Sherwood is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
$22 - $74 / night
"The campsites are horse friendly and the trails are absolutely gorgeous- it felt like being out in the wild."
"No potable water, so bring your own. There is 1 restroom and no desinated camp sites. But we love it!"
$15 - $30 / night
"Very quiet and camp spots were perfect distance. Plenty of restrooms. The stream has some swim sections, but not entirely. Bring water shoes!"
"I usually stay at Cedar Grove nearby, but stayed here this year (2020). The campground is clean with water sometimes available."
$45 / night
"The RV toilet, hammock, fire pit, and picnic table were well maintained."
"Our site was secluded and we had privacy. The pond area is beautiful with all the statues found around it. Highly recommend and we plan to visit again :)"
"Wonderful location next to the confluence of Elk Creek and the Wilson River. Vault toilets. Pump water. Walk-in/tents only, so no RVs, but still a nice location."
"Elk Creek Campground is gorgeous, shady, Elk Creek itself winds around the campsites spooning it and provides ample swimming and fishing spots."
$15 / night
"This is a great site if you like "rustic" (which we do) since the sites are walk in-only. Adorable sites with picnic tables, fire rings and just enough privacy."
"First of all, it is an easy enough drive from Portland, about an hour or so."
"These sites are beautiful and really meant for tent camping—but you can park an rv in most of the spots.
There is a vault toilet closer to site 14 but no hookups."
"Gorgeous spots all over that are accessible in most 4WD/off-road capable vehicles."
$15 - $30 / night
"We stayed within 50 yards of the water and was indulging in the river noise to destress to."
"Hiking nearby with tabletop rock and about 25 miles of trail right across the road. Only issue I have found is the logging trucks run all night."
LegendCamped here for the second year in a row, and it did not disappoint. We got lucky with a nice spot on the creek this year, which I would recommend for the best experience. The sites are spacious and most are pretty private which is great. It is primitive, no showers and just one vault toilet. I will say that the site did have a fair amount of trash on it which was disappointing, but we cleaned it up before heading out. Remember to leave no trace!!
TravelerI love this campground.
Specifically, I love site number 10.
There are 23 sites at this campground, though sites 10-23 are reservable, leaving sites 1-9 ‘first come, first served’. To get to the campground, you’re going to be working on the far left side of the Welcome Center parking lot. They have allotted several parking spots there, as well as a huge parking area for other cars and trailers. Once you park, grab your gear and hike on down that path straight ahead! If you have. A lot of gear they have three carts available to haul everything out in one go.
The trail to the camp is about 1/4 mile, it’s dirt in some places and gravel in others. The trail is very easy, you go down a ways, and then hit a gradual short climb to the few station. If you haven’t paid online (reserved spot), you will need to fill in the information on one of the provided permits, write down your car infix, put the fee in, and drop it in the box. (Right now the sites are $11/night). Place the white top copy on your dashboard (yes, you have to hike back out there. I know, I know.) OR: You can skip all of that, set up camp in your chosen (non-reserved) spot, and go pay at the welcome center drop box. Saves you a trip.
When you’re done with all of that and want to find your spot, there are two trails; one on each side of the fee board. The left goes through sites 23 and up. The right side starts with site 1. It's just one gigantic loop so whichever way you choose will lead you to the right spot.
I was in site 10, and took the left: this ended up being the long yet scenic choice.
There are communal fire rings in the back section (which is great for groups!). There are no trash cans: pack it in, pack it out. There are pit toilets available: aka, outhouses. The doors lock, there's hand sanitizer provided. Going into the pit toilets, and then coming out really makes you appreciate the fresh air of the great outdoors.
The tent pads are a typical woodsy mix of pine straw, leaves, and loose gravel. Sleeping pads are a blessing, but so are nicely stacked lead piles in a pinch. Tent stakes require a little oomph, I just use the ball of my shoe to push it into the ground.
If there's one thing you want to pack, it's bug spray. It's not overly buggy, but the mosquitoes are there, and you don't want them to dampen your experience! Be on the safe side.
There are no food storage lockers, you cannot leave food out on the tables. You are still in the wilderness, and you are in bear/cougar territory. Hang your bags, or go throw your food back in trunk of your car. Best case scenario is you wake up to some trash pandas ransacking your site if you leave food out.
Overall, this has become one of my favorite spur-of-the-moment camping spots and I come back twice a week.
