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Best Tent Camping near Seneca, OR

176 Reviews

The Strawberry Mountain Wilderness near Seneca offers secluded tent camping areas in densely forested terrain. Strawberry Campground provides primitive tent sites along a creek in the Malheur National Forest, while Oregon Mine Campground offers free dispersed camping near wildlife viewing opportunities. Trout Farm Campground provides sites near the John Day River with clean facilities and good access to fishing opportunities.

Road conditions to tent campgrounds vary significantly, with several sites requiring high-clearance vehicles on rough forest service roads. Strawberry Campground access involves approximately 6 miles of gravel followed by more challenging forest road conditions that may be impassable for standard passenger vehicles, especially during wet weather. Most primitive tent campsites have vault toilets but no potable water sources. Fire restrictions commonly apply during summer months, and campers should verify current regulations with the Forest Service before visiting. Billy Fields Forest Camp and Crescent Campground provide picnic tables and vault toilets but no drinking water.

Tent campsites in this region offer proximity to hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities. The area features multiple trail access points, including connections to the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness trail system where backpacking opportunities abound. Many tent sites sit adjacent to creeks or small waterways, providing natural white noise and fishing access. According to one visitor, "It's only two free camp sites unless there's more up the road. The sound of stream was nice, and one vault toilet was there." Sites at higher elevations deliver cooler temperatures during summer months, with temperature drops of approximately 20 degrees compared to valley locations. Wildlife sightings are common, with deer frequently visiting campsites in the evening hours and wild horses occasionally spotted in the Oregon Mine Campground area.

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Best Tent Sites Near Seneca, Oregon (36)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Seneca, OR

5 Photos of 36 Seneca Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Seneca, OR

176 Reviews of 36 Seneca Campgrounds

  • Judy T.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 25, 2021

    Idlewild Campground - Malheur

    USFS campground along highway 395

    This is a basic USFS campground north of Burns, Oregon off of 395. There are few campgrounds off this highway so we always camp here. The fee is $10. There are vault toilets and seasonally a camp host with firewood. Standard clean vault toilets and water during high season. Fire ring and picnic table. There are pull through sites for larger rigs. You are surrounded by large pine trees. It is a popular campground in the fall for hunters. Highway 395 is not a busy highway so the campground is quiet. We always stay here when we visit this area.

  • Heather B.
    Aug. 1, 2018

    Strawberry Campground

    Nice, quiet and secluded

    This was a great little campground for getting away from the Memorial Day crowds. Over the weekend we stayed, there were only 2 or 3 other campers as well.

    Just south of Prairie City, this was a good location to explore the surrounding Strawberry Mountain wilderness and John Day Fossil Beds. As the road turns to a forest road, it’s gets a bit adventurous, but we just kicked it into 4 wheel drive and had no trouble getting there. We picked a site next to the creek in the back and it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. We even got a visit from a few deer every night around dinner time. They kept their distance but still came within 20 feet to check us out.

    From the campground, you can take the trails to the lake, which was a fun hike. The vault toilets were clean and the Ranger came around every day to check in. The only thing I would change is the temperature. We didn’t realize it was still so chilly at the end of May and we’re thankful for our extra layers and warmer sleeping bags we packed just in case.

    Tips for camping here:

    *I had my 9 year old nephew with me for this trip and was thankful I brought our bikes and games. Since the campground wasn’t busy, there weren’t other kiddos for him to play with so we needed some fun stuff to do between hikes and outings.

    *There’s a steep drop off next to some sites that goes right into the creek. Keep an eye on kiddos or pick a site farther away from the creek if you’re worried about that.

    *The campground was a bit dusty so bring stuff to wash up when needed.

    *Lots of wildlife in the area so make sure to keep your food and other items locked up so the critters don’t get into it.

    *Bring your own firewood, as there isn’t a camp host to buy it from.

  • K
    Aug. 16, 2021

    Dixie Campground

    Great low key spot

    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.

  • K
    Jun. 25, 2018

    Burns RV Park

    Small but friendly

    Our truck broke down just outside of Burns and we ended up having our travel trailer towed to this RV park, as it was the only place we could stay for the week while waiting to get our truck repaired. We had a full hookup spot, which was super nice, but the spot itself was pretty small. This is typical of many RV parks I have been too - good amenities but small spot.

