Best Dispersed Camping near Tiller, OR

Recent Dispersed Reviews near Tiller, Oregon

60 Reviews of 27 Tiller Campgrounds

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  May. 18, 2022

  Thousand Springs Sno-Park

  Very Handy

  These sno parks that are available for boondocking throughout Oregon are so handy!  Sno park is maintained by the Rogue Snowmobilers.  Free boon docking during off season (May to October). Otherwise you need a permit (November to April).

  There is a huge lot that would fit many RVs, easy turnaround and plenty of room to spread out.  It is right on 62 so you'll hear cars go by but traffic was really light in May, and quiets down significantly overnight.  

  In mid May there was a ton of snow at Crater Lake but only minimal snow on the ground here, and the weather was cool but not freezing, and was above freezing temps overnight.

  There are restrooms and a really nice warming room, with firewood and wall plugs (that I didn't test).  I didn't see any garbage bins (though I didn't look inside the bathrooms).

  Zero cell service anywhere in this entire area.  Crater Lake visitor center had good wifi for free though.

• 

  Cass G.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 26, 2024

  Burma Pond BLM

  Off the grid just enough

  We needed a place to set up for a quick sleep on our way down to Yosemite from Washington. I navigated using Google Maps due to other reviews saying Apple made it confusing. This led us right to the pond/camp sites. The road is a little rough with potholes but it’s not terrible if you just drive slow over the holes. There is a few split offs/2-way roads along this dirt road, the last one being a tree with a smiley face and an arrow leading you where to go. Didn’t get lost at all and it was already dark when we got there. No one was there, it was peaceful, clean and quiet. There is a pit toilet/bathroom with toilet paper. No trash cans so you’ll have to pack out your trash. I recommend this spot for anyone willing to drive 10-15 minutes off the freeway for some dispersed camping.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 4, 2021

  Rocky Riffle

  Hot, Dusty and Nice (and Free!)

  This BLM area is a quick turn off the main road.  Take a right or left to start the loop and you’ll find various spots for dispersed camping. The road is mostly ok with some areas of high rocks but we made it in our 26ft Class C with only one ding on the steps. Larger vehicles might have problems along the lower half of the loop, but the upper half was doable.  There are some spots close to the river and others up above it more with nice views as well as shade.

  There are a few “long term residents" here.  One was right on the water with a big mirror and a homemade sign warning of “thieves among us." The sheriff and ranger came by the next day and left citation on his camp. Nothing scary nor anything that made us feel unsafe at all. 

  This is a dry camp with no amenities. Tent/car campers welcome but must have port-a-potties. You must pack out your waste and trash. We found several trash piles which we cleaned up. There are NO fires allowed at this time. Also be aware that there is a lot of poison oak around. 

  Also there were unleashed dogs, one in particular that wandered into our camp site every morning. A lot of rafters and kayakers, especially on weekends, but they stay mostly on the water but can become quite loud at times. River access in this area is available in a only few spots that you have to walk to. There is no real shoreline to hang out in unless someone is not camped right in those areas. 

  Zero cell reception from ATT, verizon and TMobile in this whole area.

• R

  Reid

  Guide

  

  Aug. 9, 2023

  NF 2612 Dispersed Camping

  Good open area dispersed camping

  We picked this dispersed camping near Lemolo Lake since it was an open area that we could run our Starlink. There was also some cell service. Lemolo lake also has several Campgrounds to choose from if you want to pay. In the area we visited Lemolo Falls and Warm Spring Falls. We weren't disappointed. The area does have mosquitoes to contend with. Where we camped there was a picnic table and rock fire ring. Be mindful of the no fire season.

• 

  Daisee Mae S.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 28, 2022

  Thousand Springs Sno-Park

  Great Hiking Area

  1,000 Springs Sno-park

  We hiked to this spot from Union Creek Trail about a week before staying here.

  Right off of Crater Lake Highway. There looks to be about 3 or possibly 4 spots to camp. Easily pull-in spots for larger campers and tent camping.

  There is a large shelter house with a door on one end and wind flaps on the other. Two trash cans inside, two very large round wooden tables and an iron stove for heat. There is also a solar panel for lights and such.

