Boondocking suggestions in Mt Hood National Forest(OREGON)?

[rovobay]

Bought my trailer back in FEB of this year hoping to exclusively dry camp (boondocking). I have been out once on a day trip to explore possible places. I was looking in the Goat Mountain area outside of Estacada with no luck, area is heavily traveled and used by shooters. Found a couple of spots but they have been abused by former users with broken bottles, trash, etc, something I don't want my 16 month old daughter walking in! So I now know that I need to get a little further away.

Anyone care to share any spots they know of? I think if I get over to Barlow Ranger District I will be a little further from Portland with less people. I am heading out this Sunday with the family for another day of exploring. Thinking of hitting HWY 48 (road to Tygh Valley). Any suggestions would be great! Thanks. . .

Starting search here

[Lowsuv]

there are several cg's along the east bank of the metolius accessed by road 14 (paved ) .
this is north of the camp sherman store .
at the end of the pavement ( 14 miles ? ) there is a labyrinth of roads to the west
there are several boondock spots on the west bank area of the metolius accessed by going north of the pavement on road 12 .
12, 1260, 1270, 1230 , 1280 , 1292 , are in the area i speak of .
a full tank of gas , a map , or a gps will build confidence .
lots of ponderosas and also lodgepole blow down in the area .

[rovobay]

Lowsuv wrote:
good boondocking just north of Black Butte
all along the metolius river .
bring good maps and a gps
gorgeous among the ponderosas
plenty of downed lodgepoles for fire wood
hiking along the metolius .

I have been on the Metolius before my RV. I remember lots of camp grounds. are all the boondock spots further north after all the camp grounds or in between? Thanks for the info.

[goducks10]

Lowsuv wrote:
good boondocking just north of Black Butte
all along the metolius river .
bring good maps and a gps
gorgeous among the ponderosas
plenty of downed lodgepoles for fire wood
hiking along the metolius .

x2 on that.

[Lowsuv]

good boondocking just north of Black Butte
all along the metolius river .
bring good maps and a gps
gorgeous among the ponderosas
plenty of downed lodgepoles for fire wood
hiking along the metolius .

[rovobay]

Lowsuv wrote:
thanks for re-bumping this topic.
as 2 oldman and others have said Oregon is boondock camping nirvana .
those folks who spend their time in an rv park and cannot get along without full hookups are totally missing out .
we have camped along quartzville creek.
our favorite boondock camping is near little summit prairie near the ochoco ranger station.
take hwy 126 eastbound from prineville , onto 123 , onto road 42 .
actually all over the ochoco national forest .

Thanks for the info. I will need to scope that area out. The wife needs some sort of water source (creek, river, lake....) I just need quiet!

🙂

[Lowsuv]

thanks for re-bumping this topic.
as 2 oldman and others have said Oregon is boondock camping nirvana .
those folks who spend their time in an rv park and cannot get along without full hookups are totally missing out .
we have camped along quartzville creek.
our favorite boondock camping is near little summit prairie near the ochoco ranger station.
take hwy 126 eastbound from prineville , onto 123 , onto road 42 .
actually all over the ochoco national forest .

[nina_70]

This is outside the Mt.Hood area, but still close enough to Portland for a nice week-end trip. There's a HUGE boondocking area by the John Day Dam on the Columbia River Gorge. Lovely waterfront views just about everywhere. We saw it driving in on the 84 yesterday.

[rovobay]

Okay, I know I haven't been on here in a while and I haven't used my trailer since deer season (Oct 2012). Well the weather has been getting better and I need to use my trailer to justify owning that thing!!!

since this is my thread I thought I would add some links and consolidate some info so I can come back and access it.

