Established Camping
Diamond Lake
About
USDA Forest Service
Umpqua National Forest
Overview
Meandering along most of the east shore of the mile-high Diamond Lake, this large campground boasts spectacular views of both Mount Bailey and Mount Thielsen, and offers visitors abundant recreational opportunities.
Recreation
At an elevation of 5,183 feet, Diamond Lake provides outdoor enthusiasts with a multitude of recreational opportunities year-round. The area offers a scenic backdrop for swimmers braving its cold, refreshing waters, and anglers casting a lines from boat or shoreline. Rainbow trout thrive in the lake, as it is stocked annually with 300,000 fingerlings. Bicyclists will enjoy riding on the 11-miles of paved trail around the lake, while hikers can head out for the day on one of many trails leaving from the area. Interpretive programs are offered on Saturday evenings at the campground amphitheater.
Facilities
This large campground has 238 sites, including double and standard sites, able to accommodate tents, RVs and trailers; All sites are available by reservation only. Sites are equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings, grills, drinking water and flush toilets. Access to Diamond Lake is within walking distance, and boat ramps and fish cleaning stations are accessible to visitors. The gatehouse is staffed daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and campground hosts are on-site to answer questions.
Natural Features
Explosive geologic events have shaped the distinctive landscape on the 984,602-acre Umpqua National Forest, and the area provides spectacular scenery as well as an abundance of natural and cultural resources. The translation of the word, "Umpqua," meaning "thundering waters," defines the area. High mountain lakes, heart-stopping rapids, peaceful ponds and thundering waterfalls, including the 272-foot Watson Falls on the North Umpqua Highway, are available to visitors. Several designated wilderness areas provide opportunities undisturbed solitude. Encompassing 19,100 acres, Boulder Creek Wilderness is an incredible landscape, with dense old growth forests and steep terrain that tower above Boulder Creek. The most popular area in Boulder Creek is Pine Bench. This flat area overlooking Boulder Creek is home to a grove of old growth Ponderosa pines. Diverse ecosystems support a wide range of habitat for wildlife common to the area. From eagles and owls, to salamanders and salmon, these species, along with many others, depend on surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams, and diverse forests to live.
Nearby Attractions
Access to Diamond Lake is within walking distance, and boat ramps and fish cleaning stations are accessible to visitors. A nearby resort offers bicycle, boat and horse rentals as well as lodging, restaurants, a grocery store, laundry facilities and fuel. Trails for hiking and mountain biking are within 10 miles of the campground. Visitors may want to take some time to visit nearby Crater Lake National Park, the only national park in Oregon! The amazing Crater Lake area offers a glimpse into the volcanic history of the area. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), one of the world's premier National Scenic Trails, showcases some of North America's most fantastic scenery, winding its way its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington, and is accessible near the campground.
Fee Info
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonGood
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobilePoor
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Cabins
- Tent Cabin
- Equestrian
Features
For Campers
- Market
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
LegendLarge Campground on a beautiful lake
This is a large Forest Service campground stretching along the shores of Diamond Lake. It is difficult to do a full review of this campground as we were there at the end of the season when it was cold, windy, and rainy. There was no staff on-site, and it was only the next morning that I saw an occupied host site way at the other end of the southern part of the campground. The north end of the campground had already closed for the season, and I believe the south end closes at the end of October. Reservations are only available June through Labor Day, but we pretty much had our pick of sites on a weekday in mid-October.
The road and camper pads are paved, and a good amount of foliage between sites provides privacy.
As far as activities, there is a paved bike path that winds through the campground. In season, there is boating (there is a boat ramp in each end of the campground), and there is a fishing dock too.
In each end of the campground, there is one “nice” bathhouse that is clean, heated, well-lit, and has showers. Depending on where your site is, it may be quite a walk to get to these bathrooms. Note that showers are free but there is a donation box. I wouldn't be surprised that at some point in the future, they will require payment. Sprinkled throughout the rest of the campground are very basic bathrooms with one sink, two stalls, cold water only, no soap. It had last been cleaned three days before we were there and there was no toilet paper in the men’s bathroom closest to our site.
There is also a dump station with a donation box.
Rates are reasonable, especially if you have the senior Golden Access Pass, however, there was a note that each transaction also incurred a $3 transaction fee. Didn’t know if that was if you reserved online, used a credit card, or no matter. We included it in the envelope for a total of $14.
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LegendOne of our favorites
This is a highly recommended campground. Great spots right on the lake and it's a huge campground with tons of spots in general. Cellphone service is hit or miss depending on where you are. We found a level spot, not all spots are level. They have trash and a dump/water station.
Showers are available via a donation..campsite rates are very reasonable for amenities and location.
10 miles from Crater Lake, 1 mile from the lodge with a little store and restaurant. Restaurant was pretty darn good for the middle of nowhere. 100 years old.
TravelerNot too bad
Stayed at diamond lake for 3 days. The specific site didn’t have any reviews or pics, but took a chance on it. Our site didn’t have any shade so it was a little rough. And it was a little dirty throughly the entire campground. You could tell it’s highly used, sad that people don’t take a little more pride and leave it a little cleaner then they found it.
We have Verizon and had 1-2 bars LTE. Couldn’t make or receive calls and really couldn’t text or email.
The bathrooms were fairly clean given you are in the middle of nowhere. They showers were available, but we didn’t use them.
The camp hosts were awesome! They gave our free firewood and had free WiFi you could use.
Location
Diamond Lake is located in Oregon
Directions
From Roseburg, OR, turn onto OR-138 east / NE Diamond Lake Boulevard, drive 80 miles east on Highway 138. Turn right onto Forest Road 4795/ Diamond Lake Loop at the north entrance to Diamond Lake Recreation Area. Proceed 2.5 miles to the campground entrance on the right. From Klamath Falls, OR, or Bend, OR, follow US-97 to OR-138. Follow OR-138 west approximately 22 __ miles to Forest Road 4795/Diamond Lake Loop. Turn left onto FR 4795 and proceed 2.5 miles to the campground entrance on the right. From Medford, OR, follow OR-62 and OR-230 to OR-138. Turn left on OR-138 and follow it north approximately 4 miles to Forest Road 4795/Diamond Lake Loop. Turn left onto FR 4795 and proceed 2.5 miles to the campground entrance on the right.
Address
2020 TOKETEE RANGER STATION ROAD
Idleyld park, OR 97447
Coordinates
43.1593 N
122.13309 W