For those who want to experience Prairie City, but still want the creature comforts of home, consider glamping for your trip. Find all the best glamping sites for your Prairie City, Oregon camping adventure with The Dyrt. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the woods or a site closer to all the action, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect glamping spot.
$30 - $37 / night
One of Eastern Oregons largest Forest Service campgrounds, Union Creek Campground is located 18 miles South of Baker City. Sitting along Phillips Reservoirs North shore, Union Creek Campground boasts many amenities including over 60 tent/trailer sites, some with full hookups. There is access to boating, mountain biking, hiking and more. This campground is part of the Union Creek Recreation Area, which includes a picnic and day-use area. Union Creek Campground is set on three loops with separate walk-in tent camping, and it has four group sites that can accommodate large groups up to 60 people. PLEASE NOTE: This Union Creek Campground is located in northeastern Oregon in the Wallowa Whitman National Forest. This is not the Union Creek Campground located in southwestern Oregon near Medford.
The campground is near a boat launch and a small, rocky swim beach. Activities include swimming, fishing, boating, and water skiing. Anglers can fish for bass, trout and perch. There's an access point for the Phillips Lake Shoreline Trail, a scenic trail for hiking and mountain biking. This trail can be connected to make a 16 mile loop around the lake.
Phillips Reservoir is a popular destination within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest because it offers scenic views of the surrounding Elkhorn Mountains. The shoreline is forested with a mix of Ponderosa pine and various firs interspersed with small grasslands. Visitors enjoy several varieties of colorful wildflowers in the spring.
The historic gold mining town of Sumpter is about 10 miles away, West of Hwy 7. Visitors can explore the Sumpter Dredge State Heritage Park, browse the holiday weekend flea markets or take a ride on a historic steam locomotive.
A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees. For full details see NRRS Reservation Policy
$36 - $120 / night
$15 / night
$7 - $11 / night
This is a great destination for berry picking, it is also a wonderful base camp for anyone wanting to hike, hunt or just explore the Malheur National Forest. The Sumpter Valley Interpretive Trail, Davis Creek Trail as well as other great recreational activities are just a short drive from the campground.
This small campground along the Scenic Middle Fork of the John Day River set back amongst beautiful ponderosa pine trees is a great spot for fishing and viewing spawning steelhead in the fall. The campground is a good starting point for hunters, hikers and those wishing to see beautiful scenery, wildlife and wildflowers. The campground sets just off of the county road allowing for easy access to all variety of vehicles and bicycles.
The Slide Horse Camp is a wonderful campground for horse enthusiasts, the campground offers sites with horse stalls and corrals. Just up the road from the campground is the Slide Connector Trail #386, this trail is a great starting point for horse riders heading into the wilderness. The campground sets amongst pondersa pines and is one mile fromStrawberry Campground and the Strawberry Basin Trailhead.
Wetmore Campground is one of three Wallowa-Whitman campgrounds along Highway 26, which is part of the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway. The campground offers campsites for both tents and small trailers, and has three accessible campsites. Popular activities include; overnight camping for visitors traveling across the state, picnicking and exploring the scenic byway. There is also an accessible, barrier-free, trail to Yellow Pine Campground. The site has been used by large groups who have had picnics on the large tables by the upper spring.
Spaces offer water, sewer, 20/30/50 amp electric, Wi-Fi, shade tree, grass lawn, picnic table and Free Expanded Cable TV. All campers enjoy top rated restrooms, showers and laundro-mat.
Meeting room and tent areas with BBQ's available. Quiet pets welcome. No freeway noise. Open 7 days a week all year long
At an elevation of 7,100 feet, this campground keeps cool in the summertime heat. The sites sit among boulders and mixed conifers on a bluff over Anthony Lake. For questions for Anthony Lake, Grande Ronde Lake, Mud Lake, Peavey Cabin, and Anthony Lake Guard Station call (541) 894-2332None of the sites offer lake views, but campers can enjoy gazing on Gunsight Mountain and the surrounding peaks of the Elkhorn range. Anthony Lakes Campgrounds Website
There is a boat ramp available at the camp. Activities on Anthony Lake include boating, canoeing, kayaking and trout fishing. Trails in the area include the 22.6-mile Elkhorn Crest (foot and equestrian), 1-mile Black Lake (foot and equestrian) and the 1-mile Shoreline (foot).
The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, 2.3 million acres of varied landscape, extends from the Blue Mountains and rugged Wallowa Mountains down to the spectacular canyon country of the Snake River on the Idaho border. Anthony Lake Campground is located in the Southern Elkhorn Mountain/Powder River Basin Area, with the highest peak in the Elkhorn Mountains at 9,108 feet. The area around the lake is known for conifer forests, wildflower meadows and the resident mountain goats.