Old Barlow Road was great, just need to make sure that you can get in and out. 1 lane dirt road with limited turn around areas.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26173672/gotomsg/26925956/p/1.cfm#26925956

http://www.hogtimemusic.com/nomad/WIB2011.htm

http://www.blm.gov/or/index.php

http://freecampsites.net/attribute/states/or/

With the portland area becoming so large, I really think if you want to "get away from it all" you need to drive atleast 2 hours away from the population center. Last year I scouted several areas with out the trailer. took pictures, made notes, but I think I need to drive a little further away from Portland.

[youngm357]

Agree with Barlow Trail area. We were boondocked there a few years back and heard gun fire from across the creek. Turned out to be some local hillbillies who said they were trying to "get firewood" out of the trees with a 12 ga.

[JLTN_James]

I've tent camped off of the Old Barlow Road a couple of times when I lived up there. Great area. I agree that it's very disheartening to see those who leave trash and abuse the area.

[rovobay]

hugemoth wrote:
If you go down NF 43 (paved) about 5 miles off Hwy 26 then turn right on Old Barlow Rd (dirt) you'll find a bunch of good places to camp near the White River.

That is one specific area I plan to hit on Sunday. Thanks guys for all the responses. I have been pouring over my maps and google maps and terrain all morning and have my route planned and feel confident that I can find a nice private place to spend with my family.

I will post so locations if they seem worthy. thanks

:C

[2oldman]

I've been saving this for quite some time. Don't know who the original poster is:

If you travel eastward into the Cascades from the Willamette Valley in Oregon, you enter boondocking nirvana. There are several highways that crest the passes, and they all follow rivers. The developed campsites along the rivers are absolutely beautiful, and Oregon state parks are cheap, but if you want to find a gorgeous river/streamside camping spot and you don't need a developed campsite, it's VERRRRY easy to find something nice. I've been noticing this more and more--people just find a place to pull off the road, and set up shop. Frequently they congregate in little informal groups, set up a campfire circle, put up a sat dish, hang out while the kids innertube in the river---good times!

You have to know the backroads a bit, but the best thing to do is EXPLORE---get a map and be prepared to be amazed. There are so many wonderful rivers and streams in the forest, with great places to camp. As far as I know, Mt. Hood Nat'l Forest is the only one of the Oregon forests that doesn't allow "dispersed camping" everywhere--but I've sure as heck seen a lot of it being done there. Here are some specific suggestions:

Mt. Hood area: Salmon River Road, several miles to the road's end. Go east from Welches. Wonderful hiking trail along the river, several established campsites as well as lOTS of booncocking spots. Gorgeous area. Services nearby in Welches. You may never leave.

East of Albany: Take Quartzville Road (BLM Scenic Byway) from Lebanon. The road follows the north shore of Foster Lake and then winds along Quartzville Creek. Great swimming holes!! All BLM-legal dispersed camping, and the road follows the creek for about twenty miles before it continues up into to mountains (great drive BTW), so you can easily find your very own spot.

West of Medford: From the town of Applegate, follow the road all the way south along the west side of the reservoir. At the south end, continue until a T-junction, then turn right (west). Ooodles of WONDERFUL campsites along the Applegate River, and you will be ALONE.

Northwest of Grant's Pass/West of Merlin: Several ideas here. Take Wolf Creek exit off I-5 and take the back road to Galice. Take Taylor Creek Road from Galice to Hwy 199 (eventually). Both routes are BLM lands: twenty+ miles of peaceful creekside, with excellent boondocking campsites.

In Oregon you can enjoy camping in places that in other states, you have to pay pay pay pay pay to enjoy. You see, we're po' folks here in Oregon. Camping is one of the last inexpensive recreations left to the working man. As long as ya don't burn down the forest, you're welcome in it. Also: we don't have an immense police force that has to spend all its waking hours bugging people and writing tickets to pay for the immense police force.

You'll thank me later

[hugemoth]

If you go down NF 43 (paved) about 5 miles off Hwy 26 then turn right on Old Barlow Rd (dirt) you'll find a bunch of good places to camp near the White River.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Try this site :Mount Hood

Please add to it as you find places.