Want to go dispersed camping near Philomath? The Dyrt provides you with a diverse selection of places to camp, from dispersed backcountry camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. From secluded to easily reachable, we offer dispersed campsites near Philomath just for you.
This site, sometimes referred to as Horton Lake, Hult Marsh, Hult Reservoir, or Mill Pond, was developed in the early 1900s for logging operations. The reservoir and surrounding wetland is about 40 acres and supports a rich diversity of wildlife, fish, and plant species. This recreation site is popular for activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, horseback riding, and scenic driving.
At an elevation of 2400 feet, this area offers dispersed camping along the northern edge of the lake. The lake is stocked periodically with rainbow trout. There is access for launching non-motorized boats. A vault toilet is provided but no potable water. It is also the eastern trailhead of the Pioneer – Indian Trail.
Many people enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. "Dispersed camping" is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a developed campground. Dispersed camping usually means no toilet facilities or treated water, no fire grates, and no picnic tables or other amenities are provided.
There are extra responsibilities and skills needed for dispersed camping. By applying Leave No Trace practices, you will ensure a safe, clean and positive experience for your family and the environment.
The sites listed below are some popular, well used dispersed camping areas. For other more out of the way places, please check the Motor Vehicle Use Map for permissible locations.
The Forest also has dispersed OHV Sand Camping sites. Sand camping is allowed in areas at Sand Lake Recreation Area and at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Each area has different regulations as to where you can camp.
Camping is allowed in designated campgrounds, state parks, national forests, and on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. Some private landowners also offer camping opportunities through platforms like Hipcamp. It is important to follow local regulations and respect private property when camping in Oregon.
Ranger
Nice small lake with a close to established campground. I was hoping for a true disbursed experience, you know boondock. There were established sites and a composting table. Nice spots, nice lake. Could pull in a 16’ trailer but until the camp site there is no other turn around spot so beware. More campers then I expected.
Guide
I love heading out that way. I have seen reviews of the place talking about tweaker the place but I have not had any encounters with anyone like that. And I love that it is dispersed camping all around there. I travel a little bit up the creek past the pond. Beautiful area a good fishing.
Guide
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.
GuideThe views around the pond are very nice. Campsites are okay; some better than others. There's one bathroom facility but it's towards the entrance and the beginning of sites at the pond so be prepared with a shovel and TP. There are so many logging roads at this camp ground/mountain with dispersed camping available anywhere with flat ground you just might not be close to the pond. I went on a Friday and there were alot of people but the sites were spread out nicely you didn't really get bothered by anyone. My site was the last one by the water before it turns marshy though you could pass my site and drive for miles on logging roads. Fishing from shore is not advised; at least from my camp site. There's a large tree that runs out into the water which looks like a great place to fish but as you walk to the end of the log you'll see fishing lines all over. I lost 3 lures at that log and I think many others had too. Even watched one guy from camp try and fish there but he too got some snagged though he went in after them. A paddle boat or kayak is best; no motorized boats allowed. There's not a whole lot to do at this place. No trails that I could find so my dog and I walked on logging roads for a couple miles. This trip was spur of the moment and just wanted to get away for a night. I don't think I would come back. But some of the pictures and views were highlights of the trip.. there is a convenient store right before the entrance of the grounds though I never went but I'm sure you could get some essentials if forgotten.
Scout
About 15 minutes off the 101, with the last 3 mi being unpaved gravel road (well groomed). Campsite is isolated and quiet. Some scattered trash in the area.
TravelerSouth Lake is fairly small, I consider it more of a pond to be honest, but a great place for disperse camping. The quickest drive in is a bit sketchy. I recommend taking a slight slower route to avoid scratches on your vehicle from branches. We checked out a few dispersed sites before we picked our spot. We managed to get a spot that was a 1 minute walk to the water, and about the same to the vaulted toilets. The vaulted toilet is on the NW side of the lake. It must’ve been checked often for toilet paper because we were there for 4 nights and it always had some in there.