The Elkhorn Scenic Byway is a 106-mile drive through the Elkhorn Mountains. Along this drive are ghost towns and an abundance of lakes and rivers.
A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees. For full details see NRRS Reservation Policy
$12 - $100 / night
Guide
We chose Dixie because it was a little closer to civilization than Yellow Pine, Wetmore & Oregon campgrounds further east on Hwy 26. There is no host, it’s at a higher elevation and it is a little off the highway. The loop is kind of on two levels so some spaces are well spaced out. Vault toilets distributed around the loop. The one we used was clean and supplied. There were only 2-3 other sites occupied and no one near us when we stayed. No reservations. We chose a site that sat a bit downhill from where our car was parked but was a really lovely spot. We didn’t mind hauling our stuff down. The wind picked up the first afternoon we were there and we actually saw a tree fall in the distance which was a little disconcerting. Just be aware of where you place your tent and the trees around you. Absolutely beautiful area with wild strawberries and blueberries and salmon berries, currants and more. Loved the peace and tranquillity of this campground but close enough to Prairie City which is where we got firewood (from Mountain View mini mart, no wood at Huffman’s Market & no wood at Austin House market at the top of the pass). We visited the little Sumpter Railroad interpretive site and Bates State Park both great for walking around with kids. Would definitely come back and do more hiking in the Blue Mountains.
Scout
I stayed at the teepee next to the John Day River. There are two total and they are a little isolated from the campground. They provide a large camping area and fireplace with a beautiful view of the mountains behind the camp. The front view, however, leaves a bit to be desired. There is a highway in front of the campground and a big parking lot with rv water hookups, so vehicles are constantly coming in and out. There is also a restroom, which is a considerable walk from the teepee, and makes it feel more like a reststop than a campground.
The rest of the campsites are in a wooded loop and seem much nicer than the teepee area. The teepee inside is very bare bones compared to the luxury of yurts offered at other camp grounds. The floor is a concrete slab. There are six green acrylic mats and a small stool and very small space heater. There are holes in the bottom parts of the teepee and a giant gap in the ceiling. All of these elements would be nice in the summer. Trying to sleep in here when its 27 degrees is another story. Next time i will stay in a tent. The campground provides a free bundle or firewood.
Legend
We stopped by Anthony Lakes on our way back to the Willamette Valley from Baker City. The campsite is on a property that becomes a ski resort in the winter (it's at over ~7000 ft). The campground was immaculately maintained and had lots of recreation options. On weekends in the summer, the ski lift becomes a mountain biking lift, there are hiking trails, and of course lakes. The lakes themselves are pretty small, but big enough for some kayak adventuring and swimming. We got caught in a summer thunderstorm, so we were glad we had a shelter to pop up.
Our site was private with access to the lake trail. Pit toilets, but everything was very clean. There are also walk-up sites around the back of the lake which had more mosquitos, but were very spacious. It looks like there is one yurt on top of the mountain. The mountain bike path goes by it, and it looks like it has great views.
This was an easy drive from Baker City, a little far from Portland unless you're going to make a multi-day vacation out of it. On the way through the mountains, there's plenty of gold mining history, a historical dredge, and some ghost towns to stop by.
Lots of chipmunks, so watch what you leave out (even momentarily).
LegendIn general, Oregon State Parks are great. This is another nice one with plenty of tent and RV sites available. Bathrooms and showers on-site. The park sits nestled in a picturesque treed area, near the Painted Hills. Great location if you are wanting to get to the Painted Hills area of central Oregon.
Legend
May 17-26, 2019 Very nice campground. Site C6 walk-up site had electric and water. Park has dump station, Restrooms had flush toilets but no hot water and no showers. Elevation 4,097. Verizon had 2 bars 4G. Address: 17564 Sumpter Stage Highway, Baker City Oregon 97814. Hike 16 mile trail around the lake. Legally sale cannibus in Sumpter - 10 miles from the park. Enjoyed D&J Taco Shop restaurant downtown. No sales tax in Oregon.
GuideNote this is NOT the southern Oregon campground near the Rogue, this is on Phillips Reservoir lake in eastern Oregon. Nice campground, some sites with hookups. Sites are nicely spaced and private enough, and the basic facilities are clean. Nice atmosphere. Minimal cell service on Verizon. I'm giving 4 stars ONLY because with the current drought the reservoir itself was unusable, which was the main attraction for us picking it in the first place, but not a fault of the campground itself.
