Tent campsites near Moro, Oregon range from sites with fire rings and picnic tables to primitive areas along the Deschutes River. Macks Canyon Recreation Site offers tent camping with fire rings and picnic tables, while Cloud Cap Saddle Campground provides a more remote experience on the eastern slopes of Mount Hood. Bonney Crossing Campground features seven primitive tent sites situated along Badger Creek in Mount Hood National Forest.
Most tent campgrounds in the area have basic amenities including vault toilets, but potable water is rarely available. Campers should bring their own drinking water and supplies for primitive camping. Access roads vary significantly in quality, with some requiring high-clearance vehicles. A visitor commented, "The drive up to Cloud Cap is not super peaceful but once you get there it's pretty great. The road gets a bit rough with limited places to pull over to pass oncoming vehicles." Fire restrictions are common during summer months, particularly in the drier eastern areas near the Deschutes River where campfires may be prohibited from late spring through fall.
The tent camping in this region offers exceptional solitude and natural settings. Sites along the Deschutes River provide access to fishing and rafting, while forest campgrounds connect to hiking trails. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, many tent campsites remain uncrowded even during peak season. Badger Lake Campground connects to backpacking trails described as "fairly easy to backpack on with lots of great sites to camp." Primitive tent sites at Hike-in from Lower Deschutes State Recreation Area require more effort to access but reward campers with greater privacy. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with strong winds common in canyon areas, particularly in the evening hours. Most tent sites are seasonal, typically open from May through October, with higher elevation campgrounds having shorter seasons due to snow.
"We stayed in the big open field next to it. I don’t think this is technically an “official” campsite but it has a lovely composting toilet that smells like fresh cedar."
"Bike-packing Campground Review: The lower Deschutes River from Pelton Dam to the Columbia River, goes about 100 river miles along the water and was designated an Oregon Scenic Waterway in 1970."
"We went during weather transition from rain to clear. The result, high winds in the canyon. This only lasted the one night. Fantastic weather the rest of the time. A slight bit of small trash around."
"We were so glad we kept driving down this road until the very end."
from $8 - $35 / night
"Carbon Farm is private camping on a farm a few miles outside of Dufur on the east side of Mt Hood National Forest."
from $55 / night
"Awesome spot on the river, clean spots, with fire rings and picnic tables. Spots are located all along the BLM road and are marked. Easy access to the river for fishing."
"Campground Review An open, relatively unused campground next to a sleep-calling stream right in between the last forested part of Mt."
"The campsites are all well spaced out parallel to a nice clean looking river. We stayed in the off-season, so that is probably why it was empty."
from $16 / night
"Not too far from Meadows and Parkdale ... and even not to far for an overnight or weekend away from Portland. The first come sites are just off of Forest Road 44 >> Dufur Valley Road."
"Very quiet and even has a few dispersed camp spots outside the main area. Had some deer walk right through our camp spot while we sat by the fire."
from $10 / night
"This is a fairly easy trail to backpack on with lots of great sites to camp. If you’re hiking up to the lake you might want to make it a two day trip to really enjoy it."
"The drive up the the lake is not super peaceful but once you get there it's pretty great."
from $10 / night
"There aren't any designated spots campsites, but there are a number of fire rings and it's pretty easy to segregate yourself from other campers. The site was clean and the pit toilet wasn't too bad."
"You can pretty much camp wherever you can drive to. Lots of spots right next to the river."
"Arrived around 1pm on a Saturday and there were plenty of spots to choose from."
"Our site was really private, enough for multiple tents and a hammock, and it had a big picnic table as well as a fire pit. Views of Mt."
RangerGood for a quick overnight stop. Can’t beat free! Plenty of room for bigger rigs. Dumpsters on site. Quite a few stray cats in the area. We stopped after dark and were gone before sun up. The dam is pretty cool lit up at night.
ScoutA remote campground right on the Deschutes river. Solitude.
ScoutPretty cool little campground. Multiple sites right on the river, but some might be a bit precarious for some to navigate. Facilities were clean and you can tell the camp hosts care. Recommend for an easy getaway for a couple days.
ScoutTrains keep coming through 😭. Tent sites are small.
LegendWe had a great day and one night stay here in late September. The site was right on the hood river that runs thru the campground. Many hiking trails and also an awesome campground overall. Clean restrooms. Awesome camp hosts. This is our second Time in the campground but first on the river. Will return for sure!
TravelerIt’s a little noisy from the train but I didn’t mind my Campspot A21 had a perfect view of the deschutes river. And trails nearby
LegendNice little campground, although the spaces are pretty close together and the downside is, it’s right next to the freeway and a bridge so there’s quite a bit of traffic noise. It is right on the John Day river which is very pretty. Campsites had water and electric and there is a dump station. several pull through, but the back ends were a little difficult to get into as they weren’t angled very much.
GuideWe’re the only ones here although it’s only 3:30 on a Wednesday. We have a spot right in the water, looking forward to a nice stay. It appears to be free. But we just got here. I’ll edit after we spend the night. There were a few looong trains during the night, across the river but I kinda liked them.
TravelerMy sister and I stayed here on September 2, 2026, and through all of our traveling from home in Maryland all the way to Oregon, this was our absolute favorite place to camp. It was extremely quiet, as we only saw one other person tenting here that entire night. It gets very cold very quickly and is also super windy due to being in the canyon, but that was not a problem for us. As I said it was very quiet with absolutely zero commotion, except for the train passing through at night which can be a little horrifying, but overall, we enjoy all trains. It was very easy to purchase our $10.50 permit for our vehicle and site at the pay station, despite Capital One/Discover cards not being eligible for purchasing permits. We had a little trouble getting our tent stakes in the ground; the drive and tent sites seemed to all be dirt/gravel. We had no issue pulling into the campground around 8-9 pm, even though it was peak season. There was a vault toilet that was maintained pretty well, and we had no issues using it. Not sure if there are any electric or water hookups; I do not believe there were, but definitely do your research. We highly recommend this spot for some beautiful views and a chilly night's rest!