We caught trout every day we were there. Most are small but was fun nonetheless. There is an old boat without a motor tied up for anyone to use. Only had one ore that was half broke but it still managed to get us across the water 🤷🏻♂️. We found a decent amount of firewood, just have to make sure it’s try if course. It’s all hidden below the ferns/greenery. No picnic tables or metal fire rings but who needs them? Plenty of rocks for a fire pit were already set up. Plenty of shade. Only downside was precious campers leaving toilet paper near the trees when you are literally a minute or less walk to the vaulted toilet.
GuideSo 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.
ScoutMy husband and I decided we wanted to camp at the coast this weekend and every other camp site and state park was full, so we stumbled upon this place! It was easy to find following the directions on this site. Like other reviews mentioned, there are cars that drive by since it is a forest road, but we didn’t notice too much of a disturbance from them. It was pretty secluded. We stayed at the intersection campsite, and it was great! There was trash from previous campers, but we cleaned it up before we left!
TravelerThis free campground is just far enough out from the coast and the city that you'll likely be alone, even on a Saturday night. Most folks coming to this area of the forest camp in the more popular (and more expensive) Hebo Lake campground. If you don't need amenities and are just looking for a beautiful place to camp, South Lake is a better option. The road leading to the campground is easy gravel and receives a moderate amount of traffic. During my stay on a Saturday, there was a truck passing by every couple of hours. Most of these folks are hunters. If you want complete isolation, this is not a good place to camp. This is also not the best place to camp if you are afraid of Cougars (I am). There have been several recent Cougar sightings at this Lake. Thankfully I did not see any during my visit. :)
Traveler
Nice pull off dispersed place to camp. Some sketchy people around but availability to get away from people up the road
TravelerShhhh. This dispersed campground can be a trek to get to for limited spots. Great hikes nearby and for the most part fairly peaceful. Bring your fishing pole... Or not... The trout pretty much jump into your lap depending on the season :)
ScoutCampsite: was lovely
Location: about 20 feet from the road where we parked, right along the pond.
Things people may want to be aware of: there were a few logging trucks and such using the road by the campsite, the bathrooms were not super close to the site, and campfires are not permitted.
GuideI probably wouldn't do this if I had a trailer or an rv, but my toyota Corolla did just fine. The marked coordinates are a little overgrown, but there's a good tent spot a couple hundred feet beforehand. Pretty chilly evening, but it was definitely secluded and peaceful
GuideWe love this dispersed campground. If you go earlier in the week, you’ll most likes find a spot with no problem. If you wait till Friday evening during the summer, it’ll probably be full. There is a vault toilet, no running water. The small lake has decent fishing and great for kayaking. Dirt/gravel roads are a bit tricky to navigate.
GuideLooks like there are 2 pull off spots here. One was taken by another camper, and I was grateful to snag the second one. Stayed here for 2 nights. It is off a gravel road, but it's not that busy. Pretty view and relatively secluded. Would stay again. The 2ish mile drive up the gravel road to get here was easy enough.
GPS: 44.512881, -123.984589
ScoutAside from the few kids that decided to start shooting guns in the camp site. It’s a nice little place to escape the hustle and bustle of life.
GuideThis is simple, primitive campground mostly centered around a small picturesque lake.
There are a few other sites dispersed in the area. One of the best ones is just around the bend from the lake sites and its of the road and gets more sun, if thats your thing.
When i visited mid week in July it was empty.
Its quite a distance on sometimes very rough gravel roads, with no tirn outs and sometimes large drops on one side, so be very careful with log trucks .
But i made it OK with my beat up old Grand Caravan.
Enjoyed
LegendArrived around 4:30 on a Friday and only saw 2 other campers. By next morning, another 3 sites filled up. Vault toilets were pretty clean. Didn’t explore anything around as it was raining the entire time I was there. Quite a few hunters in the campgrounds / parking to go hunt. Road to get there was about 12 miles of dirt/gravel but when I left, only had dirt roads for 3 miles. Had 3 bars of LTE with AT&T once there. I’d definitely stay again. Very secluded and lush with greenery.