RangerCamped here on a bike trip (as with many of my other adventures). Not very dense in the green department. This was a nice departure from the campgrounds in the Oregon Cascades. A little more arid and desert-y. Some raccoons got into our panniers, though!
Smoky Bear greets you at the entrance. Don't forget to say Hi!
RangerOnce Union Creek was ran by a family and had a great restaurant called Beckie’s, Union creek resort, cabins, sledding area… but now has been bought out by bigger businesses and it’s changed. It’s a good campground in one of the prettiest forests around Oregon in my opinion but it doesn’t feel the way it once did.
Traveler
We were looking for a campground to stay at on our way from eastern Oregon to the John Day wilderness area. Bates State Park was a perfect overnight spot, just far enough off Hwy 26 to be quiet and exceptionally clean and well maintained. There are no hookups, and it will be a few years before vegetation matures to offer more privacy between spaces, but the park was uncrowded and felt private nonetheless. There are very interesting signs telling about the logging history of the area as well as a playground and nature trails.
RangerThis really is an RV spot. Yes, you can tent camp here but it's expensive ($24 for Oregon residents, $34 for out of staters) and it's right next to the road. It's loud. Really loud. Wake you up when you're sleeping loud.
That said, it does have all amenities: good Verizon service, firewood for sale, hot showers, tables, fire pits with grills, etc. And it's close to town. So for that it could be the right fit for people needing all that.
For me, I'd skip it, especially if you're in a tent.
ScoutThis is always such a great place to stop when traveling between Idaho and western Oregon. It has lots of shade, lawn, and hedges that offer privacy between the large camp sites. Super clean showers and restrooms, dog friendly, and a nice trail to walk along next to the river. Yes, the sites closer to the road are noisier due to traffic, while the ones closer to the river are the buggiest in the summer, but if you want hook ups, easy access, and an RV dump and don't mind paying for all these amenities, this is the place. We stayed in site 9, which has a super long paved and level driveway giving you lots of peace and quiet.
Legend
We headed this way to get away from smoke caused by the 2020 Central Oregon fires. It was a great choice. Still hazy long distance views but had great views of the stars at night. Peaceful and lovely spot. We paddled on the lake, hiked around it, drove up to the top of the ski area for the view and part of our group hiked down from there. We were able to drive through the campground with the 27' trailer we had rented but none of the spaces would have accommodated us (that we could see). We were lucky, though, they let us stay in the group camp since there were no reservations for a few days. It was a little snug, but worked out beautifully. The campground proper looked very pretty as well.
LegendGeneral: 31 site state park that does not take reservations. There was plenty of availability at 4 pm on a Friday in April.
Site Quality: Sites are all level with paved pads, ranging in length from 37 to 84 feet. Good separation between the sites and some have foliage providing some amount of privacy. A large picnic table, fire ring, electric hookup, and wastewater drain complete each site. There are also two teepees. Sites along the river are better; road noise would obviously be louder at the sites that back up to the road.
Bathhouse: Up to many Oregon State Park standards with hot water, soap, utility shelves, and paper towels. Clean. Showers are free ($2 for non-campers) but did not use so cannot comment on their quality.
Activities: Not too much to do but there is a nice nature trail about a half-mile long that meanders along the John Day River. It forks a couple of times and if you keep to the left each time, you will eventually end up at a fence at the boundary of private property, but it is easy enough to loop around and return to the campground.
Although this campground is close to the road and you will hear road noise, it was also peaceful and quiet during our stay.
Legend**Ranger Review: Midland Radios at Anthony Lakes Campground Review: **
This is my favorite place in Oregon. It’s vast and quaint- everything that you would imagine from a 7,000 elevation retreat! We arrived a couple of days prior to when the site was officially supposed to open (July 1- depending on snow) so, we ended up staying in the Anthony Lakes Ski Area parking lot. A combination of snow and mud prevented anyone from using the official campsites but that didn’t stop a handful of people from camping and fishing nearby. During our three-day stay, we had snow, rain, and sunshine. It was wonderful!
Top reasons I love this campground:
Product Review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt, occasionally I get to test products. At this campground, I tested the Midland Radios X-Talker Extreme Dual Pack T77VP5. Being in a vast wooded area, I was thrilled to have radios that worked well and could be easily charged with a USB cord and a power block. Lightweight and easy to attach to a backpack or belt.
**Pros: **
TravelerWhat a beautiful site for camping. Saw several deer there when we arrived. It was very peaceful.
Traveler
This area is on your up to strawberry campground, its nice and clean and quite! Slide horse has areas for your horses. It's gorgeous and the creek is just a few feet to go get water for animals and your fire pits and to put your feet in. Looking forward to coming back soon!
