seem a great option for getting the dog a swim. Nice bike path that goes all the way into town. Hopefully power get restored soon, it's over 100F.
Scout
Easily accessed by 2 x 4 SUV, although there were a few large potholes, easy to maneuver around.
Appeared to be 4 sites, each with a nice picnic table and fire pit. There was an onsite pit toilet and bear proof trash can. No running water and very little shade from the sun..but it is a free off the grid campground.
I’m unsure if this qualifies as dispersed camping or more of a free campground provided by the BLM.
Traveler
Perfect for a weeknight stop when on the road, bathrooms were clean enough. Quiet on a summer weeknight. Beautiful forest.
Traveler
Emigrant Lake may not be your destination if you are looking for a lot of privacy and quiet, but is a nice option to get out in nature while still being close to town. Oak Slope has some spots that can be fairly private, with nice tent camping amenities and easy access to the lakeside.
TravelerIf you are looking for a free site (during the right time of year) this is a good option. Sites are pretty private with beautiful views of Shasta. Cell service is sketchy so be prepared.
Guide
Campground directly situated on the banks of the Rogue River. Owner/host was very friendly and customer minded. Campground was almost full. Sites are guite close to each other. But a nice and guiet place to stay.
GuideI liked the area, but it seemed to be heavily trafficked. Lots of cars and vans drove by. I was also woken up in the middle of the night to someone practicing with their shotgun in the distance for a good half hour
Traveler
Steve and his wife are very nice and helpful. The campground is very well manicured and is beautiful. There are great amenities like a Rec Room, showers and bathrooms, ponds and the river.
TravelerWe camped on the slope. Nice view of the lake. Little shade, would be tough in high summer. Lake was full and our dog enjoyed chasing sticks. Camp host Connie was super. Facilities were newer and clean. There is a new bathroom up in the back of the campground that has automatic exhaust fans that are really loud and you have to wait for them to time-out. You might not notice the roar during the day, but if you’re camped nearby in the quiet hours, you will hear them. They are quite robust. Had a couple bars of ATT. For high summer I’d recommend bringing a popup and lots of ice. It’s a 10 minute drive to town or so. Nice place.
Traveler
Cute little place near the river. Perfect for bringing your boat to put in the river. Dog park for your furry friends and kids play area.
Guide
Great host, they upgraded us to a river front space. Trees and shade on most spaces. Full hook ups and Wifi. Level with gravel drive and grass.
Camping near Merlin, Oregon, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Merlin, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Merlin, OR is Cedar Bloom with a 4.5-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Merlin, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 79 tent camping locations near Merlin, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
