Columbia County's forested landscape around Rainier, Oregon sits at elevations between 50-1,000 feet, offering mild year-round camping conditions. The area receives approximately 45 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush vegetation and small creeks throughout the camping areas. Winter temperatures average 40-50°F while summer brings 70-85°F days, making camping accessible most of the year with proper preparation.
What to do
Trail riding and hiking: Camp Wilkerson serves primarily as a horse camp with multiple riding paths throughout the property. "This is a pretty large campground, with spaces for RVs/Trailers, tents and a loop of yurts called Yurt village," notes Mary C. about Seaquest State Park Campground, which offers similar trail access just across the Washington border.
Disc golf: Paradise Point State Park features a 9-hole disc golf course. "Located on barely 10 acres the designers have done a good job using every bit of the land here. Hole one is a fun one that plays under a freeway overpass," explains Steve C. who visited Paradise Point State Park Campground.
Kayaking and wading: The Nehalem River provides water activities during warmer months. "We kayaked around it was nice," says Zachary S. about the river access at Big Eddy Park, while access to the Kalama River at Camp Kalama offers similar paddling opportunities.
What campers like
Privacy levels: The tent sites at Camp Wilkerson offer varying degrees of seclusion. "We stayed at the tent site T9 and pretty much had the place to ourselves on Sunday. The solitude and creek nearby made the experience quite tranquil," writes Annie T. about Camp Wilkerson.
Clean facilities: Toutle River RV Resort maintains well-kept bathrooms and amenities. "Everything is clean and well maintained. I like the central area better (closer to facilities)," notes Corinna B. about Toutle River RV Resort.
Kid-friendly amenities: Many campgrounds in the area feature playgrounds and outdoor activities. "This is the kind of RV park that I like. Nice spots surrounded by grass, decent space between sites, and most importantly, lots and lots of things for kiddos to explore. There's random trails, a playground, big green fields, volleyball court, etc," says Corinna B.
What you should know
Shower facilities: While Camp Wilkerson provides free showers, some campers report issues. "The showers are free but the water just sprays everywhere and you have to keep pushing the button for more water," explains Schona K. The upper bathrooms near the horse camp are described as "amazing and worth the walk."
Reservation requirements: Camp Wilkerson has specific reservation rules. "If you do not reserve your spots you can only stay one night and there is an additional $5 transaction fee to pay on site," notes Schona K.
Cell service limitations: Expect limited connectivity. "No Wi-fi is available. Sprint and Verizon have no signal for sure," reports Schona K. Similarly, at L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park, Jess W. notes, "Limited cell service with T-Mobile but it still works!"
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. "The campground is very large and you can walk around and explore back in the wooded areas. There's a frisbee golf course that we didn't use but looks fun, really nice playground for the grandkids that's a fort, a store, swimming pool," shares Richard B. about Toutle River RV Resort.
Yurt camping options: For families seeking alternative accommodations, yurt camping near Rainier, Oregon provides comfort with outdoor access. "Loved the yurt village, which is in its own area on the other side of the campground from the regular sites. Yurts and restrooms were clean," shares Rachel about Seaquest State Park.
Junior Ranger programs: Seasonal educational activities engage children. "At night the campground had a great Junior Ranger program with a very enthusiastic park ranger that kept the almost 50 people/kids entertained. She was great at engaging all the kids and teaching them about the park, highly recommend this for anyone bringing kids," recommends Ashley B.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Carefully consider site placement when booking. "Some were very apparent that it was smaller than other sites, but I loved that each site came with picnic table. Also some camp sites did not accommodate for multiple tents because uneven grounds and tree stumps," advises Susan P. about Fort Stevens State Park Campground.
Noise considerations: Several campgrounds sit near highways or train tracks. "One down side to the whole experience: Freeway is really really close to the whole camp site. You can hear vehicles at night. If you're a light sleeper or need nature noises when camping - this is not the site for you," warns Susan P. about Paradise Point.
Hookup accessibility: RV sites often feature full hookups, but placement varies. "The water and sewer hookups were in the middle of the site, with electric being at the back of the pad. The water pressure was not very good at around 35 psi," shares MickandKarla W.