    There were some other spots in the park that were slightly larger and had picnic tables, but ours did not. We had only a tiny plastic table with 2 chairs, but we were so close to the RV next to us that we were basically either looking in their window or we would have to be right next to the "road'. Not ideal so we didn't spend much time outside.

    There was room here for all sizes of campers - from tents (I saw I guy on a bicycle who tent camped for the night) to giant motorhomes with cars towed behind. The park hosts were all extremely nice and helpful, given our circumstances. They also gave us a military discount since my husband is a veteran.

    Restrooms and showers were fairly small (only 2 toilets and 2 showers in each bathroom) but I think most folks used the facilities in their RVs. The shop/office sells propane and ice, so we were able to restock on both (plus they have wine and ice cream if you need a little splurge).

    The park is right off of the highway so you may get some truck/traffic noise but it didn't seem to bother us city folks too much. :)

    Wifi was fairly decent and you can get some local channels in the TV, if those things are important to you.

    Dog and kid friendly, but there is really not much for either to do here.

    Overall, this suited our purpose, in that we had a nice safe place to stay while our truck was repaired, but I'm not sure I would stay here just for kicks. Close to the Malheur Wildlife Refuge and a great stopover if you need a night to rest while driving through the high desert of Oregon.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2022

    Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site Campground

    Close to the road yet peaceful

    General: 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.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2021

    Bosch's Big Bear RV Park

    Solid Overnight or Short Term Campground

    Bosch's Big Bear RV Park was easy to find and we knew from our pre-arrival email that we were in site 2. We also knew from the website that if you arrive between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM its a $10 charge. We arrived after 1:00 PM, but no one was in the office. There are 10 FHU sites that are pull throughs. However, if you’re longer than about 35’ it is best to just line up on your site in the huge parking lot and back-in. The lane for pulling through is a little tight and we would have hit the nice shade tree they have planted between sites. After we set up, we went back to the office and there’s a chalk board that had info plus a phone number to call. We called the number and talked to the owner who said that her son, who normally manned the office, was out for the afternoon. We didn’t need anything but the WiFi code, which was texted to us. Overall, this is an impressive little campground (CG) that is perfect for an overnight or, in our case, a three day stay. The big and very nice lodge, which at one time had a restaurant, was closed. There is no playground, laundry nor showers, but they do have a porta-potty and a small tent area. There’s obviously water, electric, and sewer at each RV site but also a fresh water spigot and hose at the front of the lodge area and a dump station at the end of the RV sites. A picnic table was set up at our site and there were picnic tables and fire rings you can grab and take to your site, however there was a burn ban so no fires. A WiFi booster is at site three and due to the small size of the CG, plus it was not full, the WiFi signal was outstanding. We got three OTA channels so we set up our satellite with a clear shot to the southern sky. We also got three bars on Verizon. The website provides good info on the CG plus things to do in the area. They are open year round but water is turned off November to March. Hines is just down the road and has your major amenities. Overall, we had a good time exploring the area and would stay here again.

  • Judy T.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 25, 2021

    Middle Fork

    Quiet campground along John Day River

    We 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.

  • Irene L.
    May. 30, 2017

    Oregon Mine Campground

    Simple free horse camp near wild horses

    There are wild horses in this area, but we didn’t get to see any! There is nice hiking in the area in this simple campsite in the middle of nowhere. There are toilets but no water (there’s a creek so boil or treat the water there), close to the road, and a good basecamp for hiking or horseback riding in the area. Big open wooded area to explore and camp in. I wouldn’t drive here in the winter or a wet spring. Lovely wildlife and plants here.

