Camping near Shedd, Oregon centers around the South Santiam River watershed with elevations ranging between 300-500 feet. Most camping areas in this region experience hot, dry summers with temperatures regularly reaching 90°F during July and August. Winter camping requires preparation for rainfall averaging 4-5 inches monthly between November and January.
What to do
Disc golf access: Waterloo County Park offers an 18-hole disc golf course through forest terrain near camping areas. "The park is located along the Santiam River and apparently a good fishing spot as we saw several people fishing. There are hiking trails in the woods and also a Disc Golf course," notes Kevin H.
Waterfall exploration: Several campgrounds provide access to cascading waterfalls within short driving distance. "Campgrounds were fairly nice and had a woodsy feel. Nearby hiking includes McDowell creek falls where there are a couple of medium grade hiking trails that can be muddy. The falls are quite beautiful and worth a visit even if you're not into hiking since most of them even the bigger ones are accessible with just a short walk down wooden stairs," explains Kassidy D. about Waterloo County Park.
River activities: The South Santiam River offers multiple water recreation options near glamping accommodations. "Your in the woods at this location, bring your boats/canoe/kayak the reservoir is huge to explore," recommends a reviewer about Whitcomb Creek County Park, which provides direct reservoir access.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds near Shedd maintain above-average bathroom and shower facilities. At Albany-Corvallis KOA, "The park and bathrooms are very clean," according to Sean M., while another camper mentioned, "Washrooms and showers were clean, just wished for a little more shower water pressure."
Privacy options: Despite being established campgrounds, several sites offer secluded camping experiences. "The sites are spaced out nicely and the park is very quiet," notes Kevin H. about Waterloo County Park. Similarly at Whitcomb Creek, a camper shared: "Camp hosts and rangers are always nice and helpful. Tent sites don't have electric or water but water spickets are located around the park if needed. Clean and decent sized sites."
Natural surroundings: The forested environment provides shade and habitat diversity. "Campgrounds were fairly nice and had a woodsy feel," explains Kassidy D., while at Silver Falls State Park, "Site spacing is good with lots of privacy between camps. Bathrooms and showers are super nice and clean. Roads and campsites are paved and level," according to Richard H.
What you should know
Road noise considerations: Several campgrounds near major routes experience traffic sounds. At Albany-Corvallis KOA, Marcus K. notes, "Great campground with nicely spaced and well maintained sites. Clean restrooms, laundry and pool on site. There is a small playground too. Close to Corvalis but you do get a lot of road noise."
Seasonal weather impacts: Different seasons create distinct camping conditions in the area. During summer at Hult Pond, "If you don't mind not having service this place is great to just get away from it all. Only a few good spots and they go fast so definitely get there early to get a good spot," advises Dax S.
Limited connectivity: Many glamping sites close to Shedd have restricted cell service. "We lost cell service about an hour before we even got there, and didn't have any the whole time there," reports Grace A. about Hult Pond Recreation Area, while at the Albany-Corvallis KOA, a camper shared, "The best surprise is wifi that actually works."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "It has a dog park, play disc golf, hiking trails, fish, with ADA fishing deck, boat launch, playground, and two camping loops," notes Cindy U. about Waterloo County Park.
Swimming options: Water access points vary significantly between locations. At Silver Falls State Park, "We love hiking the trails and our kids love the playground and river swimming!" reports April F.
Pet-friendly considerations: Most campgrounds allow pets with specific restrictions. "The dog run is nice, big and well maintained. However, lots of holes and escape options under and through the fence for small dogs," notes Jill R. from Premier RV Resort, adding "This is a very dog friendly park and there is lots of room for dogs but everyone picked up after dogs and we heard almost zero barking."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: RV sites vary considerably in size and privacy levels. At Waterloo County Park, "Loop 'A' is reservable and Loop 'B' open in summer as first come/first serve. Please note there is a water hazard for boater and swimmer down from camping area. Has sites with electric and water, and those without."
Utility hookups: Hookup availability varies by campground. Cindy U. notes, "There is only one site with 50amps the rest is set up for 30amp," at Waterloo, while at Mallard Creek Golf and RV Resort, "Our site had water and electricity. There is a dump on site," according to a reviewer.
Seasonal availability: Operating seasons differ between glamping locations near Shedd. At Whitcomb Creek County Park, a camper advises, "The campground is only open in the summer and as of 2018 has some wonderful updates on Loop 'A' and Loop 'C' (new tables, and site pads, and fire rings)."
