Best Tent Camping near Summer Lake, OR

Back in July 2019, my buddy and I rode our motorcycles to this camp/hot spring.  I had heard of this place from another friend on Facebook & this was our  destination.  A wonderful ride to this easy-to-find site.  Everything from full-service cabins to rent and RVs, down to what we used, tent camping.  Beautiful but spartan tent camping area, portable toilets (clean), and cable spools used as tables.  The hot springs were WONDERFUL, with both indoor (bathhouse) and outdoor pools.  If I recall. clothing optional after 9pm.  The operators of this facility are extremely "green" in thinking, with the re-use of most building materials, etc.  Their website is excellent and gives more details.  Highly recommend!!

Camping 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.

Private “campground” near Lakeview, Oregon (right along the Northern California border) functions more like a year round RV park; most of the residents are permanent although there are spots for travelers passing through. Call ahead for availability to make sure there’s space and they can accommodate your rig.

In total, the owner told me that they have 18 versatile sites they keep for travelers that can accommodate tents. Six of them are pull thrus with electric hookups, and five of those have water hookups. Dump station is not available on site. Friendly folks in the off chance you ever find yourself in this neck of the woods!

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.

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!

I stayed here on the first night of the Oregon Outback. It is a very small simple designated camping area with a very clean pit toilet and a few picnic tables but nothing else.

A few loggers and Forest service trucks passed on the road, but mostly traffic was cyclists.

Listened to birds and coyotes and enjoyed being under the canopy of stars. Great little spot.

In other places I've seen this place reviewed as dingy. What someone expected from a privately run campground on the edge of a massive salt pan expected...I don't know. If you're not into the perfectly imperfect it ain't for you, then again very little in the Oregon Outback will be. There are a few rusted cars hanging around, but the cabins are clean and well kitted, the spring pools are absolutely pleasant, and the scenery outstanding.

This remote campground is functional and practical. Bare bones with a few camp sites, a restroom, some covered picnic benches and a restroom. Bring your own water and plenty of it! It can be very windy here so make sure to stake down your tent well so it doesn't blow away! (We saw this happen to one gent. Glad he had some fear in it to keep it from flying too far).

There are many roads near by that lead out into the collection area. It takes your eyes a minute to see what you are looking for because sunstonea are so plentiful!

My tip: look for the reflections of the stones, catch a glint and go after it! There are thousands right under your nose and you don't necessarily have to dig to find them.Happy Rock Hounding!

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!

The sunstone is Oregon’s State rock. HERE AT THIS LOCATION YOU CAN COLLECT THEM FREE OF CHARGE - but don’t be greedy! They come in all shapes and sizes, but most are the size of a fingernail or baby’s tooth. You will need to drive out 45-90minutes on a gravel road to reach this location and it is truly out in Oregon’s Outback and will take a full day to reach your destination. FYI DO NOT PICK SUNSTONES UNTIL YOU REACH END-POINT. The surrounding land is not for public use. You will know you’re good to go and at the end-point when you see the photos below with the sign and camp site. It would be safer to Camp in an RV or car because of rattlesnakes and heat-exposure. We did not stay because of the poor air quality from summer fires nearby. There are wild antelope and rabbits in the area. Keep on the look out for wildlife on your drive! No shade is available except for the covered Camp spots. You will see the MANY Sunstones laying out on the ground, sparking in the sun, no need for digging which is quite fun. Sunstones are made from the minerals in the dried up/preserved lake in this area. Lake county is full of seasonal lakes is what we discovered on our road trip this summer...Good luck and have fun!

This place is really in the middle of nowhere and so quiet. Pit toilet was clean and well stocked. There were 5 or 6 other campers spaced out so that you could hardly see most of them. Best of all sunstones littered the ground everywhere. Out in the northwest corner of the area is the best gathering, bring something to sieve with and plop yourself down and just pick them up. If it wasn’t for our kids being bored to tears we may still be there… This is a part of Oregon that not many people take the time to see. It’s definitely worth it.

Thompson Reservoir has shrunk considerably. There is no access to the water from this campground.  Last time we camped there we saw 2 other campers.  Outhouses, picnic tables, fire rings.

This 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.

Very primitive. Don’t go here during a rainy period. You might not get out. It says there are 3 campsites, but there are only 2. No services, no toilets, no cell reception, etc.

Accessible by almost any vehicle.  Can be stuck there if it rains, and FS Rd 413 has huge potholes that fill with water and become almost impassable, even with a 4WD.  Firepits and a picnic table at one of the 3 sites.  No services of any kind.  No cell coverage.  Not recommended for winter travel.

Been camping here for a week at a time for 20 years, during the summers.  Fire about 10+ years ago took out the outhouse.  If it rains, you most likely will be there till the road into the campsite dries out.  Deep ruts in the road now, so regular cars aren't recommended.

Two campsites, but Forest Service says 3.  One site has no shade in the middle of the day.  Other site has a picnic table, but it may or may not be in usable shape.

No services of any kind - cell, WiFi, RV hookups, etc.  You can be there for several days and not see anyone.

No frill Forest Service campground in the Fremont-Winemaker National Forest. On a warm June night, it’s a pleasure to have a campground like this entirely to one’s self.

This is for the camping portion of the campground, I did not stay or see the inside of the various cabins available.  The camping area is just a large open field area where people can park/camp where they would like.  This would work well if you  had a large group and several RVs wanting to be next to each other.  There are also no tables, which camping in your car during the winter not having a table to put my stove on made it a little bit more difficult to heat up water/food.  If I remember correctly I didn't really pay anything to camp, mainly just to access the pools.  The main pool area was a large pool like area with a barn like covering.  This pool was not hot at all and the amount of children splashing and playing did not make it very relaxing.  The pools outside were a bit more quite and a bit warmer but filled up fast and only comfortably held maybe 20 people and wasn't scolding hot if you like that sort of hot springs.  Also the changing rooms had no glass window panes in them so the large "window" let in all the wind.  Which I was there during a high wind storm with freezing temps.  This means it was miserable changing into/out of my wet bathing suit.  The owners were nice and the view was also pleasant, but I would maybe travel to another hot springs before going back.