  We only stayed two nights as apposed of the 14 you can stay. Very spacious spots but not far enough away from each other. The second night we were kept awake by the people staying in the shelter, having a party and disco lights and loud music.

  Two pit commodes are in the center of the camp. That meant a lot of traffic throughout the day and into the night by people stopping to use it, so the TP didn’t last long. Definitely bring your own just in case.

  The road up to the spots from the parking area are dirt and wood chips. The stir up a lot of dust when people drive through, even if they aren’t going at a fast speed.

  There are a few trails that go for miles and are very lovely to walk, or even take an OHV on.

  We opted to stay the night here because we are traveling across country to DISPERSED camping areas. Would have stayed in the dispersed camping by Crater Lake but it was a $30 fee/ day to enter the park. So that’s not actually free.

  If we head back up to Crater Lake in the future we may stay here again. It’s a very lovely spot, but do note that after Nov. 15th there is a fee in this Snow Park.

  Might be a nice place to stay for a night, if you don’t like your privacy being invaded i’d suggest going down the road to Union Creek Trail :D

• 

  Nicholas R.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 3, 2021

  Millsite Forest Dispersed Camping

  It’s is an assortment of campsites that all have fire pits. There are picnic tables at some, but not all. There are vaulted toilets in the center of the grounds. If you pick a spot towards the eastern edge, you can hear the creek run by as you sleep.

  If you love boondocking and wilderness trails. This is a must stay place. 20 minutes from hot springs and waterfalls. Tons of fishing spots near bye. Hundreds of miles of OHV trails.

• 

  Patricia N.

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 26, 2024

  Prospect OHV Dispersed Camping

  Perfect place for OHV riding

  We absolutely loved camping here. During our off season stay it was fun and with all the ATV trails it was our favorite place to camp.

  Our neighbor campers decided they could ride the trails without helmets and found out the hard way that is is a no no. They were brought back to the camp without their bikes and in the back of a National Forest Service Enforcement vehicle. After being spoken to about the importance of following the rules of the trails, they were left at camp and had to find their own way back to their motorcycles.

  Fortunately we did not have the same experience. It can get very dusty so just be prepared for that. The trails are absolutely great and access to the Rogue River is just icing on the cake.

  It was so nice to have areas provided for unloading bikes and ATV's so folks could safely load and unload their toys.

• 

  Crystal C.

  Legend

  

  Mar. 9, 2020

  Mount Thielsen Wilderness

  FREE, Quiet & Close To Crater Lake National Park

  CLICK HERE For Full Video Review

  When it comes to camping you simply can’t beat FREE!!! But often times it is hard to find a good campsite which is close to some of the larger National Parks that is not overrun with people. 

  When I visited the Crater Lake area, I was well aware that finding last minute accommodations was difficult to impossible. Hotels in the area charge high premiums and depending on when you visit the campground is typically booked well in advance or even closed due to weather. It just so happened that I arrived late in the season, campground was already closed and I was wondering just what else would be out there for me as a tent/car camper. 

  I found a small forest road, FR960 and took my chances driving down a few hundred yards before realizing that there were a few established campaigns for dispersed camping. My signal with AT&T was sparse so finding this site was strictly by chance(the Dyrt hadn’t yet released their offline PRO Version just yet). 

  Driving down the road it was gravel and had a few small ruts here and there but nothing so serious I couldn’t make it down the path taking it at a slower pace. I discovered a small pull out right at the beginning of the roadway which looked to be about the size of a small RV, very level and established with a fire ring. As I continued onward a small campground road spurred off to the right with what looked to be several sites alongside it as well. I opted to keep going as there were already a couple people there and the beauty of forest camping is that you don’t have to be right on top of your neighbors unless you want to. 

  Further down the road pull offs to both the right and left with spaces perfect for large rigs and smaller ones as well. The one on the left seemed to be calling my name as I noticed it was almost a cove of trees which would serve as a great protectant and blockade to the crisp night winds which I knew were coming this time of year. I settled in and explored the remainder of the camp on foot including a small climb which went to a few spaces with amazing views of the peaks above but looked pretty exposed due to new growth trees and low laying shrubs being the only vegetation. Sure this looked beautiful but I knew it would be cold!! 

