Tahkenitch Campground, near Reedsport, Oregon, is a straightforward spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors without the fuss. It’s got the essentials covered, with picnic tables and fire pits ready for your campfire gatherings, making it a solid choice for a night under the stars.

The campground is clean and well-kept, with accessible walking trails that lead you through the beautiful Oregon dunes to the beach. Visitors have raved about the privacy of some sites, which are tucked away in the brush, providing a nice escape from the hustle and bustle. As one camper put it, “The sites felt pretty private and were far enough apart.”

While you won’t find showers or electric hookups here, the flush toilets are maintained, and there’s drinking water available. If you’re up for a hike, the trails offer stunning views and a chance to spot local wildlife, though keep in mind that dogs aren’t allowed on the beach during certain times to protect snowy plover nests.

If you’re looking for a no-frills camping experience with easy access to nature, Tahkenitch Campground is a great pick. Just remember to make your reservations ahead of time, as it can fill up quickly during the season.

## Overview

 Tahkenitch Campground is a beautiful camping destination located in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, 8 miles north of Reedsport. The campground offers some very secluded sites surrounded by local coastal shrubbery, with some other sites that are more open. Three hiking trails can be accessed next to the campground, leading to Threemile Lake and the Tahkenitch Dunes. Across the road is Tahkenitch Lake. The name Tahkenitch means \"lake of many fingers.\" Fishing here can be relaxing and rewarding. 
## Recreation

 The adjacent day use area serves as the trailhead for Tahkenitch Dunes Trail, Threemile Lake Trail, and Threemile Lake South Trail. All three trails are good for sand play and scenery. Tahkenitch Dunes Trail goes through a mile of conifer forest, opening onto the dunes with views of the ocean. The trail then enters a smaller stand of shore pine and completes its journey at the Pacific Coast.Boating and fishing are popular at nearby Tahkenitch Lake. Fishing may yield cutthroat and steelhead trout, largemouth bass, and yellow perch. 
## Natural Features

 The campground is within reach of coastal forests, expansive dunes, Tahkenitch Lake, and the Pacific Ocean. Many sites are heavily wooded and secluded, separated by a thick understory. Douglas fir and wild berries can be seen throughout the campground. The lake spans 1,674 acres. Roosevelt elk, pelicans, sea lions, and bald eagles are just some of the wildlife that live in this area. 
## Nearby Attractions

 The campground is a few miles from off-road vehicle trails on the dunes. 
## Contact Info

 For facility specific information, please call (541) 271-6000.
## Charges & Cancellations

 Campsites that are not occupied after 24 hours of arrival time will be considered as a \"no show\" and sites will be released for others to reserve. If campers will be arriving after 24 hours of their arrival time, they are encouraged to call the ranger station at 541-271-6000 to let staff know.

Tahkenitch Campground

Are you in need of a campground near Gardiner, OR? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Oregon camping has to offer. Find the best campgrounds near Gardiner, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

Gardiner

The Best Camping Near Gardiner, Oregon

I liked how this campsite was set up, the sites along the inner hill have parking spaces down below, with a short walk into the pads and fire rings. This makes for a little more privacy and you don't hear people getting into their cars all the time. It wasn't overly populated either, so in the morning and at night, when the hwy traffic died down, it was very peaceful and you could hear just the slightest ocean sound in the distance. My main complaint was the 'nature trail' that was just off the campground, it was nice until it took you out on the dunes. The signage said there was beach access, but I never got close enough to get out on it. At one point the trail was washed out. Also the trail itself was not well marked, as I realized miles into a hunting trail that had obviously not been used a lot. I made it back to camp okay, after having to turn back. A 6 mile loop turned into a 9 mile adventure up and down the dunes. Very beautiful scenery and lots of wildlife to watch along the way though, overall a decent experience. No onsite sales of wood and no showers, but fairly clean flush toilet bathrooms.

