past camp ten, the road gets a little rougher. offers pit toilets and has a fire pit. there are many lakeside sites to choose from and there is a sense of privacy as it is farther away from the lodge and closer to the road that will take you to horseshoe lake. be sure you have a car that can handle rutty hill!
We went in July of last year. Our campground turnoff was prior to the store/launch. It’s posted at the boat launch that you cannot win in the water but nowhere else. We went in and found tons of dead fish snagged to a line, paint cans, a couple freebasing pipes that were broken, and food people didn’t eat and threw into the water. It was very polluted and they are worried about human waste or whatever. This is not a very family friendly place for when it really hot out.
I love this Campground. Swimming is not allowed due to the lake being a local drinking water source. Non-powered boats are allowed and it is a very clear lake. Trout are stocked and paddle boats are for rent at olallie resort. Worth the trip but be prepared with your own water and leave the site better then you found it.
We decided to camp last-minute for the eclipse, and found an amazingly open spot on the east side of Monon lake. While we weren't technically in Peninsula Campground we were very close. We had a lakefront viewing spot for the eclipse from our small, but well laid out campsite.
The road in from any direction is very bumpy and full of rocks, and can be daunting if you're not used to driving on that kind of terrain. If you don't have good tires, don't attempt. Stopped at Olallie store on the way in, friendly folks, and very reasonable prices considering the location. It's very dusty in the summer, so be prepared to cover everything and keep it inside a vehicle or tent if you don't want it filthy. This is a quiet camping area, no tunes please. The boyfriend kayaked on Monon lake, and did some bank fishing on Olallie and caught two trout pretty quickly.
We were close enough to walk to a vault toilet when necessary, which were the cleanest I've ever been in. The woods bathroom situation was sparse during the day, hard to go anywhere without being seen. Time to buy a privacy shower/toilet tent
Since we only camped for one night, wasn't able to hit any trails, but really enjoyed our short time there. We will be back.
I cannot believe I've never been to Olallie Lake before now. Really amazing! It's not that hard to get to from Portland, follow the Clackamas River where there are lots of other great campgrounds. Olallie Lake is further down the road and the last 5 miles or so are on a pretty bumpy dirt road. So, not too far but just hard enough to get to that crowds of people may not go there. And there are lots of other campgrounds in the area so lots of options if the one you 're going to is full.
We stayed at site 29, mainly because we got there in the dark and it was hard to see what the sites were like. It was actually one of the few sites not right on the water. But still a great site because it had lots space for our 3 tents, good sun/shade balance during the day, and less cold wind than I think we would have had down on the lake.
Site 30 is across the way and overlooks the lake. Great spot for one tent but could not fit more than that. (see video)
Down at the end of the peninsula are several walk in sites. You barely have to "walk in" so fine for car camping. I think these are the best spots. You will see my videos of Site 15 and Site 18 (18 would be good for a group) but just beyond that is Site 19 which is at the very tip of the peninsula and the perfect little secluded spot. It's the sort of camping spot you dream of! The only slight little problem with it is that you kind of have to walk through other peoples' site to get to it. But still worth it.
Plenty of clean pit toilets around the campground.
I have gone here every summer for the last 10 years! Olallie Lake is one of the most beautiful, and scenic spots around. You have a beautiful view of Mt.Jefferson, on a crystal clear lake. The road is pretty rough to get up here, but it is worth it! The campsite has many spacious spots, and is not too far from a restroom. All of the camp spots have access right on the water, with a nice picnic table, and fire pit! The stars are worth seeing. You will be AMAZED. You will see shooting stars guaranteed! There are many little lakes that you can hike to that are less than a mile away. You are not aloud to go swimming in Olallie Lake, but it is great for fishing, and taking your row boat/kayak out on!
