Paige P.
Ranger
RangerWolf Creek Reservoir
Sweet Spot
A handful of great places to camp for the night- very clean and well taken care of so please leave no trace. Just a spot and a table, no water, restrooms ect.
Best Tent Camping near Wallowa Whitman National Forest
Tent campgrounds in Wallowa Whitman National Forest offer pristine backcountry settings with significant privacy between sites. Hurricane Creek Campground features tent sites positioned alongside a fast-moving creek, while Williamson Campground provides quiet riverside camping with adequate space for hammocks and small tents. Several campgrounds in the region, including Walla Walla Forest Camp and West Eagle Meadow, offer more secluded tent camping experiences with natural buffers between campsites.
Most tent sites include basic amenities such as picnic tables and fire rings, though facilities vary considerably across locations. Vault toilets are available at Hurricane Creek, Williamson, and West Eagle Meadow campgrounds, but drinking water must be packed in or filtered from nearby streams. The region experiences significant seasonal changes affecting access; tent campers should check current conditions before arrival, especially when planning trips to higher elevations like Fish Lake Campground (6,990 ft). Fire restrictions are common during summer months, and wildlife encounters, including bears and deer, are frequently reported across campgrounds.
Tent campers in the Eagle Cap Wilderness area can access backcountry sites like those at Mirror Lake and Aneroid Lake, requiring a 7+ mile hike from trailheads. These walk-in tent sites provide deeper immersion in the wilderness, with clear alpine lakes suitable for swimming despite very cold temperatures. Dispersed camping opportunities exist along West Eagle Creek south of the meadows trailhead, allowing tent campers to find secluded spots away from developed areas. Sites near water sources tend to fill quickly during peak season. One camper noted, "Hurricane Creek Campground is super nice with a lot of well-maintained spots, but if you have dogs keep them on leash because if they were to get in the creek that would be all she wrote. That creek is appropriately named as it really moves."
Best Tent Sites Near Wallowa Whitman National Forest (54)
1. Hurricane Creek Campground
9 ReviewsJoseph, OR6 milesWebsite+1 (541) 426-5546"We scheduled three nights here but after two nights of amazing lightning storms, we skipped the third night. Still, this is a beautiful place, very private, secluded, and shady."
"We car camped in this small campground along Hurricane Creek after getting rained out on a backpacking trip up to Eagle Cap. There are 13 sites, 3 of which are handicap accessible."
2. Walla Walla Forest Camp
2 ReviewsJoseph, OR3 milesWebsite+1 (541) 523-6391"There are several campsites along the Lostine corridor, we decided just to drive until we found a spot we liked. We landed at Walla Walla Forest Camp and claimed site 4."
3. Williamson Campground
2 ReviewsEnterprise, OR5 milesWebsite+1 (541) 426-5546"Space for 1 tent easily…maybe a 2nd in some. Good trees for hammock."
"Nice little river near the campsites for gathering water or cooling off."
4. Two Pan
1 ReviewWallowa Whitman National Forest, OR2 milesWebsite+1 (541) 426-5546"The camp has four spots for camping with picnic tables, fire pit, tie ups for horses and hay holders. There was some hay left over that attracted a deer very close to us as we camped here at night."
5. Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Mirror Lake BackCountry Sites
1 ReviewWallowa Whitman National Forest, OR7 milesWebsite+1 (541) 523-6391"These coordinates are one of the first sites on the right, when arriving from Two Pan Trailhead, but there are dozens around the lake if you follow the trail."
6. Aneroid Lake Backcountry Dispersed Campsite
1 ReviewJoseph, OR10 miles"Aneroid Lake is one of my favorite locations in the Eagle Cap Wilderness."
7. West Eagle Meadow Campground
3 ReviewsUnion, OR14 milesWebsite"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 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."
8. Boulder Park Campground
1 ReviewWallowa-Whitman National Forest, OR14 milesWebsite+1 (541) 963-7186"This campground is pretty high up, it's quite a drive to get there, however every bump and curve of the road is worth it. There are fire pits, a bathroom and lots of sites."
9. Moss Springs Campground
1 ReviewCove, OR14 milesWebsite"Moss Springs is a quiet campground on the edge of the Eagle Cap about 9 miles up the a forest service road from Cove, OR (which is about 14 miles past La Grande)."
10. Fish Lake Campground
3 ReviewsHalfway, OR21 milesWebsite+1 (541) 742-7511"Fish Lake Campground is up above Halfway, OR. It is a pine forested high elevation (6,990ft) Campground on NFD Rd. 66."
