Dispersed camping options near Sherwood, Oregon are limited due to the area's mix of private lands and managed public parks. Most camping in this region requires reservations at established campgrounds that sit between 100-500 feet elevation. The Willamette Valley climate brings mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers, making late spring through early fall the ideal time for yurt camping near Sherwood.
What to do
Disc golf courses: accessible from Champoeg State Heritage Area Campground - The park features a disc golf course alongside historical exhibits and river access. According to one visitor, "Old little pioneer town. Has yurts and lots of hiking. Pet-friendly."
River access: fish and swim at Milo McIver State Park Campground - The park offers fishing along the Clackamas River with direct water access from many sites. "I have stayed here many times both in an RV and in tent sites... there is salmon fishing within driving distance inside of the park. There is also a 'bat' barn that is close by," notes one regular camper.
Mountain biking: 30 minutes from Estacada - The Sandy Ridge Trail System across from Mt. Hood Village Resort provides access to competitive mountain biking trails. A camper explains, "right across Hwy 26 is some of the best Mountain Biking in the country at the Sandy Ridge Trail System."
What campers like
Heated yurts: available year-round at Dairy Creek West — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park - Heated accommodations make off-season yurt camping near Sherwood comfortable even in cooler months. "We've been here 3 times, once for tent camping and twice in a yurt. The yurts are heated, and a couple of them are pet friendly, which is great for us!" reports one repeat visitor.
Private site layouts: vary between campgrounds - Sites at different parks offer different levels of privacy and space. At Silver Falls, one camper noted, "Site spacing is good with lots of privacy between camps. Bathrooms and showers are super nice and clean. Roads and campsites are paved and level."
Water features: rivers, lakes and falls - Many campgrounds near Sherwood provide water access for recreation. One camper at Oxbow remarked, "Great access to the river to keep cool in summer. Nice sandy beaches."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: plan ahead - Some parks have limited availability in winter. At Metzler Park, "No mobile reception" was noted by a recent camper, making it important to download maps and information in advance.
Noise levels: vary by location - Campgrounds closer to highways can be noisy. At Paradise Point State Park Campground, a camper advised, "Great state park with all the usual amenities... Obviously if possible, stay away from the freeway. Down at the day use area the sound was so loud it was hard to hear people talking just a few feet away."
Bug populations: vary seasonally - Some campgrounds experience seasonal insect issues. "Spring and summer can be a bug challenge so bring lots of insect repellant!" advised one camper about Champoeg State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Junior ranger programs: educational opportunities - Some parks run structured activities for children. At Promontory Park, a parent shared, "The campground did have awesome park staff who put on two great activities for kids every day... our middle son caught not only his first fish but he caught 4 in total."
Playground access: kid-friendly amenities - Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. A family at L.L. Stub Stewart noted, "We love hiking the trails and our kids love the playground and river swimming!"
Kid-friendly fishing spots: stocked ponds - Some parks maintain fishing areas specifically designed for younger anglers. At Promontory Park, "One of the biggest attractions to this park is the stocked pond called Small Fry Lake. It was developed for kids and is stocked from October to April."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: check dimensions carefully - Some parks have limited access for larger rigs. At Oxbow Regional Park, a camper noted, "Nice regional campground. Has tent and RV spots. No hookups though. Mostly shady sites with just a handful having full sun."
Hookup availability: varies by park - Check what utilities are available at each site. Mt. Hood Village Resort has "Large sites w/ great river access" and offers full hookups for RVs according to reviews.
Loop navigation: can be challenging - Some campground roads aren't designed for larger vehicles. At Paradise Point, one RVer warned, "We arrived and it was IMPOSSIBLE to get our rig in that site due to the trees. We couldn't even continue out the secondary loop because it was so narrow and had trees on the inside of turns."