  • Laura C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 5, 2019

    Olive Lake Campground (Or) — Umatilla National Forest

    One of my favorite camping spots

    Well shaded and beautiful. Theres a hike around the lake and also another hike you can do thats in the campgrounds. The hikes are gorgeous. My dog really enjoyed it here. It was shaded and there was a lot of beautiful flowers. Being here just puts me in a great mood. The spots are pretty private with picnic tables and a fire ring. Most of spots were also near the lake. Be sure to bring bug spray or citronella candles to keep away the mosquitos. 😁

Guide to Seneca

Tent campsites near Seneca, Oregon provide access to the rugged Strawberry Mountain ecosystem at elevations ranging from 4,000 to 7,000 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 80°F during daytime hours while dropping into the 40s overnight. Most campgrounds in this region operate seasonally from May through October due to winter snow conditions that make forest roads impassable.

What to do

Hiking to Strawberry Lake: From Strawberry Campground, access the trail to Strawberry Lake for day hiking options. "From the campground, you can take the trails to the lake, which was a fun hike. The vault toilets were clean and the Ranger came around every day to check in," reports Heather B.

Wildlife viewing: Observe native wildlife including deer and wild horses. At Oregon Mine Campground, visitors often spot free-ranging horses. "We woke up to them grazing in our camp ground! We also got to watch a modern Cattle Drive!" notes Patty R.

Creek fishing: Many sites provide stream access for trout fishing opportunities. "Little pond with camp sites surrounding. No portable water but next to the John Day River, and clear to filter," explains Kate W. about the fishing access at Trout Farm.

What campers like

Temperature relief: Campgrounds at higher elevations provide escape from summer heat. "Dropped 20 degrees from the hot valley floor. Around 8 spots, first come, but a few other spots on the way up, for dispersed," writes Chris B. about camping at Strawberry Campground.

Natural soundscapes: Creeks provide ambient background noise at many campsites. "There was a stream next to sites. It seemed clean and quiet though, the sound of stream was nice," explains Stephanie F. about her experience at Billy Fields Forest Camp.

Solitude and seclusion: Most campgrounds remain uncrowded even during peak season. "This was a great little campground for getting away from the Memorial Day crowds. Over the weekend we stayed, there were only 2 or 3 other campers as well," notes Heather B. about her Strawberry Campground experience.

What you should know

Road conditions: Many access roads require high-clearance vehicles. "The road was slick. The ruts and holes in the road began to increase. When I was about 2 miles away from Strawberry Campground, I turned around. I just didn't trust my Mazda 3 to make it without bottoming out," warns Mary G.

Limited cell service: Most camping areas have no cellular coverage. Patty R. advises about Oregon Mine Campground: "No water, no garbage service, and no cell service. For us...no problem! We do carry an InReach Emergency communication device that we can always get an emergency message out."

Water sources: Most sites require bringing your own water or treating natural sources. "No portable water but next to the John Day River, and clear to filter. Bathrooms were really clean, sites were tidy," notes Kate W. about Trout Farm campground.

Tips for camping with families

Wildlife education opportunities: Children can observe deer and other wildlife from safe distances. "We even got a visit from a few deer every night around dinner time. They kept their distance but still came within 20 feet to check us out," shares Heather B. from her Strawberry Campground experience.

Pack extra activities: Some sites offer limited natural entertainment for children. "I had my 9 year old nephew with me for this trip and was thankful I brought our bikes and games. Since the campground wasn't busy, there weren't other kiddos for him to play with," recommends Heather B.

Creek safety: Some campsites feature steep drop-offs near water. "There's a steep drop off next to some sites that goes right into the creek. Keep an eye on kiddos or pick a site farther away from the creek if you're worried about that," cautions Heather B. about Strawberry Campground.

Tips from RVers

Site accessibility: Last portions of forest roads may challenge larger vehicles. "It's accessed from a nine or ten mile dirt road, a bit of a challenge to navigate the last mile," notes Joel M. about reaching Strawberry Campground with an RV.

Weather preparedness: Mountain weather changes rapidly and affects road conditions. "We got caught in rain, sleet, snow, and graupel all in one day but that's hardly the campground's fault. If you can get up the sketchy and rough road, it's a beautiful site," advises Andrew S. about Strawberry Campground.

Insect protection: Some campgrounds have significant mosquito populations during certain seasons. "There was too mosquitoes for me, probably because there is a stream next to sites," reports Stephanie F. about Billy Fields Forest Camp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Seneca, OR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Seneca, OR is Strawberry Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 6 reviews.

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