"v=ItBigl-IBz8&feature=share](https://youtube.com/watch?v=ItBigl-IBz8&feature=share) Check out the link to a video of our camping trip to Fish Lake Campground."
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Wallowa Whitman National Forest
30 Photos of 54 Wallowa Whitman National Forest Campgrounds
Tent Camping Reviews near Wallowa Whitman National Forest
345 Reviews of 54 Wallowa Whitman National Forest Campgrounds
Jill T.
LegendAnthony Lake Campground
Breathtaking
Located in the beautiful Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Anthony Lake Campground is not to be missed. The scenery is breathtaking and there is something for everyone to do. Kids will enjoy the lake and easy day hikes. I love the fishing and photo opps!!!
- Jim B.
GuideHurricane Creek Campground
A lovely place
We scheduled three nights here but after two nights of amazing lightning storms, we skipped the third night. Still, this is a beautiful place, very private, secluded, and shady. The fast-moving creek creates a soothing white noise that we found calming. The campsites are spaced quite far apart, some only large enough for a tent. No hookups, but there is a clean vault toilet. We planned to hit the nearby hiking trail, but when we got to the trailhead, the parking lot was completely packed. When we go there again, we will stay and relax at the campground.
- John 'n Sara D.Guide
Jubilee Lake Campground (Or) — Umatilla National Forest
Peace & Quiet!
The campground is somewhat primitive. There are flushing toilets on the lower loop, vault toilets on the upper loop. no showers, but you can refresh in the lake. The nights get chilly, so be prepared with warm socks and a beenie, especially if you’re tent camping.
There are no power boats allowed on the lake, so it is raft, kayak paddle board friendly.
The path around the lake is an easy walk, just don’t expect to sit on a bench and enjoy the view of the lake, the trees have grown up.
- Nick B.Guide
Target Meadows Campground — Umatilla National Forest
Rustic campground with a neat history
We tent camped for the weekend in mid-July. The plan was to camp at Jubilee Lake, but it was full when we arrived Friday evening. Target Meadows is just a short drive from the lake, but there were plenty of sites available. The campground is heavily wooded with beautiful evergreens. Sites are private and well spaced. This is a rustic campground, so there is no water or power. Amenities include (very clean!) pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits with cooking grates. There is a lot of dry timber on the ground, so it is easy to collect your own firewood. There is easy access to hiking, including Burnt Cabin trailhead. Most campsites are trailer friendly, including a few with drive-through access. We really enjoyed the area and will be back again!
Emily C.
TravelerSpring Creek Campground
Good free FS campground
Came 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
- JJim B.
ScoutBird Track Springs
Excellent place to dry camp...
Every time we camp here it has been quiet, wild life comes around to say hi. Vault toilets, no water, no trash pickup. Always clean,,, Nice place...
- Hannah O.Guide
North Fork Catherine Creek Campground
Peaceful and free to camp
Lovely location in the mountains of Oregon. We drove a few thousand feet up a gravel road to get to this campsite. Easy access for my little sedan. I typed the latitude and longitude (found on the website) into my gps but lost service maybe 15 or 20 minutes before we arrived. Luckily it still was able to track our location and tell us “you have arrived” but as the campsite description said, these sites are spread out along the road, so it took us an extra 10 or 15 minutes to find the site we were going to stay at. The easiest campsites to find are at the trailhead of the North Fork Catharine Creek trail, which has a large parking lot with a minimal parking fee. The vault toilets are at this parking lot. For us, we crossed the bridge right before the parking lot and found a pull-off loop that had a few trailers with what seemed to be seasonal campers. They were cheerful and friendly. We went to the very back of the loop and found a nice secluded spot that was literally yards from the river. It was a primitive spot; it had no picnic table and only a fire ring made of rocks but since we had chairs we didn’t mind.
The forest floor was extremely easy to drive stakes into, and the river made a lovely background noise to fall asleep to.
The only thing I didn’t like was a couple bags of trash sitting on the side of the loop. We figured they were from the seasonal campers who put them at a distance so they didn’t have to deal with the smell. Not a great idea since an animal could get into it though. That’s something to keep in mind; THERE IS NO DUMPSTER so you have to pack all trash back out.
We stayed in the middle of July and it was delightfully cool, in the mid 70s during the day and dropped down to the upper 40s over night.
All in all a lovely overnight trip. I would go back.