**PROS:**

*   walk-in sites
*   Not busy
*   Close to services

**CONS:**

*   No beach access
*   Poorly marked trail
*   No wood sales

Beach access washout

This is the second time I have stayed at this campground, but the first time I stayed alone. This visit I was with my brother's family, including my 2 year old nephew and 3 year old niece. Last time I stayed here I reviewed the site under the "Tahkenitch area" not realizing that this was a blanket listing covering the entire lake and surrounding day use areas. I have since added this campground with its exact GPS location on the map, as well as its direct link to recreation.gov.

I was more impressed the first time than I was this weekend. I was surprised at how much traffic noise there was. It is right on hwy 101, so that's understandable, but I guess it was easier to block out the motors and jake brakes last time. My niece and nephew were really bothered by it, the 2 year old has issues with loud noise and I hadn't remembered it being that bad.

Also, the women's bathroom was out of order, for at least a month, according to the cleaning log on the temporary porta potties. They also turned the flush men's restroom into a all gender for the time being. During our stay it wasn't fixed, and as it happens, the men's went down too. Hopefully they will get these fixed soon.

For the price you don't find many amenities other than the standard fire pits, picnic tables, garbage service, water bibs, dish water troughs, and an extra pit toilet.

As for activities; the beach is too far for a nice family hike or walk, although there is a nice little stroll to the dunes through a well wooded forest area. I don't suggest following it to the ocean as it is a harder hike not suitable for too young of kids. You can instead drive to the nearby Siltcoos beach area access or other access points along 101\. There is also Elbow lake and Tahkenitch lake to fish, boat, or just relax by the water.

I'd say an okay campground all together, but not my favorite spot. We picked it this time as some of the sites are park and walk-in with lots of privacy. We thought this would be a good idea with kiddos just getting into camping. Gonna have to find a more adventurous spot as they get older.

If you are looking to avoid the crowds at Honeyman state park and are wanting a smaller more wooded campground with lots of privacy, this might be the place for you.

High traffic hwy stop off

This is a smaller campground with small sites and no water. Lots of great trees for shade. The best part of this place is the lake. There is a boat launch and a moorage dock. It was our second time there this year and we WILL be back. Also, this lake is a KILLER bass lake!

Not a bad place to camp

Some of these spaces are very small. We had to camp in a different space than the one I reserved because it was so tiny it wouldn’t have fit more than 2 people. The bathrooms were clean and the camp host was very nice.

Some sites are small

The highlight for us was the beautiful trail to the dunes. We actually walked there twice it was so beautiful - once with the dog in the afternoon and then we went back for an incredible sunset.
You’re close to the road but we couldn’t hear any traffic. The sites felt pretty private and were far enough apart. We saw a few other people who were all very nice. The camp was clean and well kept. And I was able to book same day. We’d definitely return! 

Perfect gateway to the dunes! 

We were able to make a reservation the night of which is nice. 

The areas were all very well kept. The walking trails were a beautiful hike in the morning. 

Bathrooms had running water and were very clean.

Would definitely recommend and camp here again.

Clean and Green

Campground doesn't have a formal check-in process. Reservations made online or over the phone only. There are no showers, and the flush-toilet bathrooms are minimally attended. During one of my stays here, bathrooms were closed and only the vault toilets were accessible.

Some campsites are amazing, and others are not so great. The good sites are spacious, secluded, and do not have a driveway. They are hidden in the brush 20-30 yards from where you can park the car. Others are small with little to no privacy, but these ones do have private driveways.

Great starting place for the a hike to the beach through the Oregon dunes. Note that in order to protect snowy plover nests, dogs are not allowed on this section of the beach during certain times of the year.

Stayed here once in 2020 when wildfires broke out. Had to go home early because smoke filled the entire state. Second time we stayed, it poured rain. Might not try my luck again.

No frills campground, great hike

This campground had everything you need. Fire pit and table ready for you. Grounds are accessible and when you’ve been driving all night it’s exactly what you’re looking for. Must have reservation 

Good clean campground

The campsite feels secluded for a car campground. The sites for the tent are a little walk behind the picnic bench. The site was quiet and surrounded by trees. It was full but didn’t feel like too many people. The hike to the dune was fun.

Photos of Tahkenitch Campground

Real photos from real campers