I'll be in Oregon and Washington from mid July to mid August. I was wondering how critical is it to reserve campsites along the oh so popular Pacific coast.
The trip will be divided into two parts: myself on a solo photo jaunt and then part two where I meet up with the family who will fly into Portland and we'll have a family vacation all along the coast to the Canadian border.
For the solo part of the trip I'll just need a spot to pitch a tent. I don't care if the site is developed at all. I could be happy sleeping in the car to give you an idea of what I'm looking for. I'd prefer to have no itinerary and travel where the wind blows me. However for the family part getting a spot is obviously more important. We'll still only be tenting so no hook up etc. required but the basics of a developed site such as a table would be nice. Do the Oregon and Washington locals think that reservations for such camping are a must given the popularity of the coast or is it pretty easy to just show up early afternoon and get something?
By the way for those of you living in Oregon, you can be proud of your state tourism department. A great package of brochures and maps arrived in my mailbox today. The info is great, it arrived when they said it would and the images they are using show the state very nicely. I can't wait to explore and photograph.
Thanks in advance for any info anyone can provide.
Hi Pete - There are a number of places to crash along the Oregon coast if you have a tent and a car. There is also a state trail which follows the coastline from the CA-WA borders, so there are a number of sites to backpack to also. I've driven up logging roads and camped up the dead ends in different places. When your family arrives, I wouldn't take any chances and I'd reserve a spot during these prime months. I've only car camped or rented a yurt during the winter months along the coast, but I know the summer can be busy. You might want to download information about the Oregon Coast Trail for information about backcountry camping along the coast too. I'm pretty sure you can still find it online from Oregon State Parks.
David M. Cobb
Posted by Zack Schnepf on May 12, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Summer on the Oregon Coast gets very busy, and the campgrounds that accept reservations do fill up, so make your reservations in advance if you can.
Zack's recommendations are in line with my experience, Pete. I'm so basic I keep a cot set up in the back of my truck for circumstances that preclude setting up a tent. Even with that, I sometimes find it hard to find a legal place to park overnight. As for the family, the last thing you want is a long evening searching for a campsite after a long day. As a tip, I've had better luck finding developed campsites without reservations when I veered inland overnight. That's on weekdays, of course. Weekends are hopeless without reservations wherever you go.
I have never had much trouble finding campsites except near local events or on holidays with extended weekends. Remember to check the US Forest Service areas which are numerous on the Central Oregon Coast. Several areas have designated hiker/biker sites. Check the web. Also, in Oregon, the campgrounds that accept reservations fill up whether there is anyone in the other campgrounds or not. Can't really speak for Washington, though.
Thanks for all the feedback so far. I've often said it to non photographers but it's important to say it to fellow photographers too - I am consistently impressed by the support (artistic and otherwise such as travel tips) within the photographic community. What goes around comes around so if anyone is ever traveling up to Alberta be sure to email me and I'll offer any info/help I can.
Over the past week I've been going through the info on the web about the state parks and the US Foresy service. The sites are quite good. I'm really impressed by the opportunities in the area. It's nice to see that someone long ago had the foresight to set aside such vast amount of land for public use along the Pacific coast.
By the way I am very impressed by Oregon's initiative in granting free high speed wi-fi access at some popular destinations. The service offers users free access to important travel related sites such as TravelOregon and OregonStateParks. For a traveler info is everything.
Speaking for Washington, if you are planning on a particular campsite along the coast and they accept reservations it would be best to go ahead and make them. With high gas prices I suspect people will be staying close to home this year which will make the coast even more popular than normal. I believe the campgrounds at Kalaloch (Ruby Beach) and Cape Disappointment State Park (Long Beach Peninsula) take them. For the Second and Rialto Beach areas I've always stayed at Mora campground which does not take reservations, last I heard, so get there early.
Peter: I'm not sure about Oregon or Southern Washington, but I've never had any trouble on the Olympic peninsula, as long as I stayed away from state parks. The state DNR has quite a few places, and some of the lumber companies even have developed sites. Washington State Parks along the coast would definitely deserve a reservation. There's a website that you can use to do so. Welcome to the good land.
Discussion
8 repliesThe trip will be divided into two parts: myself on a solo photo jaunt and then part two where I meet up with the family who will fly into Portland and we'll have a family vacation all along the coast to the Canadian border.
For the solo part of the trip I'll just need a spot to pitch a tent. I don't care if the site is developed at all. I could be happy sleeping in the car to give you an idea of what I'm looking for. I'd prefer to have no itinerary and travel where the wind blows me. However for the family part getting a spot is obviously more important. We'll still only be tenting so no hook up etc. required but the basics of a developed site such as a table would be nice. Do the Oregon and Washington locals think that reservations for such camping are a must given the popularity of the coast or is it pretty easy to just show up early afternoon and get something?
By the way for those of you living in Oregon, you can be proud of your state tourism department. A great package of brochures and maps arrived in my mailbox today. The info is great, it arrived when they said it would and the images they are using show the state very nicely. I can't wait to explore and photograph.
Thanks in advance for any info anyone can provide.
Cheers
Pete
David M. Cobb
Have a great time, the Oregon coast is gorgeous.
Over the past week I've been going through the info on the web about the state parks and the US Foresy service. The sites are quite good. I'm really impressed by the opportunities in the area. It's nice to see that someone long ago had the foresight to set aside such vast amount of land for public use along the Pacific coast.
By the way I am very impressed by Oregon's initiative in granting free high speed wi-fi access at some popular destinations. The service offers users free access to important travel related sites such as TravelOregon and OregonStateParks. For a traveler info is everything.
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/publications.php
David M. Cobb