LegendCampground Review: Brooke Creek Hike-in Camp
Brooke Creek Hike-in Camp is one of 3 campgrounds within Stub Stewart State Park, and the only one that really feels like you’re actually camping out in the woods – because you are.
The tent only hike in camp isn’t a long haul from the parking area at the welcome center – it’s about ¼ mile and the trail into the campground is mostly gravel. There are carts available for hike in campers to use at the campground trailhead if needed. Note that if you’re using a cart, that the walk in is uphill.
The campground area is wooded and each site has a picnic table. There are pit toilets and a water point. There are not fire pits in the sites—the fire pit areas are shared in central places in the campground. Some of the sites have a lot more privacy than others. I was camping in an unusually warm mid-week in May so the campground was mostly empty.
I chose Site 1 because it had a good place for my hammock. If the campground had been full, I’d have picked a site a lot further in since the first few sites are right along the single trail that all campers/hikers would be using. Some of the sites can be reserved in advance, and some are always open for walk ups.
The self-registration is at the campground, NOT at the trailhead, so you’ll have to hike in, register, and then return your camping receipt to your car. If you’re paying with cash, bring your money on the first hike in. You can also pay with your credit card number.
There are lots of trails directly accessible from the campground including the Banks-Vernonia Bike Trail as well as other hiking, biking and equestrian trails. I had a nice run on the Bumping Knots Loop.
Product Review: The PRIMUS LITE+ Backpacking Stove
As a Ranger for The Dyrt I sometimes get to test and evaluate quality products from amazing sponsors. On this camping trip, I tested out the Primus LITE+ backpacking stove. https://primus.us/products/eta-lite-7?variant=38436885010
I’ve been in the market for a backpacking stove for awhile, looking for a lightweight and simple to setup option, so I was excited to get to test out the Primus LITE+. I opted for the .5L pot because I often camp solo (there is also a PRIMUS LITE XL version with a 1L pot available), Also, you can purchase the XL pot separately as an accessory which will give me more options when camping with a partner.
Here are my opinions on the PRIMUS LITE+ after using it for one camping trip to make dinner and breakfast:
PROS:
Boils Fast: The PRIMUS LITE+ stove is incredible at the most basic things it needs to be good for: boiling water fast! In under 2 minutes start to finish you can assemble the stove and bring your water to a boil. Plus, fast boiling means you aren’t using a lot of fuel.
Size/Weight: The whole stove system packs into itself and is about the size of a large mug including the fuel canister. I can fit the entire thing into the side pocket of my backpack. With the canister it weighs about a pound.
Pot Versatility: The pot that comes with the PRIMUS LITE+ locks to the stove giving it a good wind shield, and allowing you to hang the pot to boil if you don’t have even terrain. The XL pot which is sold separately also attached to the same setup. If you aren’t backpacking and want to use another pan or pot, there are small pegs which screw into the stove top to allow you to use any cooking set up. The pegs are stored in the handle of the stove so you don’t lose them.
Accessories: I haven’t gotten it yet, but the LITE+ has a coffee press attachment so you can brew a cup straight in the pot. Always a bonus when a simple attachment means one less thing to carry for your perfect camping setup.
CONS:
Fuel Canister: The smaller canisters needed if you want to pack your fuel into the kit aren’t as readily available at places like Target or Walmart where I can more easily pick up my camping fuel when I’m on the road to camp. If I want to pack it all in to the pot, I’ll need to shop in advance at REI or a specialty outdoor store that carries the smaller canisters.
Insulation: The insulated sleeve on the pot makes it easy to hold and to drink from, but after just a couple of uses it was already getting pretty dirty with coffee and soup debris. It isn’t as easy to keep clean, and since the handle is actually part of the insulation sleeve, you can’t effectively use the pot without it.
It’s Small: Being small is one of the benefits of the stove, but the .5L mug/pot is smaller than I anticipated. While it’s perfect for a solo trip, you’ll want the 1L pot if you’re cooking for more than one.
Overall, Primus LITE+ is a great stove that’s efficient. I’d opt for the bigger size if I were to buy it again, since it would be more versatile with only a little added weight and easier to fit the more readily available fuel cartridge.
ScoutI camped there in my RV several times and always tried to get slot A13. It’s all the way at the end and has a nice amount of space and only a potential neighbor on one side. I also tent camped and, after scouting the sites, chose C6. That site is a bit small but is away from the rest and above them on the slope so you don’t need your rain fly for privacy.