Tent camping near Moro, Oregon offers an interesting contrast between forested mountain slopes and high desert terrain. Located in Sherman County at approximately 1,800 feet elevation, the region experiences warm, dry summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F and cool, occasionally snowy winters. Strong winds frequently sweep across the area, particularly in canyon camping areas where evening gusts can reach 20-30 mph without warning.
Fishing access points: Oak Springs Campground provides premier fishing locations along the Deschutes River. "Awesome spot on the river, clean spots, with fire rings and picnic tables. Spots are located all along the BLM road and are marked. Easy access to the river for fishing," notes a Oak Springs Campground visitor.
Mountain biking trails: Forest roads near Pebble Ford Campground connect to numerous mountain biking routes. A Pebble Ford Campground camper shares, "Near some nice trails and gorgeous mountain views. I'd say 3 1/2 stars as it's sorta near the road, but a super busy road it is not. Bring your mountain bike."
River rafting launches: The Lower Deschutes offers multiple rafting put-in points with riverside camping. "After a full day of rafting, we floated right up to this spot with a biiig group of people. The few designated riverside campsites were already taken, so we opted to walk up into the open field (maybe 150 yards from the water) and make camp," explains a Hike in from Lower Deschutes State Rec Area camper.
Badger Creek hiking: The eastern Mount Hood wilderness contains several moderate hiking trails. "This is a fairly easy trail to backpack on with lots of great sites to camp. If you're hiking up to the lake you might want to make it a two day trip to really enjoy it," reports a Badger Lake Campground visitor.
Solitude and quiet: Many campsites offer exceptional privacy, particularly on weekdays. At Carbon Farm Yard, a reviewer noted, "The camping area is spacious and quiet. There is tons and tons of land to explore and lots of animals and wildlife to view. Lots of space for kids to run around and safely explore."
Riverside locations: Most popular sites feature proximity to flowing water. A Leidl South Campground visitor explains, "The location on the Klickitat is really pretty. The campground is right along the river facing a really impressive rock wall. You can sleep to the sound of the water."
Dark sky viewing: Limited light pollution creates excellent stargazing conditions. "This spot turned out to be one of my favorites. The most beautiful scenery. Night sky was unreal. Feels like no one is around for miles," shares a Hike in from Lower Deschutes State Rec Area camper.
Access to water recreation: Campgrounds near lakes and rivers provide multiple water activities. "You'll want a high clearance/4wd vehicle. We took my Honda Element and had to camp in the campground instead of near the lake, which was 1/4 mile from campground. The lake is gorgeous and saw people catching trout. Bring a kayak or SUP to enjoy the lake," reports a Badger Lake Campground visitor.
Road conditions: Many access roads require high-clearance vehicles. A Macks Canyon Recreation Site camper warns, "I go off-road a lot. I have never experienced a washboard road as bad as this was for 6-7 miles. I thought the doors were going to blow off the truck. Not an exaggeration. Usually you can adjust speed to plane the wash. Not this time."
Seasonal wind patterns: Evening gusts commonly affect canyon campsites. "The only negative is that it can get super windy. At one point we were frantically trying to get our awning down from the Cricket and things were flying everywhere. The wind lasted about an hour and then things calmed down again," notes a Macks Canyon Recreation Site visitor.
Water availability: Most campgrounds lack potable water sources. "No drinking water or hookups of any kind. No fires. Must bring everything," cautions a Hike in from Lower Deschutes State Rec Area camper.
Train noise: Railroad tracks parallel several riverside campgrounds. "Beware of the train that rolls in every 4hrs or so," warns a Hike in from Lower Deschutes State Rec Area visitor.
Room for play: Select sites with open space for children's activities. At Carbon Farm Yard, "The camping area is spacious and quiet. There is tons and tons of land to explore and lots of animals and wildlife to view. Lots of space for kids to run around and safely explore."
Creek exploration: Shallow waterways provide natural play areas. A Bonney Crossing camper shares, "Kids loved spending time exploring the creek and cooling off in it. Campsites are first come first serve and only has 7 established sites."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many sites offer chances to observe local fauna. "Had some deer walk right through our camp spot while we sat by the fire," reports a Pebble Ford Campground visitor.
Consider wind protection: Select sites with natural windbreaks when possible. "As before the wind kicks up (strong) around 7:30p to 8:30p," notes a Macks Canyon Recreation Site camper.
Length restrictions: Most campgrounds accommodate smaller RVs only. "You'll want a high clearance/4wd vehicle. We took my Honda Element and had to camp in the campground instead of near the lake, which was 1/4 mile from campground. Too many big rocks and ruts in the road to attempt," cautions a Badger Lake Campground visitor.
Road clearance issues: Prepare for rough access roads. "Really good spot to get off the grid while still having most amenities. About 20 miles of gravel road will take you here and some small Rockwall to semi-worry about," advises a Macks Canyon Recreation Site visitor.
Limited hookups: No campgrounds offer electrical or water connections. "No cell service👎 Starlink 👍," notes a Macks Canyon Recreation Site camper regarding connectivity options.
Dispersed parking tips: At some riverside locations, parking areas may be unmarked. "Bigger than it looks at first. You can pretty much camp wherever you can drive to. Lots of spots right next to the river," shares a Leidl South Campground visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Moro, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Moro, OR is Hike in from Lower Deschutes State Rec Area with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Moro, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 28 tent camping locations near Moro, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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