Tent camping near Terrebonne, Oregon offers diverse experiences in high desert terrain at elevations between 2,500-3,000 feet. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F during daylight hours but cool significantly at night, creating temperature swings of 30-40 degrees. Juniper trees and sagebrush dominate the landscape, with limited natural shade at most sites and seasonal campfire restrictions from June through October.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: 0.5 mile to Steelhead Falls from the campground trailhead. "Half a mile easy hike to the waterfall but the trail keeps going another Half-ish mile for a slightly longer walk. Lots of fishermen and folks walking the trail in the morning," notes a visitor at Steelhead Falls Trailhead & Campground.
Rock climbing practice: Smith Rock State Park offers dedicated practice walls for beginners. "Smith Rock is in Terrebonne and is world-famous for being a rock climbing mecca. There's even a practice wall here!" explains one camper who stayed at Smith Rock State Park Campground.
Fishing access: Multiple points along the Crooked River provide fishing opportunities. "Right on the crooked river and near chimney rock trail. Perfect get away location for fishing," reports a visitor at Chimney Rock Campground.
What campers like
Communal atmosphere: Many tent campers appreciate the social layout at certain campgrounds. "Smith is awesome for climbing, hiking, slacklining, and generally enjoying being outside. The bivy site has real bathrooms with running water, charging stations, showers, and a sink for dishes. Communal cooking area near the parking and scattered tent sites make for a great way to meet other campers."
Night sky viewing: The dry, high desert climate creates excellent stargazing conditions. "Hot and dry during the day but cooled off at night and had great view of the night sky," shares a camper who stayed at Steelhead Falls Trailhead & Campground.
Water sounds: Riverside camping offers peaceful background noise. "We had a site right along the river and it was so nice falling asleep with the sounds of some croaking frogs and the moving water."
What you should know
Water planning required: Very few sites offer potable water. "The only potable water is at the most southern campground, Big Bend campground, the first below the dam. During our visit, only the hand pump had water. You cannot use this to fill your RV, unless you have a bucket and like pumping for an hour," reports a visitor at Palisades Campground.
Wind conditions: Afternoon gusts are common in this area. "We found a spot #2 with some shade. Both end spaces were taken. The river ran a bit muddy. Loved the rock formations. Wind picks up in the afternoon."
Road quality varies: Access to some dispersed sites requires appropriate vehicles. "Once you are past the gate, the road becomes very rough. Do not pass the gate if your vehicle doesn't have 4WD. The tundra made it, but not very comfortably and took about 30 mins to get down to site."
Tips for camping with families
Accessibility considerations: Choose sites with shorter walks from parking areas. "The campsites on the rt hand side of the road (all the good ones) are permanently blocked off. If you have any expectations of camping along the river as some of the pictures suggest then you'll be sorely disappointed."
Shade requirements: High desert sun can be intense for children. "Bring shade. A canopy or whatever is reasonable for your group. It also gets hot and it's dry, so assume that fire band will be in affect the minute you leave home and plan your meals accordingly," recommends a camper who stayed at Harrington Loop Rd - Dispersed.
Vault toilet conditions: Facilities vary widely between locations. "The pit toilet was very clean and serviced daily. We had Verizon and had rare to no cell service."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for trailers: Look for pull-through options when possible. "Took a 24' RV to campsite #5. Little rough for that rig, cars and trucks no problem. Sites are well spaced, many with excellent access and views of the river a few feet away. Cleanest vault toilets I've ever seen."
Leveling requirements: Most tent and RV spots require minimal adjustment. "Like the other campgrounds along this section of the Crooked River, almost all the campsites face the river. They have good spacing and require very little leveling. Many are pull through, a few back in."
Length restrictions: Some roads and sites have vehicle size limits. "There is a sign in the way in indicating 30ft length max, but there is no mention on the BLM site. They must mean trailer length since we had no issues with our 22' trailer and rig (40ft total)."
