The Unity area sits at approximately 4,000 feet elevation in eastern Oregon's Blue Mountains region, characterized by pine forests, mountain lakes, and open meadows. Summer temperatures typically range from 45°F to 85°F with cool evenings, while spring and fall camping often requires preparation for overnight temperatures near freezing. Dispersed camping opportunities exist throughout the surrounding Wallowa-Whitman and Malheur National Forests.
What to do
Hike accessible trails: Wetmore Campground offers a paved wheelchair-accessible trail that showcases large trees. According to camper Shayla J., it's "Nice little paved hike that is wheelchair accessible and lets you see some nice big trees."
Fishing opportunities: Phillips Lake near Social Security Point Trailhead provides good fishing despite fluctuating water levels. "We were car camping but most sites have smaller trailer access," notes Tony D., while Jennifer W. mentions, "Beautiful spot near Phillips Lake. Unfortunately this spot is not on the waters edge at the moment since lake levels are low."
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife watching opportunities. At Millers Lane, James W. observed: "Cranes were hanging at the lake, two Bald Eagles were close by. Great location with a lot to explore." Another camper noted, "The sandhill cranes are not present this time of year but there's still plenty of wildlife to be seen including geese and elk."
What campers like
Quiet, uncrowded camping: Most Unity area campgrounds remain relatively uncrowded, especially midweek. At Unity Lake State Recreation Site, Ron observed it was "very clean, not crowded and mostly empty. Has paved sites, room between neighbors... As close to being off the grid as one can be, (without actually being off)."
Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain well-kept facilities despite their remote locations. Greg B. noted at Unity Lake: "Restroom & showers were clean!" while Sandy S. mentioned, "The hosts were friendly and helpful. Clean restrooms and showers."
Spacious sites: Wetmore Campground offers well-separated campsites. As J P. notes, "Lots of space between spaces. In the trees. Clean pot toilet." Another camper described it as "Super beautiful and well kept... spaces were nice and spread out."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly by location and carrier. At Southwest Shore Campground, Mike E. reported "3 bars of Verizon cell service," while Blue Mountain Sno Park has "Zero cell reception here in this entire area with Verizon or ATT."
Water availability varies: Some campgrounds lack potable water or have seasonal restrictions. At Southwest Shore, Sandra S. advises: "No water, so bring your own," while Laura M. notes Wetmore has "Clean and maintained non-gendered pit toilets. No garbage service or any other kind of service."
Seasonal considerations: Camping conditions change dramatically with seasons. Social Security Point campers reported hearing "coyotes go through the area last night which was pretty loud," while Casey B. mentions "you can drive a bit further and camp on the dried up lake bed (depending on water height)."
Tips for camping with families
Lake activities: Despite fluctuating water levels, several lakes offer recreation opportunities. At Unity Lake, Sandy S. observed: "The wind often comes up in the afternoon and is there until after sunset, but the fishing looked great. Another camper offered us freshly caught trout as they had too much for their group."
Road noise awareness: Some campsites experience highway noise. At Social Security Point, Keith D. advises: "3 immediate sites off the road, then toilets, then more sites down the road... Road noise is present from first 3 sites."
Pack for bugs: Insects can affect comfort, particularly in summer months. Taylor B. recommends at Unity Lake: "Nice little camp ground right on the unity lake reservoir. Camp was quite, people were friendly. Showers were free. Bring lots of bug spray, they were everywhere."
Tips from RVers
Level site selection: Many pet-friendly camping areas near Unity have variable site leveling. At Bates State Park, Richard H. notes: "All sites are back-in with level gravel pads. No hook-ups," while Cliff adds it has "Green grassy area, gravel roads and pads. No hookups."
RV size considerations: Site accommodations vary significantly. Laura M. reports Blue Mountain Sno Park offers "Free camping in sno park parking lot in Malheur National Forest between May and October. Huge parking lot, accessible for any giant RV. Lot is flat enough, not totally flat but good enough for the night."
Boondocking preparations: Unity area campgrounds primarily offer dry camping. Unity Lake visitor Leo S. advises: "Even with a weboost, cellular was poor. However, with the WeBoost, we could text and call. We don't have a starlink system, but we did see others using it. Good view of the sky for it."