- ZZacharyScout
Morgan Lake - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Beautiful Lake
Beautiful campground. Maybe 15 sites, and totally free. 3 day camping limit. Sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Pit toilets are available, but no potable water. Almost every site has lake frontage. The campground is usually open until October 31. Paddle boats only. No motors.
Guide to Wallowa Whitman National Forest
Tent camping near Wallowa Whitman National Forest offers experiences from high alpine lakes to quiet riverside retreats. Elevation ranges from 3,000 feet along creeks to nearly 7,000 feet at Fish Lake Campground, affecting both temperatures and season length. Most tent sites are primitive with limited cell service, particularly in remote areas around Eagle Cap Wilderness.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Fish Lake Campground sits at 6,990 feet with outstanding trout fishing. One visitor noted, "Beautiful views, outstanding action packed trout fishing. Far away from anything. Nice restrooms and natural spring is plumbed in to the campground. Best water I have ever tasted."
Swimming in alpine lakes: While most creeks are too fast-moving for safe swimming, the high mountain lakes offer swimming options despite cold temperatures. At Aneroid Lake, accessible via a challenging hike, "The water is very cold but worth the dip if it's a hot summer day."
Day hiking: The area offers numerous day hiking opportunities from established campgrounds. From West Eagle Meadow Campground, campers can access nearby trails. "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."
What campers like
Solitude and spacing: Many tent sites offer significant separation from neighbors. At Hurricane Creek Campground, "The campsites are spaced quite far apart, some only large enough for a tent. No hookups, but there is a clean vault toilet. We planned to hit the nearby hiking trail, but when we got to the trailhead, the parking lot was completely packed."
Wildlife viewing: Early morning and evening wildlife sightings are common. At Hurricane Creek Campground, one camper reported, "Saw two bucks together early in the morning grazing," while another noted hearing "what may have been a bear growling at night."
Hammock camping options: Williamson Campground provides suitable trees for hammock camping: "Sites were great. We had no issues getting an open site here the week of 4th of July. The river is a great backdrop and sound. Space for 1 tent easily…maybe a 2nd in some. Good trees for hammock."
What you should know
Seasonal road access: Many campgrounds require driving on unpaved forest roads that can be difficult in wet conditions. Access to Moss Springs Campground requires traveling "about 9 miles up a forest service road from Cove, OR (which is about 14 miles past La Grande). The road back to Cove, while not paved, isn't bad."
Weather variations: Summer thunderstorms are common in higher elevations. One Hurricane Creek camper reported, "We scheduled three nights here but after two nights of amazing lightning storms, we skipped the third night."
Water sources: Drinking water availability varies widely across campgrounds. Fish Lake Campground has plumbed natural spring water, while most sites require filtering from nearby streams or packing in water. Boulder Park Campground is situated near Eagle Creek but offers no treated water.
Tips for camping with families
Creek safety precautions: Fast-moving creeks pose dangers for children and pets. A Hurricane Creek visitor warned, "My one caution would be that if you have dogs keep them on a leash because if they were to get in the creek that would be all she wrote. That creek is appropriately named as it really moves."
Small campgrounds with fewer sites: Walla Walla Forest Camp offers a more manageable experience for families: "Just 4 sites, 2 with great river access. We loved the view and how big and private our site was."
Insect preparedness: Bring bug spray, particularly for campsites near water. At Walla Walla Forest Camp, one camper advised, "Our spot was tucked back a little way, which we liked. But was furthest from the water and swampy, which we didn't like. The other two spots are closer to the water, so you don't have to contend so much with mosquitos. Just bring bug spray and check for ticks!"
Tips from RVers
Limited turnaround space: Many tent-focused campgrounds lack adequate turning space for larger vehicles. At Hurricane Creek, some sites are "accessible by car only (no trailer turnaround)."
Leveling requirements: Prepare for uneven terrain at many sites. One RV camper at Hurricane Creek reported, "Spent one night in that spot then took another closer to the river for the second night where I had to use my leveling blocks. But so worth it. Could hear nothing but the rushing river."
Site selection considerations: For tent camping with smaller RVs, site selection becomes critical. A visitor to Williamson Campground observed, "Sites were great. We had no issues getting an open site here the week of 4th of July. The river is a great backdrop and sound. Space for 1 tent easily…maybe a 2nd in some."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Wallowa Whitman National Forest?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wallowa Whitman National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wallowa Whitman National Forest is Hurricane Creek Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Wallowa Whitman National Forest?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Wallowa Whitman National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 54 tent camping locations near Wallowa Whitman National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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