Looking for a place to camp near Sumpter with your horse? Whether you own a horse or are joining a tour group, equestrian camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. These scenic and easy-to-reach Sumpter campsites are perfect for equestrian campers.
This campground sits along the Wild and Scenic North Fork John Day River at the junction of the Blue Mountain and Elkhorn Scenic Byways. It features 20 campsites, 3 accessible toilet facilities, and stock handling facilities. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack your garbage home. This campground serves as the eastern access point to the North Fork John Day Wilderness via North Fork John Day River Trail #3022. The area offers hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, berry and mushroom picking, sight-seeing, and photography opportunities. In spring and fall you can see the salmon spawning. Special state fishing regulations apply. If you like to drive, you can pick up the Ukiah-Granite Roadside Geology auto tour brochure from the camp host or the Ranger District.
This campground serves as the eastern portal into the North Fork John Day Wilderness and offers hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, sight-seeing, and photography. Berries and mushrooms can be found in season. If you like to drive, you can pick up the Ukiah-Granite Roadside Geology auto tour brochure from the camp host or the Ranger District office. if you are interested in history, there are numerous remnants of mining left from the turn of the century, Remember, historic objects, even if they look like trash, are protected by law and may not be removed.
The campground is set amidst a lodgepole pine forest, with over half of the sites in the shade. The perennial North Fork John Day River runs adjacent to the campground where you can see spawning steelhead and chinook salmon in spring and fall. In the surrounding forests live coyotes, deer, elk, wolves, bear, and cougar, plus a myriad of small animal species.
The historic mining town of Granite is 9 miles south. State of Oregon Parks has a restored dredge that can be toured in the town of Sumpter, 22 miles south. Olive Lake is 21 miles south and west of the campground, and offers fishing , crawfishing, swimming, motorized boating (no wake allowed) and nearby trails for hiking/horseback riding (horses are not allowed in the campground). The lake-turned-reservior was constructed as part of a hydroelectric system to support gold mining activities in the northern Blue Mountain Region in the early 1900's. Historically, water from the lake flowed through a wooden pipeline for 9 miles to the Fremont Powerhouse, where it was used to produce electricity for mines and towns.__The Powerhouse is approximately 14 miles south and west of the NFJD Campground on the same road that accesses Olive Lake.
$25 / night
Strawberry Campground is located at the edge of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. Set amongst ponderosa pine in a beautifully wooded area, the campground is an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to hike, hunt, fish or simply relax. Strawberry Basin Trailhead is located at the campground. Strawberry Basin Trail #375 connects to other trails in the wilderness allowing for day hiking or backpacking trips.
Welch Creek Campground has long been a favorite gathering spot for family reunion camp-outs and group hunting trips. The campground's open area and easy parking access make it ideal for such events. It features 6 campsties an accessible vault toilet, and 4 stall recreational stock corral. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack your garbage home. Local attractions include hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, sight-seeing, photography and a trailhead for the Desolation OHV trail system. Olive Lake, where there is fishing, boating, and swimming is about 13 miles to the east along Forest Road 10.
Spring Creek Campground is located in an open pine forest near a small meadow. Just a short drive from Interstate 84, this small campground offers 4 campsites which are occassionally used for family reunions or group camping.
Dispersed camping is a popular camping method for many visitors to the Forest. Choosing to camp along a stream or adjacent to a meadow where there are no picnic tables, toilets or firerings allows campers to enjoy a more primitive experience.
It is recommend that dispersed campers keep to traditional campsites off of established 'two-track' vehicles routes which have been used in the past. Most of these routes are less than 300 feet from a designated open road.
There are some areas on the Forest that are closed to dispersed camping. These include administrative site, special use permit area, or sensitive areas for archeology or wildlife.
Please remove all temporary structures before you leave such as meat poles, toilets, furniture, and ditches around your tents. To find out more about minimum impact camping please visit our outdoor ethics section. Some general rules of use and restrictions also apply to visitor using dispersed camping sites. These include regulations like forest-wide camping stay limits; use of camp fires, firearms, and fireworks; and controlling pets.
