Ona beach state park camping11/18/2023 Nearby Vincent Creek Campground and Fawn Creek Campground are two additional free BLM campgrounds if Smith River Falls Campground is full. Smith River Falls Campground is usually relatively peaceful, even when full, but is known as something of a local party spot on summer holidays and weekends. But the tight campground roads themselves and the smallish campsites limit camping to rigs under about 30 feet long. The campground is a bit of a mission to reach thanks to relatively steep, winding, sometimes gravel roads (albeit usually very well-maintained), but all vehicles, including RVs and trailers, should be able to make the drive. Although the campground itself doesn’t have access to the falls, it does have easy river access for swimming as well as a boat launch. The cascading waterfalls are a very popular swimming hole in the summer. It takes roughly an hour to reach Smith River Falls from Reedsport. The campground is typically open from Memorial Day until the end of September. Just a mile down the road from Smith River Falls, this small BLM campground has 10 first-come, first-served campsites. Smith River Road, which starts just east of Reedsport, is lined with several free campgrounds, including Smith River Falls Campground. It takes just 30 to 45 minutes to drive to Port Orford, depending on which campsite you stay in. I don’t recommend this area for big rigs, although smaller RVs and trailers should be fine. Last time I visited, there were several minor rockslides partially blocking the road. Most of the dispersed campsites are somewhat small. Sunshine Bar Campground and Butler Bar Campground are two I’ve visited myself.Įlk River Road is paved but it’s very windy with the occasional large pothole. There are also several small free first-come, first-served developed campgrounds along Elk River. You’ll notice campsites and pullouts almost immediately, but I personally prefer to drive in several miles before setting up camp. A handful even have river access.ĭispersed camping starts just after the Elk River Salmon Hatchery on Elk River Road (County Road 208). Most are little more than pull-offs, just off the main road, but a few are large and somewhat private. Located in Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, the Elk River is dotted with an abundance of dispersed campsites. Tillamook State Forest is perfect for those looking to camp near Nehalem, Tillamook, Cannon Beach, and other towns along the North Oregon Coast.Įlk River Road is home to my favorite free camping on the Southern Oregon Coast. So, make sure to bring a map (paper or downloaded for offline use). It’s super easy to get lost if you’re not paying close attention. Just know that most of the roads here are winding, unpaved logging roads – many unnamed. Look for dispersed campsites around Cook Creek near Mohler, off Highway 53 near Coal Creek and Cole Mountain Ridge, west of Timber along Wheeler Road, and off Highway 6 near Jordan Creek and Lyda Camp OHV Area.īut don’t limit yourself to just these areas and others listed online – there are hundreds of under-the-radar campsites here if you spend time exploring in person. There are campsites accessible by all vehicles (including smaller RVs and trailers) while others require high-clearance and/or 4WD. There’s a mixture of relatively flat, gravel access roads as well as others that are very steep, narrow, and rough. Peace and quiet abounds when dispersed camping in Tillamook State Forest.ĭespite the proximity to both the Oregon Coast as well as Portland, it’s easy to find a completely private campsite here.
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