Barnhouse Campground

Don’t try finding this place in the dark. There’s a long strength and you may start to doubt yourself. No GPS which made it more scary but when I found it, it was awesome. There’s a nice trailhead that was great walking with my dog. It was so peaceful and beautiful especially since I had it all to myself.

Great large sites, three other sites occupied. Ground is flat and soft enough to easily pitch a tent. AT&T cell phone coverage pretty decent. T-mobile you may receive messages but won’t load websites.

M

Place feels safe except for the occasional shot in the distance from hunters. Fire-ban in effect in August.

BYO water, pack out your garbage and drop toilet is clean.

Nice big ponderosa pines, a hiking trail out of the CG and a clean (pit) toilet, though low on TP cuz it’s not regularly service til Labor Day. Had it almost all to ourselves—another van arrived at dusk.

Turn off US 26 (no sign) is between milepost 79 and 80–south onto USFS Road 12, then climbs on pavement about 4 miles, where there’s a sign on right

Stayed for one night, most of the sites are far enough away that it didn’t feel crowded with three other parties there, but a couple of the sites are close enough to be good for a group. Our site had a slight slant so we needed a couple of leveling blocks. Clean toilet when we were there.

Nice little Forest Campground. Had no trouble getting our 30 ft Class A in there. Was surprisingly full on a Wednesday when we arrived but was empty on Friday. Was being used by bow hunters in the area and folks visiting the Painted Hills.

This campground is 6mi (paved) off the main road. It was a quiet wooded site with small number of sites. We did get woken by noisy cows each morning.

Nice free camp ground.

Have to becafreful and not pass the road you need to take off 26.

The road to the campground goes through private ranch lands then up into the forest.

The road is paved but has a few cattle grids and often times cattle laying on the road, but they move .

This place is never really busy even in the summer, but there is often a couple of sites taken.

Some nice trails lead off from the back of the site.

This is a nice place just to get away and miraculously i get a couple of bars on my AT&T cel.

As other reviewers stated, this campground is free, and secluded, but maintained. We were looking for a spot around Painted Hills/John Day Fossil Beds/John Day, and this worked out as we pulled into the last spot available (6 total). There were a couple RVs and trailers and a few tents. Road to get to the campground was paved, but watch out for free roaming cows! There was a trail and creek nearby with a trough to fill up water - I’d recommend filtering before drinking. There are picnic tables and rock fire rings, and one vault toilet. Not much else to it, but like I said, FREE and relatively clean.

We loved staying at this gorgeous campground. It’s close to John Day fissile beds and pretty remote. It was the perfect get away! We stayed 3 nights the first 2 no one else was camping there. Beautiful trail and clean site. Vault toilet and 6-7 spaces. Loved it. We will be back.

Only one vault toilet, it wasn't very clean. The location was great, not too far away from the painted hills about 20 minutes away. It was nice be around trees which made it cooler. Flat and spacious campgrounds. No mosquitoes so that was big plus. It was free camping too.

This is truly a great little campground! It is a bit hard to get too, so follow the directions carefully. Once you get to the end of the road you will see the campground. It is first come first serve as they require no fee. Tucked away in the hills and the woods, with numerous hiking trails from the campground to explore the surrounding areas. There is only a hole in the ground outhouse, so be prepared, they do not come clean it often. It is quiet and a great way to see the Painted Hills that are close by.