I'm likely heading to Oregon towards the end of July, beginning of August with a few friends and was hoping to get some insight on campgrounds. We will likely be starting through the coast at either Bandon, OR or cape kiwanda state park. We will then be heading through Portland and to mt hood (most likely trillium lake) and then possibly going back down to crater lake. I'm not sure how long the trip will be yet, but any suggestions on campgrounds and even other locations to visit will be greatly appreciated. I'm guessing the trip will be close to ten days in length and we will be spending two or three nights in northern California (Redwoods). Thanks for any help!
Although you could certainly albeit from Trillium to Crater Lake in a day, you might want to camp at SmithRock on yu way down. SmithRockisaworthy destination units own right, albeit a it hot at that tie of year. If you are are on the coast far enough sou, camping at the Oregon Dunes might be nice too. I always like to camp near sights that impress at sunset and sun rise, and those two would be good choices.
Posted by Scott Miller on June 5, 2012 at 12:02 PM
Southbeach state park on the coast is pretty nice, they even have heated yurts if you don't feel like setting up your tent.
Thanks for the suggestions, it looks as if the trip has pushed itself into Washington in Olympic national park. Seeing that we want to spend more time at each location, we will be spending 2 nights in the redwoods national park, then moving in towards the Columbia river gorge. Are there any places to camp in close proximity that will pack the most punch in the gorge? Looking for developed campgrounds. We would like to see some of the more "wow" type waterfalls or larger ones and just some general areas worth visiting. We will probably be spending 2 to 3 days here, then moving to Olympic national park and hoping to camp somewhere close to second beach. Any more suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Pardon all the typos in my reply above. The iPad keypad is ruining my reputation! Anyway, gorge campgrounds exist at Ainsworth State Park and Eagle Creek...both close (3-4 miles) to major falls...otherwise, there isn't much camping in the gorge...very steep terrain and lots of "day use only" areas.
In the redwoods, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and Jedediah Smith State Park are both excellent, with some of the best groves close by. There is also a resident herd of elk at Prairie Creek.
There are several campgrounds in the Columbia River Gorge, but the two that Marylynne mentions are closest to the biggest falls. Eagle Creek Campground is right at the trailhead for Punchbowl and Metlako Falls. Ainsworth is close to Multnomah, Horsetail and Wahkeena Falls, and like most Oregon State Parks has hot showers. FYI: railroad trains running frequently (and all night) and the constant freeway noise, mean you won't find peace and quiet at any campground in the Gorge. A little better than most, but not as convenient to the waterfalls is Beacon Rock State Park on the Washington side of the Columbia.
In Olympic National Park, Mora Campground is the closest to Second Beach (and to Rialto Beach), and is very nice.
In July and August getting campsites if you don't have a reservation can be problematic at just about any popular location in the Pacific Northwest, especially Thursday through Sunday. If you go without reservations, try to snag a site early in the day.
Thanks for the suggestions Greg and the heads up on trains and freeway by the gorge. From all the images I have seen from there it's hard to imagine anything like that. I had pretty much had my mind set on where to stay in the redwoods as it was between those two. How far from eagle creek CG would someplace like proxy falls be? That was one of the waterfalls I had really wanted to see, but if it's too far out of the way I'll scratch it.
That's a ton of territory you'll be moving through; you'll run out of time way before locations .
As to camping in the gorge, those are good suggestions above. I would try Ainsworth and Beacon Rock as first choices. Not as nice, but also close to the bigger sites in the gorge is Home Valley Campground, a Skamania County park. A little farther east, but still not too far, is Memaloose on the Oregon side. Although not as developed there is camping at Herman Creek and and also Wyeth near Cascade Locks. Cascade Locks also has a KOA campground.
Are you referring to the Proxy Falls in Lane County? That's a long ways south.
Thanks John. We are trying to narrow it down, first starting in the redwoods for a few nights, then into Oregon. Then Washington. Oregon seems to be the one place were having difficulty planning through. First it was the coast, then the gorge. I was referring to that proxy falls, but if it's out of the way of the closer spots I won't even bother. I'm guessing we will have three nights in OR to spend, could do one night on the coast then two in the gorge.
Posted by Greg Vaughn on June 10, 2012 at 12:33 AM
between the coast and the Gorge, Proxy Falls would be a long side trip, requiring most of day in itself. I'd guess about 4+ hours drive from the Gorge waterfall area to Proxy Falls trailhead. If you came up the Oregon coast from the Redwoods and headed inland at Florence, it would take close to 3 hrs to get to Proxy Falls.
I hope I didn't scare you off from the Gorge campgrounds. They are very nice, just don't expect a wilderness experience.
Can you be flexible on the nights on the coast and in the Gorge? Most of the waterfalls are relatively close together and are usually workable throughout the day, but the coast covers a lot of territory and requires more time, particularly for good light at sunrise and sunset.
Posted by Peter Coskun on June 10, 2012 at 2:02 AM
Yeah, I think I'll save proxy falls for another visit. You didn't scare me off from the campgrounds, but my friends and I would rather sleep somewhere a bit quieter. We were thinking of camping somewhere near cape kiwanda for one night, then spend the other two nights camping at trillium lake and drive up to the gorge one of those days. If I'm not mistaken it's about an hour and a half drive from there. Probably won't see too many of the waterfalls, but punchbowl falls might be the one we for sure will see. I couldn't find any decent campgrounds by cape kiwanda, just an rv park with a few tent sites. If you have any recommendations on that it would be very helpful.
Discussion
10 repliesThere are several campgrounds in the Columbia River Gorge, but the two that Marylynne mentions are closest to the biggest falls. Eagle Creek Campground is right at the trailhead for Punchbowl and Metlako Falls. Ainsworth is close to Multnomah, Horsetail and Wahkeena Falls, and like most Oregon State Parks has hot showers. FYI: railroad trains running frequently (and all night) and the constant freeway noise, mean you won't find peace and quiet at any campground in the Gorge. A little better than most, but not as convenient to the waterfalls is Beacon Rock State Park on the Washington side of the Columbia.
In Olympic National Park, Mora Campground is the closest to Second Beach (and to Rialto Beach), and is very nice.
In July and August getting campsites if you don't have a reservation can be problematic at just about any popular location in the Pacific Northwest, especially Thursday through Sunday. If you go without reservations, try to snag a site early in the day.
As to camping in the gorge, those are good suggestions above. I would try Ainsworth and Beacon Rock as first choices. Not as nice, but also close to the bigger sites in the gorge is Home Valley Campground, a Skamania County park. A little farther east, but still not too far, is Memaloose on the Oregon side. Although not as developed there is camping at Herman Creek and and also Wyeth near Cascade Locks. Cascade Locks also has a KOA campground.
Are you referring to the Proxy Falls in Lane County? That's a long ways south.
I hope I didn't scare you off from the Gorge campgrounds. They are very nice, just don't expect a wilderness experience.
Can you be flexible on the nights on the coast and in the Gorge? Most of the waterfalls are relatively close together and are usually workable throughout the day, but the coast covers a lot of territory and requires more time, particularly for good light at sunrise and sunset.