Searching for a tent campsite near Pilot Rock? The Dyrt helps you find campsites near Pilot Rock with tent camping. 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.
Dispersed camping is a popular camping method for many visitors to the Forest. Choosing to camp along a stream or adjacent to a meadow where there are no picnic tables, toilets or firerings allows campers to enjoy a more primitive experience.
It is recommend that dispersed campers keep to traditional campsites off of established 'two-track' vehicles routes which have been used in the past. Most of these routes are less than 300 feet from a designated open road.
There are some areas on the Forest that are closed to dispersed camping. These include administrative site, special use permit area, or sensitive areas for archeology or wildlife.
Please remove all temporary structures before you leave such as meat poles, toilets, furniture, and ditches around your tents. To find out more about minimum impact camping please visit our outdoor ethics section. Some general rules of use and restrictions also apply to visitor using dispersed camping sites. These include regulations like forest-wide camping stay limits; use of camp fires, firearms, and fireworks; and controlling pets.
You can't camp many places in Oregon that the general public is not allowed. You can here. Behind a locked gate, no public access. A permanent pit toilet is onsite. Pricing includes one camping unit (tent you supply)
$29 / night
The Blue Mountain North/Grande Ronde River Basin Area is situated north of the Anthony Lakes Highway (Forest Road 73) to the Mount Emily area. It includes all of the developed recreation sites and trails in the northern Blue Mountains and those found in the Grande Ronde River Basin west of La Grande, Oregon. This area is mainly administered by the La Grande Ranger District although some of the area north of the Anthony Lakes Highway is administered by the Whitman Ranger District. Popular recreation areas include the Oregon Trail Interpretive Park at Blue Mountain Crossing, Mt. Emily, Spring Creek Recreation Area, Ladd Canyon, and Beaver Creek. Local communities that have a variety of services (i.e. fuel, lodging, stores and/or restaurants) are LaGrande, Island City, Elgin, Imbler, Cove, Richland, and Baker City . These communities are within one hour of this area.
The Umapine Campground is located west of Vey Meadows between Squaw and Umapine Creeks in a ponderosa pine forest. It offers 3 group sites (including one pull through site) and 5 single sites. The rustic campground is a central staging area for the Winom-Frazier OHV trail areawhich gives off-road riders access to more than 140 miles of challenging trails.
This is a peaceful campground set in an open Ponderosa pine stand along the Wild and Scenic North Fork John Day River. Gold Dredge features 7 campsties and 1 accessible vault toilet. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack your garbage home. Attractions in this area include photography, swimming, non-motorized boating, and fishing. Water levels are low in mid to late summer, which can impede use of boats. The campground provides good access for big game hunting. In addition, the Oriental Trailhead is about 6 miles west, providing access to both OHV and wilderness trails.
Fall asleep to the sound of crickets and frogs chirping and croaking and wake up to Blue Gill and Rainbow Trout jumping at the bit. This campground is set on the shore of Penland Lake, which also abuts private land and land owned by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Penland is popular on summer weekends and offers access to fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities. There are seven campsites and two vault toilets on the National Forest portion of the campground, with more campsites located on the adjacent ODFW property. There is also a boat ramp, fishing dock, and benches located on the dam. Picnic tables are available for Day Use on the lakefront as well. There is no potable water or garbage service; please pack out all garbage and dispose of it at home.
Camping is now 'group camping' only, and requires a permit
Big Creek Campground is small and increasingly popular with OHV recreationists, located just off the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway. It also provides access into the North Fork John Day Wilderness and there is ample parking for truck and stock trailers at the trailhead. It is set in a riparian area, so surrounding areas can be quite wet well into June. It features 3 campsites and an accessible vault toilet. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack out all garbage and dispose of it at home. Trail access: This campground contains a trailhead into the North Fork John Day Wilderness that accesses Big Creek Trail #3151 to the south. There is nearby access to Tower Mountain Trail #3156 to the north of Forest Road 52 that also accesses the North Fork John Day Wilderness where Wilderness regulations apply. There are three OHV trails that connect into the campground: Tower Loop Trail #3040, Meadow Creek Trail #3193, and Christensen Trail #3185. Attractions at this campground are wilderness hiking, hunting, fishing, and OHV trail access. If you like to drive, you can pick up the Ukiah-Granite Roadside Geology tour brochure at the Ranger District and take a day trip to Granite. Huckleberries abound nearby in mid August.
No facilities are provided nor is this area maintained. It is truly for the camper wanting to rough it. Check with La Grande Ranger District office for more ponds to fish in the Blue Mountains.
