Camping opportunities near North Powder, Oregon range from high-elevation sites at Anthony Lake to valley destinations with natural hot springs. The area sits at elevations between 3,000 and 7,000 feet in the Blue Mountains region, creating distinct temperature variations between valley floors and mountain campsites. Summers typically bring warm days and cool nights, while spring and fall camping requires preparation for potential nighttime freezing temperatures.
What to do
Hiking from campgrounds: Hurricane Creek Campground provides direct access to the Hurricane Creek Trail in Eagle Cap Wilderness. "This is a small campground with limited amenities, but a nice amount of privacy for each site. The creek lives up to it's name and is very loud," notes Sara R. The campground serves as a starting point for wilderness exploration.
Natural hot springs: Grande Hot Springs RV Resort offers mineral soaking options beyond just camping. "The soaking pools were amazing. They even had a twilight soak. Very peaceful and relaxing campground. Nature trail along the creek was cool. Saw huge bull frogs, tadpoles, and fish. Also saw mule deer," shares Cheryl S. The resort maintains natural hot springs pools available to guests until late evening.
Wildlife viewing: Catherine Creek State Park provides opportunities to observe local wildlife within a managed environment. Beth M. describes it as "Very pretty and open for camping, but without services, when I visited in April. There's a sweet hike that starts right at the bridge." The park features creek-side habitat supporting various bird species.
What campers like
Year-round access options: Spring Creek Campground offers winter camping despite its remote location. "It's plowed in the winter. There wasn't much snow here on January 5-6th, 2025. It's direct access onto the road from the highway exit," reports Jacob D. This accessibility makes it valuable for campers seeking options during colder months.
Mountain camping with lake access: Anthony Lake Campground provides high-elevation camping with water recreation. "Located in the beautiful Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Anthony Lake Campground is not to be missed. The scenery is breathtaking and there is something for everyone to do. Kids will enjoy the lake and easy day hikes," describes Jill T. The campground sits at approximately 7,000 feet elevation, offering distinct alpine conditions.
Private creekside sites: Campers appreciate the sound isolation at Hurricane Creek Campground. "Hurricane Creek Campsite is super nice. Sits right along Hurricane Creek and has a lot of well maintained spots," shares Andrew L. The fast-moving creek creates natural white noise that provides privacy between sites despite their proximity.
What you should know
Road conditions to remote sites: Catherine Creek State Park Campground has specific location challenges. "It's right on the road, which could be busy in the summer. Not much for Verizon cell signal," notes Beth M. The campground's roadside location creates a balance between accessibility and traffic noise.
Highway noise considerations: Some campgrounds near major routes experience significant traffic noise. Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area sits adjacent to I-84, with Ryan C. reporting: "Excellent 1/2 point between home in Idaho and the Oregon Coast. Tent and full hook ups with helpful campground hosts. Yes, you can hear the freeway from the campground - so it may not be recommended for tent campers."
Water hazards: Hurricane Creek presents legitimate safety concerns for pet owners and families. "My one caution would be that if you have dogs keep them on a leash because if they were to get in the creek that would be all she wrote. That creek is appropriately named as it really moves," warns Andrew L. The creek's strong current requires appropriate caution, especially with children or pets.
Tips for camping with families
Yurt options for families: Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort Campground offers yurt camping near North Powder, Oregon for families wanting shelter beyond tents. "Beautiful campsite, nice walk around the lake. It was mostly empty with some snow patches still on the ground," reports Melissa J. The campground's yurts provide structured shelter while maintaining outdoor access.
Swimming opportunities: Several campgrounds offer water access, with varying temperatures. Spool Cart Campground provides river access at certain sites. "My site was a single (#4) and had nice river access," notes Kathleen H. Water temperatures vary significantly between higher elevation lakes and lower valley streams.
Wildlife education opportunities: Grande Hot Springs creates wildlife viewing chances suitable for children. A visitor observed: "Our stay here was relaxing and fun. There are natural hot spring soaking pools at the campground. The resort lies next to a wildlife refuge. There are many birds," shares ursala K. The proximity to a wildlife refuge provides educational opportunities for children.
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Mtn View RV Park in Baker City offers comprehensive services for RVs. "Easy access off of I-84, mostly pull through full hookup sites, nicely landscaped with beautiful views! It has a small fenced-in dog park, pool and spa," reports Kacey H. The park provides level sites with modern amenities close to urban services.
Water pressure considerations: RVers should be prepared for significant water pressure variations. "Great water pressure(about 100 psi) so we needed our regulator," notes MickandKarla W. during their stay at Mtn View RV Park. This pressure level exceeds recommended limits for many RV systems without regulation.
Seasonal road access: Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort Campground has significant elevation-related access limitations. The resort sits at over 7,000 feet, experiencing snow accumulation from October through June in typical years, making RV access challenging outside peak summer months. The resort does maintain limited yurt camping near North Powder when winter conditions allow.
