Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Summer Lake, OR

This place has great little grassy areas next to each pull through—each one has a newly planted tree and a picnic table. The sites are level. Contrary to listing they do have 30 amp service. There’s a little playground for kids, as well as a warm, clean bathroom with showers. There’s a laundry room, which I didn’t use. This park is very near the Summer Lake Wildlife Refuge, which is a great place for birdwatching. Lots of little quail were hanging out in the park on my recent visit. If you need supplies, head over to the Summer Lake store, which has a very friendly owner. Otherwise the nearest real grocery store is about 72 miles away. Take a drive up to Fremont Lookout for a breathtaking view.

Spent two nights in this great isolated spot- the first night we were the only ones there! 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. Wonderful flat area at the top of a hill that boast amazing views of the valley- gave us one of the best sunsets and moon rises that we have ever seen! There is a central pit toilet for all of the sites to share.

There is a fire tower a short distance away from the sites that you can walk up to the base of and hike around. Sites are also close drive to "Crack-in-the-Ground", which is a fascinating lava formation that makes for a good spot to hike around for half a day.

The road up to the site is washboard, so be prepared for a bumpy drive. There is a small store at Christmas Valley before the turnoff that has the essentials, including an emergency eyeglass repair kit when my husband was head butted by the dog. Oops!

This site is about an hour away from Bend, or two hours from Lakeview Oregon. It is an Oregon State Natural Area, open to the public and has a short up to the viewing point or if you would like to hike around the rock it is closer to a full mile. The views are gorgeous and you may find some wildlife or snakes on your way. The rock formation is caused by erosion from a past lake. Don’t forget to check out the gravesite where many locals still burry their family and friends. Limited gravel roads/mostly paved and a small day use area to stop for lunch. The bathrooms are clean and there is access for water and a host nearby if you find that you have questions or need help.

Absolutely fantastic experience at Oregon Outback RV Park! We recently had the pleasure of hosting our family reunion here, and I can’t say enough about how perfect it was. The owners went above and beyond by reserving the entire park exclusively for our family, creating a private and intimate setting that made our reunion truly special. From the moment we arrived, we were struck by how clean and well-maintained the entire site was. The stunning view of Abert Rim added to the charm, and being nestled among the trees made for a picturesque and serene backdrop to our stay. But what truly set Oregon Outback RV Park apart was the warmth and kindness of the owners. They were not only incredibly accommodating but also genuinely wonderful people who made us feel right at home. Their hospitality was a highlight of our stay and added an extra layer of joy to our gathering. If you’re looking for a great family camp experience, look no further. Oregon Outback RV Park is a hidden gem that offers a perfect blend of cleanliness, charm, and heartfelt service. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to create lasting memories with our loved ones. Highly recommend it to anyone seeking a memorable and delightful camping experience!

The Campground: Oregon Sunstone Collection Area

Sunstones are the Oregon state gemstone, and out in the middle of the Oregon desert the Bureau of Land Management has set aside an amazing area where you can camp and rockhound for free. There's shade areas covering picnic tables, a pit toilet (filled with black widow spiders), and large camp sites with level gravel tent pads.

The campsite is amazing, yet remote. If it weren't for the black widow spiders in the pit toilet and lack of water, this site would easily rate a 5. As it was, we had an amazing time staying here for two nights, picking up sunstones everywhere as well as visiting a local "fee" mine called Pana Mine. Smallish sunstones are everywhere right on the surface. If you want to find larger sunstones or ones with unusual colors, local mines have several pricing options.

Tips:

1. Bring lots of water and everything you'll need for camping since the nearest town is about 25 miles away on rough dirt roads (food, sunscreen, extensive first-aid kits including snake bite kits). You'll also need to pack everything out, including your trash.
2. Bring at least one very good spare tire and preferably two, or a spare plus a can of fix-a-flat.
3. I had very limited cell phone service with Sprint. Other locations had a bit of service with Verizon, but definitely don't count on being able to get in touch with anyone.
4. Print out a map of the area and directions from BLM before you go.
5. In case of a medical emergency, most of the "fee mines" scattered throughout the area have good first-aid kits and ways to reach emergency personnel.
6. There's no limit that I know of to the amount of sunstones you can pick up the in public collection area, but they can only be used for personal use (you can't sell or trade them).

Ranger Review: Oofos OOlala Sandal - Cloud White

I've been wearing my Oofos Flip Flops (OOlala Sandal - Cloud White) for several weeks now and I have nothing but good things to say about them. As a dyrt ranger, I was given a pair to review for free, and I was quite excited having heard such great things beforehand from other rangers. They definitely lived up to the hype. Super-comfy, thick soles that held up well even to rocks and hiking, and the ability to send them through the wash are all huge pluses in my book.

To truly put them to the test, however, I brought them with me to the suntone collection area near Plush, Oregon--an area in the middle of the Oregon desert literally covered with sharp glass-like rocks. I knew none of the other sandals or water shoes I had would hold up to all those rocks, and I was also dubious with the Oofos. After all, other flip-flops I've had in the past would always get rocks and thorns stuck in the bottom that would tear holes in them. After three days out in the desert however, I was thrilled to have my Oofos including the sole still looking like new. Definitely a 5/5 star review for my favorite new shoes.

Check out the video review to hear my sizing tips and the one suggestion I have to make them better.