Ivan Oakes Park (Campground) West Boundary Road, Lowell, OR…read more97452 43.8751° N, 122.6720° W. https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10132176 It is important to note first off that these campsites are not water-access friendly by early August. Lookout Point Lake begins being drawn down in June, and by our visit during the second week of August, the water level had dropped approximately 60 feet. See my photos--the difference is dramatic. Between the campground and the water was a large expanse of exposed rocky reservoir bottom and old tree stumps. There is no vehicle access from the campground to the water's edge, which means anything you take to the lake has to be carried down and, more importantly, back up. We are kayaking people, and this was our biggest disappointment. We arrived with two kayaks on the truck, but after seeing the distance and terrain involved, that's exactly where they stayed. Instead, we went to Lowell State Recreation Site, about 8.4 miles away, for easier water access. Something to seriously consider if kayaking, paddleboarding, or swimming is part of your reason for camping here during late summer. As a campground, though, we really enjoyed Ivan Oakes. This is primitive camping. Our site provided a picnic table, fire ring, level tent area, and enough parking for two vehicles. Potable water is available, along with vault-style restrooms without running water. The campsites are spaced far enough apart to give you some personal space while still being able to see or hear neighboring campers. During our stay, the campground had everyone from families with toddlers to older adults, and everyone around us was respectful. For me, the best part of Ivan Oakes was the setting. The trees are impressive. Some appeared well over 80 feet tall, creating a heavily wooded and shaded campground. Several campers even had hammocks stretched between them. Sitting around the fire surrounded by those trees really gives you the feeling that you are camping in the forest. There is one trade-off to that beautiful canopy. At night, the trees are so numerous that they block much of the sky from the campsites. If you want your night-sky fix, walk toward the lake where the view opens up considerably. At $20 a night, this is a very good value for a primitive campground. We would stay here again for the peaceful wooded setting and inexpensive camping--we would simply know ahead of time that during August, our kayaking would probably be done somewhere else. Beautiful campground, beautiful surroundings, and a good value. Just know what late-summer water levels mean before arriving with the kayaks.

Very clean and well maintained. Smaller sites, but still nice. Lake is just across the street with…read morea nice paved walking trail that follows the Hwy side of the lake. Only downfall was the amount of bees and wasps. This is an RV only park so do not expect to set up any tents.

Smaller county RV Park just east of Sweet Home. The park is located a short walk from Foster Lake…read more The sites are very well maintained, clean and quite nice. The camp hosts were great. Even though a check-in mistake was made (our site was assigned to another family with the same last name) the hosts went above and beyond to make things right. The restrooms were very clean and served the 40+ sites well. The RV park was quiet at night and even though the highway was very near, road noise was minimal. We would come back again.

Nestled near the center of Black Canyon Campground, the day-use area [ 43.8055° N, 122.5650° W (or…read moreexact decimal coordinates 43.8055099, -122.5649710 OR-58, Oakridge, OR 97463] was one of those places that impressed us more than we expected. It is not a large recreation area, but what it does provide fits very naturally into the campground and surrounding forest. There is a modest-sized paved parking area surrounded by mature trees and dense vegetation, with picnic tables nearby and easy access to the river. For those bringing a kayak or canoe, there is a paved launch that slopes directly down to the water. We visited in late August, when the river was fairly low, so the photographs reflect late-summer conditions rather than what someone might find during the higher-water months. Even with the lower water, the launch itself appeared well maintained and provides a much easier approach than carrying a kayak down an unimproved riverbank. One thing paddlers should definitely pay attention to before launching is the information board. During our visit, an Oregon State Marine Board sign warned of a reported waterway obstruction in the area. There was also a handwritten hazard notice stating that about 1/2 mile downstream, much of the current flows toward a downed log, with instructions indicating an eddy to the left and a portage on the left. That is not the type of sign I would simply glance at and paddle past. River conditions and obstructions change, so check the posted information before putting a kayak or canoe into the water. The day-use area itself was clean and well maintained. The combination of the river, heavy forest canopy, shade, picnic tables and relatively small parking area gives it a quiet, tucked-away feeling rather than that of a large developed recreation site. The tall trees also help separate the area visually from the campground even though it is conveniently located within it. If you are already camping at Black Canyon Campground, I would consider this day-use area a real bonus. It gives you a convenient place to sit near the river, have lunch, or get a kayak or canoe into the water without having to leave the campground. For us, the setting was the standout: simple, shaded, well maintained and surrounded by the kind of dense Oregon forest that makes you want to stay awhile. Just make sure you read the river-hazard notices before deciding to paddle downstream.

This was a last minute find , we were supposed to go to the Painted hills , but because of fires we…read morehad to pivot , and came across Paradise . Great site ours 14 was nice and private. There were a couple spots available at the time we picked ours . The river was too swift to swim , but we found a couple places to dip . Would recommend and visit again.

Really great camping spot and not far from Eugene. The river is really close to many of the spots…read morebut reserve in advance. They go quick. Sites off the river are just as nice. Quiet and clean.

Big Lake Campground is a lovely mountain campground near Santiam Pass. It's 34 miles northeast of…read moreBlue River, which is mistakenly shown on the Yelp map as the location. That's the ranger station at Blue River, not the campground, which is located off U.S. Highway 20 west of Sms isters. There's 49 campsites with varying lengths. We stayed in campsite 22. We had just enough room for our 25-foot travel trailer and GMC Yukon travel trailer. The rest of our site was huge, with wooden steps leading to a picnic table and a fire ring. Out the back window of our trailer we could see Big Lake and towering Mount Washington, one of the gems of Central Oregon. A short trail leads past prolific stands of bear grass and flowers, including mountain lupine, Queen's Cup, mountain meadowsweet and scarlet trumpet. There are numerous vault toilets and faucets offering drinking water. There are also boat ramps. We really enjoyed our time at this campground and highly recommend it.