$15 / night
The Slide Horse Camp is a wonderful campground for horse enthusiasts, the campground offers sites with horse stalls and corrals. Just up the road from the campground is the Slide Connector Trail #386, this trail is a great starting point for horse riders heading into the wilderness. The campground sets amongst pondersa pines and is one mile fromStrawberry Campground and the Strawberry Basin Trailhead.
The West Eagle Meadows Trailhead is one of the__'late season' trailheads__to open in the early summer due to the area's heavy snow accumulation and high elevation. Located near West Eagle Creek and meadow, this site is__frequented by hikers and equestrians alike who want to enjoy a day or extended trip into the Eagle Cap Wilderness area. The combination trailhead and equestrian camp__offers parking facilities for both stock and non-stock users, and has hitching rails, a loading ramp and feed bunks.The West Eagle trail provides access to Echo, Traverse, Diamond and Tombstone lakes as well as a beautiful trip along the Minam River. You can also access many other destinations in the wilderness from this trail. Fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities abound as you travel through diverse landscapes of meadows, lakes, and mountains.Adjacent to the trailhead is the West Eagle Meadows Campground__with tent and walk-in campsites and a picnic area.A printable map and additional information about the area.
This fairly secluded campground is near the end of Forest Road 5506 along the Wild and Scenic North Fork John Day River. It features 8 campsites and 2 accessible toilets. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack your garbage home. Large vehicles, trailers, and low clearance vehicles are not recommended due to poor access road and limited turnaround capability. This campground offers fishing, swimming, non-motorized boating, hiking, OHV riding, horseback riding, sight-seeing, and photography. Water levels are low in mid to late summer, which can impede use of boats. The campground also provides good access for big game hunting. Near Oriental Creek is the start of the River Trail #3043 , an OHV trail accessing the southern end of 100 miles of trail. Three miles down the closed portion of Road 5506 is entry to the North Fork John Day Wilderness with access to the North Fork John Day River Trail #3022 , Big Creek Trail #3151 and Corral Creek Trail #3009.
Guide
Sites are far apart but some lack privacy. I saw Lots of elk and turkeys(?) and a rattlesnake. Outside of the lack of privacy there are some people who it appears that they live there(I a have no issues with that) my issue is the drive up and down the road multiple multiple time a day at high rates of speed leaving dust flying. When I was out walking I walked past one of their campsites on accident I didn’t get close and they started firing a gun in the air. I slept in my car that night and left the next morning. Also trash is an issue as well as people using the bathroom right on the ground and leaving used baby wipes everywhere. So watch out for human waste if you use a tent.
GuideMany options for private pull-offs once you drive past established NF campgrounds—likely tough to do without high clearance and/or 4WD when wet. Only “traffic” was the occasional ATV/OHV. Tons of great hiking around.
ScoutWe just needed a quick tent soot on a monday night on the way to moab. better than expected. bit muddy. some shells. but lots of space. drove in to about 45.35967, -118.30846
ScoutStayed one night on my way to Seattle. I drove up the road some and found it pretty passable in my van, although most of the sites were too muddy and I was worried about getting stuck. Camped in the first spots behind the Spring Creek Info sign and had good phone service (verizon) and a uneventful night. But area had a ton of broken glass, nails and shotgun shells and a decent amount of litter. Don't know how rowdy it gets in the warmer months but it might be wise to skip this place or camp further up the road at the campground then, especially if you're a solo female.
Guide
Nice little pond off 77 Rd an hour or so East of Highway 203 in Eastern Oregon.
Traveler
Nice sites with lots of separation and easy access to a trailhead. Multiple vault toilets available as well as water taps that I don’t think are potable but good enough to rinse dishes. We got caught in rain, sleet, snow, and graupel all in one day but that’s hardly the campground’s fault. If you can get up the sketchy and rough road, it’s a beautiful site.