This fairly secluded campground is near the end of Forest Road 5506 along the Wild and Scenic North Fork John Day River. It features 8 campsites and 2 accessible toilets. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack your garbage home. Large vehicles, trailers, and low clearance vehicles are not recommended due to poor access road and limited turnaround capability. This campground offers fishing, swimming, non-motorized boating, hiking, OHV riding, horseback riding, sight-seeing, and photography. Water levels are low in mid to late summer, which can impede use of boats. The campground also provides good access for big game hunting. Near Oriental Creek is the start of the River Trail #3043 , an OHV trail accessing the southern end of 100 miles of trail. Three miles down the closed portion of Road 5506 is entry to the North Fork John Day Wilderness with access to the North Fork John Day River Trail #3022 , Big Creek Trail #3151 and Corral Creek Trail #3009.
Guide
Very nicely maintained campground with full hookups. Clean showers. Level spots.
The only drawback is the close vicinity to Hwy. 84 which made it quite noisy.
Traveler
Beautiful forested campsite with clean flush toilets next to a creek.
Guide
This campground worked great for our small teardrop trailer. It wasn’t the quietest campground we’ve stayed in, but people were respectful of the quiet hours. Sites were clean. Restrooms were acceptable. Last several miles of the road were very washboard-y - something that has not changed from previous visits over the years.
GuideThis campground is pretty busy during the summer season but was fairly quiet on the last weekend of the summer. Weather was good but temperatures did get down to 26F.
Ranger
This park accepts Good Sam discounts. There are a few full timers but are kept clean. The park is right on the edge of town. Nestled between a river and a horse farm he will hear a rooster everyday you will hear a donkey. There are wild turkey in the area but they're quite quiet. I paid just under $150 a week. Laundry machines work well there are two washers and two dryers buck and a quarter each. They have showers. They have a tent area for tent camping. There is usually no one on duty but they do have propane I just don't know how to use it or get it. There is a Wi-Fi password and the cell phone signal is not bad. I use T-Mobile. 5 minutes away from a decent grocery store. 30 minutes away from Miller's home improvement and Walmart. And did I mention full hookups.
Scout
A little more money for the view, patio, grill and fireplace, but well worth it! Not too hot even at 95! Cool nights and plenty of sky.
Scout
Well cared for campgrounds. Quiet, river access.
Scout
Called last minute and was able to get a water and electric only site which is all we needed. The park is well maintained and it's all gravel. However the sites are all flat and easy to pull into. For just over $40 dollars for the night. I have no complaints. The staff was friendly when I called. It took me a couple times to get a live person. But it's a small office and I'm sure they were busy. I would stay here again. Looks like a great place for boating and fishing with a nice sized parking lot and slips for rent.
Traveler
The sites are nice and most are lake front. There were a few other campers but none near our site. The road up is steep and bumpy gravel but we managed in our two wheel drive van. Would definitely stop by again.
GuideI camped here during the summer season of 2023. When I pulled into the campground it was just me and the camp hosts. They gave me the pick of what site I wanted. I swooped on one next to the river. The campground was beautiful and sites were good distances from each other. There are bathrooms and areas to top off your water. I choose this campground due to driving the 395 as my choice of route to explore. I would 100% recommend this campsite again.
ScoutAndy at the front desk was very helpful checking me in. She and her associate assisted with me finding the best spot with some shade and facing the mountains. Yes, there are a lot of units here. And, it’s still a great spot for camping. They are all 50 amp and include a converter, if you don’t have 50amp. Leveled and spacious for vehicles.
Guide
This place had such good reviews but it was pretty trashed. Broken glass, trash in the fire pits, trash in the campsites, the pit toilet was shockingly clean. Quiet place to camp, not full but plenty of other campers. Wouldn’t seek this camp spot out. Reservoir pretty small and marshy.
ScoutA group of friends and I went and tent camped in spot 14 for a couple days and had a great time. The site was fairly trashed when we got there so we did some cleanup but besides that it’s surrounded by a beautiful forest and even on a 95 degree day the shade is perfect and the water was refreshing to swim in. I liked the spot we stayed in, it was spacious enough for 3 tents (10 person, 5 person, and 2 person tents) it was shaded and fairly spaced out from other spots. The lake was pretty busy and there were lots of people but it’s easy to find places on the water to have to yourself. There was also an awesome rope swing maybe half a mile from the camp site, super fun!