ScoutStayed here on a Sunday night in June, there’s two campsites. One at the fork in the road and one slightly further down. I stayed in the first with my camper Subaru. Only had maybe 4 cars pass from 6pm to 10pm. Tiny bit of trash around but as always leave it better than you found it!
RangerBring 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.
LegendWe took a ride from Hebo up road 14 or 1400 to South Lake. The trip took over 1 hour down a partly paved road with lots of pot holes then the rest of the way down a very narrow pot hole dirt road to South Lake. Along the way we passed Hebo Lake Campground that had many tent camp sites. Once we arrived at South Lake we found the lake to be somewhat small and there were a few tent sites somewhat close together. We had been told this lake was always stocked with Trout. We suggest only using a 4x4 or a high clearance vehicle to make this trip.
TravelerThis was a last minute find for us on the 4th of July. There were a few sites left for us to choose from. The sites are not numbered but are designated by a rock ringed fire pit. We hammock camp and there are plenty of sites with trees positioned perfectly for hanging the hammocks. The lake is small but very beautiful. We did bring our kayaks but didn't launch them. There is a launching area but it's pretty mucky and there are a lot of downed trees in the water. I only saw one really great beach area to pull up to but it was already claimed by another small boat. There are trails all over leading from the campsites to the lake and around it. We also met other campers that had hiked a trail from Hebo lake to South Lake which was about a 7 mile hike for them.
We will go back and try out South Lake again in the other seasons.
TravelerOur weekend at Hult Pond was unforgettable. I know because I have tried.
Disbursed camp sights sprawl along this man made log pond and nightmarish horror movie set along a footpath seamingly designed to dump its evening travelers into the muck that is Hult Pond. Jagged old logs poke out of the stagnant water as a reminder that someone used to get paid to spend the day here.
If this doesn’t sound like the most picturesque of settings I would direct you to the strange log loading equipment rusting just on the forbidden side of a gated barbed wire fence. Upon closer inspection you see what must be tetanus’s way of luring barefoot boys and girls into a summer of drooling lockjaw.
The access road is a still functioning rock quarry road that hosts a never ending parade of old rattling dump trucks and loaders. Nothing says ,”getting away from the hustle and bustle” quite like a convoy barrelling down a narrow road spilling basketball sized boulders before returning bouncing back up empty and clearly attempting to meet a quota.
The whole thing gave me an uneasy sense of nostalgia. Reminding me of the days we would gather by the dozens with red solo cups full of Hams. We would drink ourselves into a vomiting delirium in a parking lot off some old logging road. We would wake up with profanities drawn on our faces as punishment for succumbing to alcohol poisoning sooner than at least one of our classmates.
In fact I believe that’s exactly what the 58 kids in the campsite right next to ours we’re doing each night of our trip.
The girls learned all sorts of colorful language and I believed, based on the way my ten year old son was drooling that the tetanus had succeeded. I was not relieved to discover on our final morning, him wreaking of cheap beer and cigarettes and moaning how horrible he felt while proffering his undying love to a high school girl named Tiffany.
Not recommended.
ScoutNice, cleared spots, not too many other people.
TravelerThe sites are sling the right side of the of the road, the road that leads along the left (west side) of the lake. There are several sites, we stayed in H2, which is painted on the road. It's a short 30 feet walk to the site from the parking spot. We had a lakefront site which was private and spacious. There was easy access to the lake, which us full of jumping fish. We had a great time, people were friendly and it was relatively quiet. We are glad to have made the trip to "Horton Lake". Definitely recommended.
GuideWe got there a little after noon and the hood spots were taken that are on the lake. However I drove further up and camped at H5. It was a lot more private, and we had the creek to ourselves.
TravelerI 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.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Philomath, Oregon, where nature meets tranquility. With a variety of locations to choose from, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the serenity of the great outdoors while escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Philomath, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Philomath, OR is Hult Pond with a 4-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Philomath, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 dispersed camping locations near Philomath, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