  After settling in for the night in my site I was able to cook dinner on my camp stove and cozy down. Due to the winds getting a bit high I was a little hesitant to use the established fire ring because this area in particular is very prone to forest fires, something which can be seen quickly driving through camp with residual charring and many new growth trees in place of old forest. 

  By dawn, ice lined my windows of my car and snow capped the distant peak, the one which I would have been camping by had I have stayed up at the higher elevation campsite. But there was a sense of quiet which is unmatched by the commercial campgrounds in the area where you will find slamming doors and the sound of people moving around to get their day started. Though many were nestled into the campsites in various cubbies and enjoying their time at the forest camp, the feeling of solitude was still abundant. 

  There were no frills with this campground other than the location itself. No restrooms, no running water, nothing!! You as a camper have to plan if you are visiting this location and be able to be off grid safely and responsibly. If you are choosing to stay here remember the Leave No Trace principles and make sure you fully extinguish your fires. 

  The campground itself is only a few miles away from the northern most entry of Crater Lake. No reservations are accepted and no supplies are available without driving in to the neighboring communities of Crescent or Chemult.

• M

  Matthew S.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 16, 2024

  USFS Rogue River Dispersed

  Off the beaten path

  We had to go in a ways before finding a suitable spot, but it was very secluded. We camped near the road but nobody came through the whole night we stayed. An owl swooped right through our camp site and scared the crap out of us. Easy route in and out.

• R

  Raquel

  Scout

  

  Jun. 23, 2021

  Mount Thielsen Wilderness

  Beautiful Free Camping Just Minutes from Crater Lake NP

  Stayed here for 3 nights while visiting Crater Lake NP and it was the perfect basecamp.

  Easy access to the Forest Road off 138 with lots of open camp spots. More private spots further up the hill — I didn’t venture too far but if you have AWD it shouldn’t be an issue.

  I had no trouble finding a spot on Thursday afternoon, though there were definitely other campers around. Seemed pretty popular by the weekend though there were still unclaimed spots tucked away on Saturday afternoon.

  Bring bug spray and make sure you’ve got screen window covers if car camping — otherwise a beautiful stay. Ten minute drive to the North Entrance of Crater Lake and about 20 minutes away from town with truck stop with showers and wifi.

• 

  Michelle B.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 29, 2020

  Mount Thielsen Wilderness

  Great distance from Crater Lake!

  Drove to the top around 8 pm with our small hatchback 2WD, no big issue. Crowded closer to the top, this spot doesn't seem to be a secret on a Saturday night in July. Buses and sprinter vans have no issue reaching the top either so beware of large parties. Cool rocky features, and more camping in the woods where you drive in from. Great spot, free, and accessible. Our camp site did have a trash bag hanging from a tree from previous campers, though :(.

• T

  Treavor U.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 6, 2021

  USFS Rogue River Dispersed

  Bump bump bump like that B2K song

  Title refers to the potholes. Lots of potholes! But the sites—aside from one, which was practically a crater—were awesome from what I could tell. Like Laura suggested, these are the free versions of River Bridge campground. Cross the river and go to the right. The campsite I chose is on a portion of the road beyond what Google Maps has, so it's really off-grid. 😜You could fit two vehicles. I needed something that could put me close enough to Crater Lake NP (the official campgrounds were booked). I don't think it felt like an hour; I was distracted by the beautiful forest. I slept in my car and I think it was the best sleep I've had on this trip. Cool at night, the only sound I heard were the occasional and distant 4th of July fireworks.

• 

  Juliana R.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 1, 2024

  Millsite Forest Dispersed Camping

  Open, empty, very quiet

  This was a lovely place to camp for the night. There were probably 10-15 campsites, and I was the only one there when I showed up. Campsites have picnic tables and fire pits and there is a pit toilet. Many trees which provide shade. Some mosquitos but not too bad. Very easy to find with the directions and it was also on GAIA GPS.

• 

  James W.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 1, 2020

  Mount Thielsen Wilderness

  I loved the trails and options to camp.

