Bennett F.

Lake Oswego, OR

Joined July 2019

SwordSeeker and Knyght of the Dyrt

Nice and serene place on the river

Pine Rest is only tent camping- no driveways or space for RV’s. Campfires are out of the question too (usually), due to how strict local rules are about wildfire danger(even though there’s a fire pit in every site). You do have access to the Metolius River trail, which runs for at least 6 1/2 miles on both sides of the river. The river is great for fly-fishing and rafting, with logs placed in the river to benefit the former and endanger the latter. It’s a pretty small campground with only like 6 sites in the whole thing. Camp Sherman General Store is a little under two miles away down the road, and is worth a visit. The swarms of mosquitoes are bloodthirsty, and you’re gonna need a lot of bug spray. It’s also bear country, so watch out for bears. Or mosquitoes the size of bears. They’re out there.

Quiet place, nice and peaceful

The campground is right next to a fish hatchery, which is really interesting and worth a visit. However, most of the sites have pretty strict boundaries. There are logs fences around each campsite, which you are required to stay inside of. You can hear a river a ways back from the side of the campground, but is inaccessible because of the aforementioned fences. The driveways are pretty long, but there are usually rocks placed to block access for vehicles to the back half of it. There are fireplaces in each campsite, but there is almost always a fire ban so you most likely won’t get much of a chance to use them. You do need a National Park Recreation Pass to use the campground, but they aren’t very hard to get and and don’t cost too much money($12 for a single site, and$22 for a double site). In June or July, the mosquitoes will eat you alive if they get the chance, so don’t give it to them. Bring lots of bug repellent.

Beautiful river - great fishing - not so great mosquitoes...

A lot of the campsites are right on the Metolius River, which is a great spot for fly-fishing. The views are amazing. There have been logs submerged in the river to assist with fish habitats, which can cause some nasty accidents if you’re rafting or canoeing down the river. There is also usually a fire ban due to a lot of past wildfires, so you can’t use the fire pit in your campsite. The Camp Sherman General Store is about 2 miles down the road from the front entrance. It’s worth paying a visit, because they have donuts. And other stuff. But mainly donuts. Around the beginning of summer, the mosquitoes start coming out, and thy are unbearable. Bring lots of bug spray, or maybe bathe in it. You’re gonna need it.

Beautiful views, but bring bug spray!

The campsites are all right next to the Metolius River, so most of them have great views and scenic sunsets only a few steps away. There’s quite a few campsites (35), but some of them on the far side from the river are right next to the road, which can account for a bit of noise. In various places around the campground there are 3 water spigots, but there are no black/gray water, electrical, or water hookups for RV’s in the sites. Camp Sherman General Store is a little under a mile and a half away(they have great donuts- just saying). There’s almost always a campfire ban, due to how dry the area can be, which can make the camping a little less enjoyable, but probably safer in perspective. Remember to bring lots of bug repellent, because around the beginning of summer the mosquitoes and gnats are unbearable.

Great views; killer bugs

The campground is right next to Metolius River, with a beautiful view and great fly-fishing. The front entrance is only about a mile from the Camp Sherman General Store. Allingham Bridge goes across the river in the middle of the campground, so there is a road running next some of the inner campsites. Fire danger seems to be a pretty big deal in this area, so any time I’ve been there it’s been no campfires allowed. A few of the campsites have water spigots nearby, but other than that it’s dry camping- no hookups for electrical or water. Around June, you pretty much need to bathe in bug repellent, or you’re going to be eaten alive by the mosquitoes. Bugs come out in massive swarms, especially just after the sun goes down. The ground is mainly flat around the area; no big hills in the campground.

Beautiful view; unbearable bugs

There are 15 campsites, and they’re all easily within 100 feet of the Metolius River- which is a world renowned spot for fly-fishing. Metolius River Trails runs on either side of the river for at least 6 miles, which makes for some beautiful views. The Camp Sherman General Store is about a quarter-mile down the road. Fire rules in the area are pretty strict, so throughout most of the summer campfires are out of the question. Some of the campsites are pretty loud because they’re right next to the highway. Near the beginning of the summer, the mosquitoes are unbearable, especially right after the sun goes down. Remember to bring lots of bug spray. The campsites are big enough for RV’s, but it’s dry camping(there are no electrical or water hookups).