LegendThe Dairy Creek Campground at Stub Stewart is a two loop campground. The sites are spacious, but there isn't much character. The East loop is pretty much an open field. The west loop has a few more trees but still not much privacy or space between sites.
Dairy Creek is clean and well maintained, and has great access to the trails and disc golf around the park. If you're in an RV this is a good set up. If you're camping with kids, there's a play area here.
There are a few "walk in" sites where you don't park your car next to your tent, but rather in the parking lot next to the grassy area where the open tent sites are. If you're looking for a better tent camping experience that actually feels like it's in the woods, you're better off going to the hike in campground in the park.
The loops are big and there is parking near the bathroom. This is great if you don't want to walk a long way, but it's bad if you've got the campsite near the bathroom with all the cars coming and going.
LegendRead up on this location with some good info. Flat paved sites for dry camping.
Lost Creek Campground has 10 single-family campsites and is located on one of the largest pyroclastic volcanic mudflows from Mt. Hood’s “Old Maid” eruption in the 1700s. Fortunately all of the mudflows have cooled. Campsites can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs. Two yurts are also available. Campground amenities include a picnic area, drinking water and vault toilets. Firewood is also available for sale from the camp host.
Lost Creek / Mt. Hood Area Recreation
Outdoor recreation includes fishing. Visitors also enjoy fishing, hiking, mountain biking and wildlife viewing. The Wild and Scenic Sandy River is also not far from the popular Ramona Falls Trailhead. Mt. Hood is just southeast of the campground offers visitors the opportunity for a nice a day trip.
AMENITIES
BBQ Grills
Campsite Tables
Comfort Station
Drinking Water
Fire Pit
Fire Rings
Firewood Available
Golden Age & Access Passports accepted
Grills
Pets OK
Picnic Tables
Restrooms (Vault Toilets)
ACTIVITIES
Biking
Bird Watching
Creek
Fishing
Hiking
Mountain Biking
Nature Trails
Photography
Picnicking
River
Walking Trails
Wildlife Viewing
TravelerTrask River Campground is 20 minutes away from Tillamook. There is not a lot of service around the area going to Tillamook so go straight to Tillamook town center and start your GPS for accurate directions (or until you get good service). You will have no service whatsoever up at the campground but that’s what camping is for, to enjoy your time outdoors! You might as well get all of your needs in town before you head up, Safeway in Tillamook has bundles of wood for $5.99, for two nights we used 4 bundles (they come with fire starter kits).
There is no showers or sinks but there is multiple “vault” toilets around the campground. For clean water there is multiple pumps around the campsite, bring your own soap.
Nice swing set and grassy areas for kids or pets to run around. If you’re lucky enough you will wake up to elk grazing in the grassy areas.
There is a main road in between the campgrounds since sites go from A-C. People fly up and down that road at 50+ MPH so watch your kids and pets.
Multiple trails and cool things to see around the campground! Enjoy!
LegendWhile there are several camp and RV sites in Beacon Rock State Park, this is the only group site that I know of and it fits up to 200 people at around $4-$5 per person (the website says rates vary by person, but this is the rough price I've heard) with a minimum of 30 people to reserve the site. There's no showers on-site, you can head to the main campground across the road if needed.
Features include two super-cool open fronted cabins (called adirondack shelters), a covered picnic area made from huge timbers, one kitchen shelter with limited power, and scattered picnic tables. There's an enormous meadow that would fit a hundred tents plus areas for RVs as well (though no hookups). Two vault toilets are at the top of the meadow, with flush toilets also accessible a mile or so away at the moorage campground.
Perfect for large groups such as family reunions, but also fun with just 6-8 families since the minimum numbers are pretty low.
Tip: When reserving online, this site is called G1 and requites a minimum of 30 occupants. The cost for 30 people for one night in July was $138.77, or about $4.62 per person. The weekends book up months in advance, but week days are often free.
LegendAffordable national forest camp site. Not too many actual camp sites, but very quiet. Wonderful location next to the confluence of Elk Creek and the Wilson River. Vault toilets. Pump water. Walk-in/tents only, so no RVs, but still a nice location.
A 7-minute drive from the awesome Tillamook Forestr Center, which has really cool exhibits on the area.
Nestled near Sherwood, Oregon, tent camping offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying a variety of outdoor activities. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to pitch your tent and unwind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Sherwood, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Sherwood, OR is Willamette Mission State Park Horse Camp — Willamette Mission State Park with a 4-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Sherwood, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 53 tent camping locations near Sherwood, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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