Dispersed camping sites near Tiller, Oregon dot the Umpqua National Forest and BLM lands at elevations between 1,000-4,000 feet. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during day with significant cooling at night, often dropping to 45-55°F. The region's volcanic soil creates challenging access roads that worsen after rainfall, with many campsites requiring navigation through unmarked forest service roads.
What to do
Fishing access: Burma Pond BLM offers shoreline fishing with abundant wildlife. "The fish were jumping and the water clear. Overall nice, just wish people would respect public lands more and not trash these areas so much," notes one camper who visited in May.
Swimming holes: Elderberry Flats Campground provides creek access with natural swimming spots. A visitor notes, "There are 12 sites with 5 being beside Evans Creek. There are small swimming holes, lots of crayfish and salmon spawning beds."
OHV trails: Multiple designated trail systems welcome dirt bikes and quads. "If you like riding dirt bikes or quads this is the place that's local and has a nice swimming hole also," mentions a visitor to Elderberry Flats.
Wildlife viewing: Bat watching opportunities exist at several water features. At Burma Pond, one camper reported, "The pond at the top was beautiful with tons of bats flying around at night. Super cool!"
What campers like
Proximity to Crater Lake: Thousand Springs Sno-Park serves as a strategic base for national park visitors. "It is about 15 minutes to the south entrance of the park and then another 15 minutes to the Rim Village," explains a camper who appreciated its location.
Solitude: Many sites offer unexpected privacy despite easy access. At Burma Pond BLM, one reviewer experienced complete solitude: "I camped one night right off the water. Quiet and clean. I slept great. Had 1 bar of att. Google maps took me right to it."
Community facilities: Some sites feature unexpected amenities. A camper at Thousand Springs noted, "There was a rec area we ate dinner in and played cards. The only issue with the site is the mosquitos. Make sure to have bug spray and make a fire."
Night sky viewing: The area's minimal light pollution creates excellent stargazing conditions. "Pretty woods and good stars up here. We didn't explore," noted a camper at Burma Pond.
What you should know
Road conditions: Many access roads deteriorate seasonally with substantial potholes. At Burma Pond, a camper advises: "The road is a little rough with potholes but it's not terrible if you just drive slow over the holes."
Navigation challenges: GPS reliability varies significantly throughout the region. One Burma Pond visitor warned, "GPS via Apple and Google wanted me to go on a rarely used and overgrown forest road to get here, I recommend using GPS to get in the general area then look at the map to manually navigate the last half mile or so."
Wildlife precautions: Mount Thielsen Wilderness camping areas have active wildlife. "An owl swooped right through our camp site and scared the crap out of us," reported one camper about their overnight experience.
Temperature fluctuations: Nights remain cool even during summer months. A Mount Thielsen Wilderness visitor noted, "I went in late October and it got down to 14 degrees at night. It was not snowing. But, do pack snow gear for that weather and have hot coffee for the morning."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming safety: Monitor children near water features, especially at dams. A visitor to Lemolo Forebay warns, "There is a dangerous low-head dam at the beginning of the lake near the campground, so please keep track of your kids/pets!"
Bug protection: Insect activity increases near water sources during summer. "Lots of skeeters! Bring your bug spray," noted a Lemolo Forebay visitor who experienced the mosquito population firsthand.
Space considerations: Site size and proximity vary significantly. At Burma Pond BLM, one visitor observed, "The area as a whole is very small though, so if someone else is already there when you arrive it's going to feel very cozy and/or awkward."
Entertainment options: Limited activities exist for younger children. A reviewer at Thousand Springs mentioned, "Huge thanks to the Rogue Snowmobilers who make this site so great. There was a rec area we ate dinner in and played cards."
Tips from RVers
Length limits: Many forest roads have tight turns unsuitable for larger rigs. One Skull Creek Campground visitor noted, "Easily accessed by 2 x 4 SUV, although there were a few large potholes, easy to maneuver around."
Grade challenges: Several access roads feature steep grades challenging for trailers. A Burma Pond visitor warned, "The last .3 miles was steep and though we made it in 26ft rig I would not attempt it again. I could see major problem if rain was expected."
Turning limitations: Many forest roads lack adequate turnaround space. A visitor at Burma Pond observed, "The road is narrow with very few turn arounds. The way down I was in 1-2 gear riding the break on some of the hills."
Sno-Park options: Free camping near Tiller includes seasonal sno-park usage with paved surfaces. A Thousand Springs camper reported, "Large, paved parking lot. Plenty of room for big rigs and vault toilets. Some road noise, but nothing that bothered us."