TravelerThere are 100s of spots to camp
Scout
Needed a nice place between destinations and this was perfect. Clean and quiet on the last weekend of July 23
TravelerOff the beaten path, but we'll worth it! Dropped 20 degrees from the hot valley floor. Around 8 spots, first come, but a few other spots on the way up, for dispersed. Right along strawberry creek, beautiful, quiet. Trails to explore, wildlife to see.
GuideEasy and vacant find for a last minute change to our route. Primitive dispersed campsites with rock fire rings right off the highway. Down side is it's a little too noisy for my taste. Would have driven further down into the woods if I had more time to set up as we got here late. All in all its an easy find just off the highway.
Guide
Pretty nice park, bathrooms and showers a mile away. Did not stay here we moved on
Legend
After a long day of driving we came up on this campground and got lucky finding two spaces available during hunting season!
Level pull through site, clean pit toilet.
Enjoyed a walk down to the river. Peaceful overnight!
GuideWallowa-Whitman NF
NF 21
aka Spring Creek Campground
La Grande, OR
45.2125.6N, 118.1843.3W (Campground)
45.3679N, 118.2972W (signboard)
45.36944, -118.29997 (2nd spot)
14 Day limit
V 4g/2-3b, ATT 4g/1-2b (no booster)
Dirt & grass
Campground:
Not for bigger rigs. 4 spots fairly close together, picnic tables, pit toilets. Loop in is tight, and while we are only 34' long, we're 13.8 on truck and had to do some creative maneuvering to get ourselves back out. Cell signal here was almost non existent, and fairly dense tree cover if using solar.
There was one spot on the left before getting to the Campground we could have fit into, but again, dense tree cover. Didn't check cell signal here.
There is supposed to be more spots past the campground, but we haven't taken the bikes out yet to explore.
Signboard:
Easily found a spot, even on Labor Day weekend (Friday). This area could handle 4 or 5 rigs. Cell signal better, but still bounced in/out a bit. We stayed here 2nts to get past the holiday weekend. Picked up a lot of micro trash, spent shells, and broken bottles. This is also the area where a lot of a sxs park for Day Use. VERY dusty area.
2nd Spot:
WOW what a difference. After we decided to hang out in the area for a bit longer, we knew we had to move off the main road as the dust was making our solar pout. As you come in, just before the signboard there is a road going up a hill to the right. It looks intimidating, but can be done going slow in 4wd. We found 3 great spots up there without going back very far.
There are spots further back, as we saw people pulling trailers out, but we haven't explored them yet. We chose the 1st spot on the left for the full solar and gorgeous view of the meadow, tree line, and mountains in the distance. Cell signal comes in stronger on this ridge, but still a little fickle without a booster... note to self, get booster. Picked up medium sized and micro trash here, as well as bullet casings and broken bottles... and a special thanks to whomever left a bag of rotting frozen chicken wings...that was fun, but the view is worth it, and SO MUCH LESS dust.
There is a spot across (right side of road) where we've had over nights pull in late, but they left by 9am and both were very quiet setting up. Other than them, and the people from further back pulling out after the weekend, we've been alone up here.
There is a GORGEOUS spot further up on the right, but I couldn't get any signal.
From all but the campground, you will hear road noise. I84 is just beyond the trees. I pretend it's waves (don't judge), my husband uses ear plugs. We've both had no issues sleeping.
If we had only had the 1st 2nts experience I would say we would only be back as a last minute overnight, having discovered this other area, yep we'd be back no problem.
As with all boondocking, scouting out is the key.
GuideWe just stopped for the night and it worked well. I checked in late and it was a little confusing. Had a hard time getting the PIN to access the bathroom. Site had what we needed and was very quiet.