  I drove 4 hours to camp (dispersed) near Crater Lake. Well worth the drive and this place was prefect. The trails were pretty cool. Not tons of trails, but enough to explore. I took my lifted Suburban on some narrow trails and recieved some extra pin striping. That's what I have it for. You can bring a car, but not recommended. 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. Excellent scenery in this area. Perfectly quiet. Will be back again and again.

• K

  Kai K.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 30, 2024

  Mount Thielsen Wilderness

  Great spot but nails in the road

  BE CAREFUL got a nail in the tire here. Ended up with a flat giving me a headache 😒. Otherwise the campsite was amazing, would have been 5 stars if not for the nail.

• r

  robert M.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 17, 2024

  Burma Pond BLM

  Nice spot off the beaten path

  This is a lovely spot. Just a few campsites around a pond. Just overnighted here. Saw some folks camping and fishing. A bit of a challenge to find. Take speaker road to the end of pavement and then follow the dyrt map carefully. The correct location is pinned.

• 

  Aidan D.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 2, 2024

  Thousand Springs Sno-Park

  Great spot

  This is a good campsite to stay to look at Crater Lake. It is about 15 minutes to the south entrance of the park and then another 15 minutes to the Rim Village. Huge thanks to the Rogue Snowmobilers who make this site so great. 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

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 11, 2021

  USFS Rogue River Dispersed

  Beautiful But Be Aware

  Take the River Bridge turn off from Highway 62 and follow the road which turns to gravel, potholed and some washboarded road. Stay on the main road until you pass the actual campground and go over the bridge. 

  We did drive through the River Bridge campground which was $15/night but opted for the free version across the river. There are multiple spots to camp for free just past the River Bridge Campground across the one lane bridge. You can take a right or left after the bridge to find a spot. We took a right and found multiple sites to pull into right off the main forest service road. Accessibility is dependent on your rig but we found several spots easily accessed by our 26ft class c.  The road itself is gravel with pot holes but otherwise doable in most rigs. There appears to be some long term somewhat sketchy residents here so be aware. We stayed twice in 2 different spots but did not feel unsafe at all. The sites are fairly level with mix of sun and shade and stone fire pits and a short walk to the river. Its a nice place to let the dogs run free but there can be quite a lot of cars driving up and down the 62 road and and an occasional dirt bike. Very quiet at night and lots of roads to hike on or if you’re into fishing the Rogue River is very close.

   No amenities, pack in and pack out, no bathrooms; and for the love of god please bury your TP waste! 

  There is zero cell reception from ATT, T-Mobile or Verizon in this entire area.

• 

  Hannah S.

  Traveler

  

  Mar. 21, 2022

  Burma Pond BLM

  Nice spot to spend the night

  Found this spot on our way down to California. Not a bad spot to camp, it’s very quite and we were the only ones there.

  Getting there is pretty easy, we made it a lot more difficult by going down a bunch of roads. Stick to the main road, the road to the campsite is on the right and has a tree that’s spray painted with a stick figure. It’s very steep like the other review said but isn’t too bad for a truck.

  There aren’t a lot of spots here. We parked right by the lake, there was another spot in the middle of the loop, and a few others.

  It looks like there’s a trail that goes around the lake. We found some ticks on the dogs immediately so we didn’t end up exploring it. Overall a nice spot, it’s right off the highway so you don’t have to worry about driving deep in the mountains.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 5, 2022

  Argo Bar

  Good and Free

  I'll add another review since we did go back there this summer and stay there for a night. But I'd check on the effects of the Rum Fire if you're planning to go to this area. Not sure what the river area looks like now. :(

  We couldn't really find a flat place to park, and so ended up parking just along the bathroom, which was rhe flattest spot here. It was a nice and peaceful stay, quiet, watching boaters and rafting companies coming and going all day. Nobody else was there at night.

  The area is beautiful but there's not much to do unless you have a boat or a car. No nearby hikes within walking distance.

  Still zero cell service. 14 day stay limit. Garbage bins and recycling and bathrooms on site. Free!