Guide
Pretty nice park, bathrooms and showers a mile away. Did not stay here we moved on
RangerShaded pull through and easy back in sites. Good value. Stream running next to the sites. Close to town. It is next to the fairgrounds, but very quit when no events. Good place to spend the night while traveling through
GuideWe just stopped for the night and it worked well. I checked in late and it was a little confusing. Had a hard time getting the PIN to access the bathroom. Site had what we needed and was very quiet.
LegendWe had reserved a site here and upon arrival, pulled in among all the large RVs, where our campervan was dwarfed. Spaces were all level and gravel with full hook-ups (20/30/50 amp). Large picnic table but difficult to determine which one was ours as the sites are close together with no privacy between them. The sites in the row we were in were all pull-throughs and the John Day River was just beyond the road which was nice.
The most welcoming part of the park was the sign on our site otherwise it was dismal (the overcast weather didn’t help). We later heard from someone that there had recently been some thefts at the park.
The bathhouse is accessed by walking through a grassy area and was pretty basic but clean. We chose this campground based on the reviews and I realize our opinion may be in the minority but we just didn’t get a good vibe here. If we had a large RV, we might have felt differently. We stayed for about 45 minutes debating what to do but in the end, left and found a space at the state park about eight miles away that better suited our needs.
GuideSelf service kiosk, 30$ a night full hook ups. Pull throughs and back in sites. Showers and bathrooms are clean and across a grass area (see photo)
Scout
We stopped here after a long drive from Stanley, ID enroute to Reno. Found the campground on The Dyrt app. Only 3 campers were at the site. Very quiet. Our dog swam in the river. The toilet was clean & didn’t smell. Very shaded sites.
TravelerThis is a very nice Forest Service campground along the Middle Fork of the John Day River. The sites are nicely laid out and are a fair distance from each other. Although the campground is adjacent to a paved road, there was little traffic during our two night stay.
The river is a little difficult to access because of shrubs and small trees, but this is actually good news because so much of the Middle Fork has been damaged by mining and cattle. Continuing west on the road brings you to several very interesting locations with information boards that describe the reclamation efforts of the Warm Spring Tribe on 2,000 acres of land through which the river runs.
LegendWe have spent 3 nights total at this USFS campground. It is a small campground along the middle fork of the John Day River. There are 2 vault toilets to service this small campground. There is no water or garbage so bring your own water and pack out your garbage. The sites are very spacious and you are far from your neighbors. The road is close but there was little traffic. When we were there in May, there were wildflowers everywhere. We were the only ones there. You are surrounded by large pine trees. Along the access road, there has been reclamation of the John Day changing it from a dredged out mess to a meandering river with newly planted pine trees and tree trunks to enable the salmon to return.
GuideThe drive from Salem to John Day took about 6.5 hours. Then I spent the afternoon and early evening looking for a campground (my first campground fell through when my Mazda 3 couldn’t climb the last few miles…a story for another day). Before long, the storm clouds began to gather, lightening began to flash, and the occasional BIG drop of rain would hit my windshield. I needed to find a campground FAST! Bates State Park was close by, so I decided I would hang my hat there for the night.
Bates State Park has a little growing up to do. It has lush green grass and lots of trees. Unfortunately, the trees are 4-5 feet tall, so they provide no shade. The campsites are close together and there is no privacy…which wasn’t a problem since there were just four RVs using the campground. I was the only tent camper. Bates is considered a primitive campground, because there is no water or electricity at the campsites. But, there are water spigots throughout the campground and the pit toilets are the nicest/cleanest that I have every used…serious!
Bates State Park has an interesting history. It was the site of the Bates Lumber Mill company town. At one time it boasted 400 residents. All that remains are a few trees, a lilac bush, and the mill pond. You can reach the mill pond via one of the many trails throughout the 130+ acres.
Would I stay again? Probably not. However, it is a perfect stop for a quick overnight. It is also a very accessible place for RVs to park.
GuideUsed it as a stop over on a trip between Wallowa SP and Redmond, OR. No reservations, no problem, as there were only 3 other RVs when we arrived at about 5 pm.
Green grassy area, gravel roads and pads. No hookups, nice day use area, nice short trails, and local history of the site.
RangerThis is a Primitive Campground. No RV Hook Ups. Reservations Cannot be made.
Sites are spacious and pads are gravel. Perfect campground to spend the night in after taking in John Day and heading for Baker City, OR.
There is no playground, but a nice picnic area is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Prairie City, OR is Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site with a 4.3-star rating from 27 reviews.
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