Managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry within the Tillamook State Forest, Gales Creek Campground sits along Highway 6 between Portland and the coast, making it a frequent stop for weekend campers heading west. The campground runs along Gales Creek itself, with sites set among a young forest of beech and maple. No cell service reaches the area. Sites on the B loop draw consistent praise from repeat visitors for their spacing and layout.
Gales Creek is the draw here, and most campers orient their stay around it. Trails from the campground lead down to the water, where kids wade and splash, and a deeper pool at the day-use area about a five-minute walk away gives swimmers more room to move. Chris B. notes there are "trails that lead down to the creek where kids can splash around." The creek itself runs small, particularly by midsummer, so those expecting a river-sized waterway should adjust expectations. Hiking trails extend well beyond camp, and at least one route accommodates single-track mountain biking.
Crowding is a real factor on summer weekends. Reviewers consistently report arriving to find only one or two sites remaining by Friday afternoon, and walk-in spots sometimes get occupied by drive-in campers. Reservations are available and worth using for holiday weekends. The vault toilets are functional but reportedly struggle when the campground fills to capacity. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table, drinking water comes from a pump on-site, and at least one reviewer recommends filtering or boiling it as a precaution.
The season runs May 20 through September 26, and the campground accommodates RVs up to 30 feet. Campgrounds near Timber give campers a sense of what else the surrounding forest has to offer, including Browns Camp - OHV to the south for off-highway vehicle riders and Stagecoach Horse Camp to the north for equestrians. Gales Creek works best for families and hikers who want a low-cost, creek-side base with trail access and don't mind the tradeoffs that come with a popular, first-come campground.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsGales Creek Campground is located in Oregon near Timber
Directions
Located just off the Wilson River Highway (Hwy 6) , 20 miles west of Forest Grove
Coordinates
45.64400004 N
123.35700075 W
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 1 user
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 1 user
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Tent Cabin
- Yurts
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
Drive Time
- 39 min from Portland, OR
- 1 hr 17 min from Salem, OR
- 1 hr 24 min from Longview, WA
- 1 hr 35 min from Albany, OR

