• 

  SwitchbackKids

  Legend

  

  Jul. 27, 2017

  Prospect OHV Dispersed Camping

  Fantastic alternative to Crater Lake camping

  When we visited Crater Lake in April, we knew we'd have to find alternative camping because the park campgrounds would be covered in several feet of snow.

  We were able to find many options for camping on the way to Crater Lake, before entering the park boundaries. Check the regulations and guidelines before you head out, because there are specific areas where you can pull off and find a place to camp. For us, there were plenty of small unpaved roads where we could find a quiet, flat place for our tent.

  Crater Lake is one of the areas in the U.S. that receives the most snowfall each year, so their roads are often unplowed until well into the summer season. In the winter and spring, the park offers free snowshoe tours which offer an overview of the park and great views of the lake.

  Even though much of the park is inaccessible during April, we'd still recommend going if you have the chance. The winter views are incredible, too!

  You can read much more about our two days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Crater Lake)

• 

  Jeffrey P.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 11, 2024

  Lightning Springs Backcountry Dispersed Campsite

  Quiet Spot with Incredibe Views

  After parking right off the trail head and hiking down about 0.8 miles, you have three “established” spots to chose from. I say established in quotations because they are marked with plaques but are all the way rustic sites. The middle sight is definitely the biggest and is where me and four others stayed for two nights. This is a very busy national park in the summer months but going the first week of October (as suggested by the ranger) made it so that we were the only ones in this area. We did have a couple backpackers stop for the night at the first site but other than that is was really quite. The lightning springs trail itself is incredibly long and we only went to where water was flowing so that we could fill up. We opted to hike out the first day and then drive to the Watchman Lookout Trail head and do that one first. It was only 0.8 miles long but I believe a 400 foot elevation change. Absolutely incredibly view. After that we drove north and did the Cleetwood Cove Trail which was around a mile with a 600 foot elevation change. This allows you to get right next to the water. Both hikes we semi challenging but well worth it. While the backcountry campsites do not allow fires, there are other location around Rim Village that have established sites that you can. When we went it was a little colder and windy but the tree coverage offered some shielding from that. There are plenty of other longer hikes as well in the area and other established sites if you are looking to have a more traditional camping experience. The Rim Village center was open and we were able to get a meal and visit the gift shop as well as go farther south and get our NPP stamped. Definitely recommend checking the NP website to see what is opened and closed as well as fire bans. We were lucky that the entire loop was open and got to drive all the way around the second day. While not directly at these sites, there are trash and bathroom areas really close. Really all around incredible views and an incredible weekend stay.

• C

  Carl L.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 9, 2022

  Burma Pond BLM

  Excellent for a pit stop!

  Google maps will take you right to this one. The drive in is pretty short, making this a convenient place to stop if you’re driving through.

  Three spots, two of which are very close together. We were there in August. It was hot and the pond was scummy, but not buggy. 

  Pretty woods and good stars up here. We didn’t explore.

• 

  Casey B.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 19, 2024

  Burma Pond BLM

  Awesome spot not too far off I5

  The road getting up to it wasn't too bad. Some bigger potholes that we're easy enough to avoid. The pond at the top was beautiful with tons of bats flying around at night. Super cool!

• 

  Emma G.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 27, 2022

  Burma Pond BLM

  Good stopping point off I-5

  Subaru Impreza got up the road just fine! Location is about 20 minutes off i5. Hard to find with Apple Maps but we switched over to google maps and it was a lot easier!

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  May. 19, 2021

  Burma Pond BLM

  Remote and Quiet

  This was quite a way in on a fairly smooth but steep dirt road. Along the road were random deep pot holes so be aware they sneak up on you when the road is shadowed. 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. 

  The pond was peaceful and so beautiful with a couple of level options to set up. 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. 

  There was a handicap accessible bathroom with pit toilets that someone shot up the lock (boooo) so at the moment is open despite the "closed for covid" sign. There was a pile of garbage near the garbage cans. Bullet casings littered the ground as well.

   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. 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. Good place to let the dogs run and swim. If we had a smaller rig we would come here again. Very weak / unusable Verizon service, no service with TMobile or ATT.

• 

  Nicholas G.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 7, 2024

  Burma Pond BLM

  I was the only one there

  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