GuideGreat place! A creek, bumpy gravel Road might not work for sedan always, but worth a try. Tons of hiking, including a closer one to strawberry lake with stunning views and a waterfall further if you want. No cell service for me, but bathrooms and a small amount of first come first serve sites. Others earlier along the road if these fill up
Traveler
This area is on your up to strawberry campground, its nice and clean and quite! Slide horse has areas for your horses. It's gorgeous and the creek is just a few feet to go get water for animals and your fire pits and to put your feet in. Looking forward to coming back soon!
Legend
This is basically a little RV park adjacent to a museum and playground. Points for character. It’s off the main drag and there are not a lot of choices in the area. Big lawn is well watered. However, I can’t get behind the prices. $14 just to pitch a tent is steep. Bathrooms are filthy, shower (behind a ragged shower curtain) is not worth paying for.
LegendWe had reserved a site here and upon arrival, pulled in among all the large RVs, where our campervan was dwarfed. Spaces were all level and gravel with full hook-ups (20/30/50 amp). Large picnic table but difficult to determine which one was ours as the sites are close together with no privacy between them. The sites in the row we were in were all pull-throughs and the John Day River was just beyond the road which was nice.
The most welcoming part of the park was the sign on our site otherwise it was dismal (the overcast weather didn’t help). We later heard from someone that there had recently been some thefts at the park.
The bathhouse is accessed by walking through a grassy area and was pretty basic but clean. We chose this campground based on the reviews and I realize our opinion may be in the minority but we just didn’t get a good vibe here. If we had a large RV, we might have felt differently. We stayed for about 45 minutes debating what to do but in the end, left and found a space at the state park about eight miles away that better suited our needs.
TravelerStayed there late summer. Had the place to myself. Easy turn around. creek is clear and very cold. There are picnic tables.
Guide
This is a quiet little campground. It would make a good base camp for visiting Echo and Traverse Lakes. Camps are spaced around one paved loop up the hill in the trees above the meadow. There is one vault toilet and no water, electricity, or sewer connections. There is plenty of deadwood nearby for gather for your campfire.
TravelerCame here for an overnight stop while traveling through the area. Solid spot - 4 large sites with level spots, fire ring, picnic tables, vault toilet. Arrived around 5pm on a Saturday in October and 3 spots were available - the others filled up after me. Quiet and beautiful while being close to the highway. Perfect and pleasant for my overnight stop
ScoutRight beside a cow pasture, so that’s cool. Not to hard to level, but kind of tight on some corners for my 30’ motor home.
ScoutGreat little campground far enough from the interstate to be peaceful. 4 spots available so it fills up fast. About a mile of decent dirt road, a few washboards and potholes, just go slow. Vault toilet was very clean. Verizon was 2 bars, 4g but slow. Wifiranger with AT&T was very fast. Overall a great campground if you can get a spot. There is other dispersed camping areas near by if it's full.
RangerShaded pull through and easy back in sites. Good value. Stream running next to the sites. Close to town. It is next to the fairgrounds, but very quit when no events. Good place to spend the night while traveling through
GuideLate spring was a perfect time to spend a couple days in the mountain wilderness. Wildflowers we’re in bloom and temperatures were moderate during the day and a little cold at night. There is one clean vault toilet for the area, close enough to the campsites. Campsites are essentially a driveway with a picnic table, and suitable for small trailers or tents. Great hiking to the lush, broad meadows, which are fed by a creek cascading from the higher elevations. We let our dogs have the run of the place off leash. Getting there is a bit of a chore: about 20 miles of dirt track, but we’ll worth the effort.
GuideSelf service kiosk, 30$ a night full hook ups. Pull throughs and back in sites. Showers and bathrooms are clean and across a grass area (see photo)
TravelerThere is a small campground with 6 sites mostly good for campers or tent in a grove of trees with a vaulted outhouse. in the surrounding aria there are plenty of dispersed campsites that can hold any size RV Around the form almost completely shaded to full sun. It is a designated ATV aria with tons of trails used by hikers and horses in the fall it is a favorite spot for hunters
cell service is serves is sporty from 3 bars to none
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Sumpter, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Sumpter, OR is North Fork John Day with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Sumpter, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Sumpter, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