I camped here a couple summers ago and it was one of the most beautiful campgrounds I have been to…read more Mt. Washington sits right over Big Lake and boasts gorgeous mountain views with tall green trees surrounding the lake. We actually had a small lake access from our campground and the campground was nice and private from other sites. We reserved online for $24 a night (I highly recommend reserving online to be safe because the campground does fill up) and after splitting the cost with everyone it was dirt cheap! It's very reasonably priced per night. When we came in no one was at the check-in station but we found our name on a post outside the campground. Bathrooms were your standard vault toilets and there was running water but I don't think it was potable. I came mid-summer and the mosquitos were only a little noticeable and not out of control. We didn't have any issues with animals like raccoons or anything and since it was car camping our cars were easily accessible. I wish we could have brought out a kayak but it was still a nice place to swim and enjoy a beautiful summer weekend on the lake. There was a camp across the lake and a few trails we explores. I really liked the terrain and how it changed as you walked further into the mountains. I will definitely be back!

Clean and quiet with a nice river flowing by. Campsites are tight and a bit difficult for a…read morebeginner to park. No loud parties here at night!

Great place for campers, trailers, tents and yurt/cabin rentals. Nice clean site locations with…read morehook ups. Park includes a dump station. Nicely spaced apart for privacy. Clean showers/bathrooms with hot water. Camp fire rings and grills at each site. River very close by to walk and relax. Entire area is surrounded by a nice hiking trail. Lots of trees for shade in addition to a playground, horse shoes, and fields to play in. Highly recommended if you're looking for something nice and close by.

I thought this place was very interesting and cool. We found a camp site no problem right near the…read moreriver. Our dog really enjoyed it and our fire was nice right next to the river. Very close to Blue Pool access! Would recommend this place to any people hiking nearby.

A hidden gem in Blue River, Oregon! My husband and I wanted to book a campsite near the Tamolitch…read moreFalls (Blue Pool) and Clear Lake for a weekend. I stumbled on this campground when looking at a map. I booked site #14 four months ahead, but once we got there, we noticed a few open spots that eventually turned into "First Come, First Served" sites if it hasn't been reserved online. Site #14 is part of the lower sites, which meant that we were sleeping right next to the McKenzie River. We were grateful for the sounds of the river masking the sounds of the adjacent highway. Our campsite was equipped with a PICNIC TABLE and a FIRE RING. The VAULT TOILETS (no sink), WATER PUMP, and TRASH BINS were nearby. I noticed that they replenished the toilet paper and cleaned the toilets every morning. There were also plenty of trees to hang up a hammock! Overall, we loved our stay! We will definitely be back!

Black canyon campground review…read more 43.8055° N, 122.5650° W (or exact decimal coordinates 43.8055099, -122.5649710 OR-58, Oakridge, OR 97463 We went looking for campgrounds with lake or river access in late August and decided to check out Black Canyon Campground. The entrance is easy to find right off Highway 58, and once you turn in, the campground almost immediately disappears into the trees. This is one of those places where the word campground does not quite describe the setting. It feels much more like camping inside the forest. The campsites begin fairly close to the highway, and the dense trees and vegetation provide a surprising amount of visual privacy. They do not, however, eliminate the sound of passing traffic. As you continue farther into the campground, the loops wander away from Highway 58 and toward the Middle Fork Willamette River, and the vehicle noise becomes much less noticeable. Site selection would definitely make a difference here. We drove through a good portion of the campground and found that the individual sites vary considerably in size and usable space. Some are fairly compact, while others provide considerably more room around the picnic table and camping area. We stopped at one of the designated accessible sites, and it was noticeably larger, with a broader and more level area. The interior roads are paved, narrow in places, and wind naturally through the trees rather than feeling like rows of campsites in a parking lot. There are numerous vault restrooms throughout the campground, including accessible restrooms, and they appeared well maintained during our visit. Drinking water is also available from hand pumps. According to the information we checked, there are 75 campsites, with 19 that can be reserved ahead of time. During our late-August visit, the posted single-site fee was $27, or $26 when reserved online. Fire restrictions were also in effect, so campfires and charcoal grills were not allowed at that time. What really caught our attention were the campsites closer to the Middle Fork Willamette River. Several are only a short walk from the water, and there are informal paths leading through the vegetation to a rocky gravel shoreline. The river was very low in late August, with large gravel bars, shallow sections and exposed rocks. In some areas it resembled more of a large creek, although there were still deeper pools and channels of moving water. The clear water, forested hillsides and mature trees make this a beautiful area even when the river is low. For kayakers, I would describe the access as hand-carry access rather than a developed launch. You would need to carry the kayak down one of the paths and across the gravel shoreline. During our visit, the low water level would also make choosing where to launch important. I would like to see this same stretch earlier in the season when the river is carrying more water. Black Canyon also has a separate day-use area inside the campground, which deserves its own review. We originally came here simply looking at possible campgrounds and river access. By the time we finished driving through it, Black Canyon had moved onto our list of places where we actually want to come back and camp. I would probably choose one of the sites deeper in the campground and closer to the river rather than one immediately inside the entrance. We'll be back -- next time with the camping gear and kayaks.