Guide
Sites are far apart but some lack privacy. I saw Lots of elk and turkeys(?) and a rattlesnake. Outside of the lack of privacy there are some people who it appears that they live there(I a have no issues with that) my issue is the drive up and down the road multiple multiple time a day at high rates of speed leaving dust flying. When I was out walking I walked past one of their campsites on accident I didn’t get close and they started firing a gun in the air. I slept in my car that night and left the next morning. Also trash is an issue as well as people using the bathroom right on the ground and leaving used baby wipes everywhere. So watch out for human waste if you use a tent.
Guide
I came around 3pm on a Wednesday and there were ample spaces available. The sites feel private and the campground is very clean. The pit toilets are also clean. Some road noise. $5 per night if you have one of the veteran, disabled or senior passes. No water and no trash.
GuideMany options for private pull-offs once you drive past established NF campgrounds—likely tough to do without high clearance and/or 4WD when wet. Only “traffic” was the occasional ATV/OHV. Tons of great hiking around.
Legend
Large well kept park. Casino, pool and restaurants.
GuideSpent the night here on a road trip from Utah to Arizona. Although there’s not a ton of spots, it’s lovely and was a quiet solitude away from the road but not too far. Saw a ton of wildlife too (bring your bear spray). Service was good too and road wasn’t bad at all
ScoutSuper quiet spot that has beautiful views of the nearby mountain ranges. If you are passing through, this would be a great place stop off for the night. No services here, so bring your own water.
GuideFree camping on a lake not too far from the freeway. Good roads to the campsite. There are pull through and back in sites that would accommodate good-sized rigs, although some of the sites aren't terribly level. Surprisingly, there weren't any bugs. T-Mobile was good. Able to stream. As you come into the campground, there are campsites to the right and left with easy turn arounds.
ScoutUnder new ownership and they no longer allow overnight camping only long-term rental
Scout
Had a great time here. There are small things I'd change that would make it a 5 star park, but they are small.
The pools that are fed by the springs are great, especially after a long day on the road.
The staff was great and helpful, and a full-time RV family shared their wisdom with this first-time RV-er.
Hookups are well labeled, and RV sites are all 90-foot pull through, which, again, for this first time RV-er was clutch!
The views are great, the nature walk is nice, and the weather was a nice 70ish!
Cons, for me, are that there is no off leash dog area, this is due to the abundant wildlife, but i just wish there was somewhere to let them run and stretch their legs. Additionally, there is no area for the kids to play, there is a horseshoe area, but otherwisr, no play equipment. But otherwise, a great stop, and really, a better stop for a more mature crowd.
Lastly, no wood fires at the camp sites (at least on the rv side) so bring a propane pit for marshmallows!
GuideFacilities are clean.. more showers than toilets.. each space has grass and a pad to park on.. no gravel roads..beautiful views of the valleyso
GuideVisiting in April on a Sunday to do day use has defined my idea of heavenly. The snow-covered peaks, the clean air, the sounds of the spring birds, and the silence are magical. The hot tubs are small, but it really doesn't matter if no one is there. They are pool noodle friendly when it's not high occupancy. The Verizon signal is strong. Day use is open until 5:00 p.m. and next door there's a lodge that has even more hot springs that I'm going to have to visit sometime. The setting is pretty incredible with views all around of lovely Eastern Oregon mountains and valley. Spring green is abundant and it is an enchanting time. Very cute tent campsites, as well as a variety of lodging. This place is wonderful.
ScoutWe just needed a quick tent soot on a monday night on the way to moab. better than expected. bit muddy. some shells. but lots of space. drove in to about 45.35967, -118.30846
ScoutStayed one night on my way to Seattle. I drove up the road some and found it pretty passable in my van, although most of the sites were too muddy and I was worried about getting stuck. Camped in the first spots behind the Spring Creek Info sign and had good phone service (verizon) and a uneventful night. But area had a ton of broken glass, nails and shotgun shells and a decent amount of litter. Don't know how rowdy it gets in the warmer months but it might be wise to skip this place or camp further up the road at the campground then, especially if you're a solo female.
LegendI've driven by for years and recently had the opportunity to stop in between a couple of long travel days. Site was level and surrounded by beautiful trees. We had a nice walk through the campground. It was not crowded, being a weekday in October.
I was amazed at the freeway noise. Very loud. Didn't really have trouble sleeping, but certainly not quitly peaceful, unfortunately.
Great heritage site!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Pilot Rock, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Pilot Rock, OR is Wallowa-Whitman NF 21 - Dispersed with a 4.2-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Pilot Rock, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near Pilot Rock, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
