Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Silver Lake, OR is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Silver Lake. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
"The second night we were joined by several people who had car tents but we never felt like we were on top of one another."
"Stayed the night after hiking nearby Crack-in-the-Ground. 5 sites, two could easily accommodate our 21' caravan. Outstanding view. Night sky was incredible as was the sunrise."
LegendOur first time here at East Lake Campground in the last week of September 2023 just 1 day before the park closed for the season. Because East Lake Campground is 6500 feet in elevation the nights were very cold, from 44 to 31 degrees but normally the days were in the morning windy and about 62*. The camp has 29 sites and NO hookups.
There is flush toilets, NO showers, but had drinking water. East Lake also had 1 boat launch but the water was very low, some 40' down from the edge of the bank to the water. Great fishing and a great place for kayaks. Each site has a picnic table and fireplace. Most Sites on the lake side has pull-thru that were about 50' long. Some back-in sites were only 35'. Very quite campground and not too close to each others camp site. We camped at East Lake Campground in a Travel Trailer.
Restrooms Flush toilets, faucet water. No hookups, No electric, No water hookup, No sewer hookup. You can fill your water tank FREE at the ($10) Dump Station so you don't have the weight in your rig. Dog-friendliness Lots of space to run and play.
RangerThis CG is right on Paulina lake in the middle of Newberry Crater. There are 50 sites along the shoreline. They all have the standard picnic table and fire ring. We had the first site on the left as you enter the CG. It had a great view of the lake and surrounding ridgeline and Paulina Peak. It also allows for a wonderful sunset.
The campground is generally crowded. The sites are decent but you will have other campers relatively close, The CG is easily accessed by foot, car or boat. It does have a boat ramp. RV's / Campers can get into most sites. There are 5 Vault toilets, drinking water, no showers, no hook ups. each site is in close walking distance to the lake. The CG is accessible to various trails in the area including the Big Obsidian Flow trail. A bonus hike should be taken to the Paulina Lake hot springs on the north side of the lake. You can also get to the hot springs by boat.
TravelerWe stayed here for three days, two nights. We took our 4 cylinder Hyundai up here packed full, and the gravel road leading up to the campsite was well maintained.
The campsite itself was clean and beautiful. There were very few people using this place, so for the most part we were almost totally alone. There is no garbage service; Plan on packing your garbage out. There was one restroom with a vault toilet. No water either, so bring plenty.
The wildlife was beautiful. There were chickadees that kept flying up to us, and these really cute golden mantle ground squirrels. They are cute, but watch out! One will distract you pretending to be cute and friendly, but then there's another one or two getting into everything you leave within their reach. They will steal your food. When you catch them, they'll run away with their fat little faces full.
They never really run far away either. They have tunnels and nests everywhere in the campground, so they'll hide and wait till you're not paying attention anymore. BAM, THEY'RE STEALING YOUR FOOD AGAIN!
There was a sharp shinned hawk who kept coming by our camp. My wife thought it wanted our small dog, but I think maybe it was looking for those chickadees that kept coming around.
The night sky was beautiful. Whether you're an astronomer, or just a casual star gazer, it's worth the drive down here. There's an observatory run by a local University here, and they offer tours to the public on weekends. You can call and inquire about how crowded the site is, weather, and other things.
There were some noisy campers having a party who arrived on our second day. They were kinda loud, and they kept walking all over the campsite which kinda distracted from the whole experience, but for the most part we were alone. There were fire rings and picnic tables at all the spurs. Some of the spurs we kinda close to each other, but there was hardly anybody here, so that made up for it.
We didn't get any cell service with Sprint here. That's fine with me though, I'd rather not use my phone.
Overall, I loved this place and I will definitely go back.
TravelerAbout 6 miles on a washboard gravel road up to 6,000’ elevation. Primitive sites, but mostly level. Vault toilet, no water. U of O’s Pine Mountain Observatory is at the same site, currently closed for Covid. Cows will visit occasionally, but overall very relaxing. Excellent star views from your hammock or up on top of the mountain next to the radio towers lol.
LegendFor a small campground, which could only accommodate small RV’s and tenters, this campground has everything you might need. Along the banks of Sage Hen Creek, this intimate campground offers well-spaced out sites, with a fire ring and picnic table each. The two vault toilets were very clean and well stocked. The campground has trash, a returnables bin and drinking water.
With the large ponderosa pines overhead we had to be strategic about our parking situation for our camper’s solar array. In many of these situations we set out our portable panel so that we can keep our camper in the shade and still collect solar energy to keep our small battery charged.
There are plenty of hiking trails and opportunities for cycling and fishing throughout the National Forest area. There was a recent forest fire on the other side of the creek so the views are stunning in their own haunting way. Just a few miles back down the road, the town of Paisley has a few services, a small cafe, gas station/ convenience store, post office and of course a drive-thru barista. The closest larger town is Lakeview with a few more services, but don’t try to do your laundry there!
GuideThis campsite is dry camping. Silver Creek may be dry, as it has been since 2021. No facilities other than a picnic table. No Cell, No WiFi, etc. If you like totally 'being away from it all,' this is your place, if you can get there.
GuideSmall campground along the edge of the lake; every spot has a beautiful view of the mountains and the lake, and has quick access to the water. Spots on the eastern side of the campground are bordered by a steep hill or thickly forested area, great for providing morning shade and a fun area for kids to hike up and play "I'm king of the world!" Spots on the western side sit right on the lake and all have unobstructed sunset views. All sites have picnic tables and fire rings, nearby vault restrooms, & dish washing stations. The camp host sells firewood.
Campsites are a bit close together, with trailers and tents all in the same area. Some are much bigger than others, but each is unique. Sites near the boat ramp get more traffic, but it's not too busy.
Great for kayaks, paddle boards, or just floating. Hiking trail from the campground goes all the way around the lake, with natural hot springs on the way. There's also the nearby Paulina Lake Lodge, serving meals & cocktails.
TravelerEasily found a spot midweek in June, but was still pretty chilly at night. Hiked out to the hot springs (they’re basically shallow puddles of hot water along the shore, but still enjoyable). Basic campground- picnic tables, fire rings and pit toilets. Not much privacy, but everyone was pretty quiet so overall a nice place to spend a night or two.
LegendCamping at Juniper Camp is free. Easy access to the sand dunes; somewhat rough road into nearby Lost Forest. Best access is from the west. One porta-potty for the whole area; pretty nasty, so best to bring your own toilet system. No designated campsites; set up camp anywhere. This is a popular OHV area. If you are into quiet, wilderness camping, this area is not for you. Very noisy, and you may have to tolerate drunken and behavior, and loud music at night. However, if you are into OHV adventuring, this appears to be a good area to explore on OHVs. Finding a level site for your rig may be challenging, but it's possible. Tent camping is definitely possible. Not enough trees together for hammock camping. No water. Some sporadic T-Mobile service, but good AT&T service.
Tent camping near Silver Lake, Oregon, offers a unique blend of stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures. With several well-reviewed spots, campers can enjoy the beauty of nature while setting up their tents in serene environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Silver Lake, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Silver Lake, OR is Upper Buck Creek with a 3-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Silver Lake, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 38 tent camping locations near Silver Lake, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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