Oregon camping spots
May 29, 2009 1:27 PM   Subscribe

Need some suggestions for Oregon camping. I'm located in Eugene. My wife's b-day is coming up and we're due some off-the-beaten track in Nature time. We'll have four days and don't want to drive more than 4 hours or so, so that's a radius of 240 miles in any direction. We'd like to find some place off-road that our van (old, not particularly robust) can negotiate which is ripe for exploring, camping and checking out.

So, some more particulars. We're not particularly into campgrounds so would like to avoid that if possible. I've seen some really interesting guides to local off-road areas but can't find any of them at the moment. One area that springs to mind is Devil's Staircase, but I doubt my van could negotiate the road. Think older, think VW, think well used but still running fairly well.

Basically wanting to find some quiet natural area to explore without RV's, commerce or traffic.

Any suggestions, guides, websites, pointers appreciated.
posted by diode to Science & Nature (8 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
So, you're car camping? Not driving and then backpacking?
posted by amanda at 2:31 PM on May 29, 2009


Response by poster: Yes, car camping. We could do an overnight or two day hike...hadn't really though about it.
posted by diode at 3:02 PM on May 29, 2009


My favorite obscure campground in the cascades: Breitenbush Hotsprings.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 3:11 PM on May 29, 2009


Best answer: Well, a few more miles past the Breitenbush road is the Metolius. It's an incredible area. You will see other campers, but essentially it tends to be a very quiet area. The fishing is all wild trout and fly only so that tends to keep crowds down. The sites are located all along the river, and it is one of the most beautiful streams you'll ever lay eyes on. My wife and I go all the time, now with our kids. The Camp Sherman Store is within reach also, and has every possible thing you'd ever want. There are miles of BLM roads in all directions and wonderful short hikes within a few miles.
posted by docpops at 3:20 PM on May 29, 2009


Breitenbush and Belknap are nice and have hot springs. Very different atmospheres.
If it were me, I'd take I-5 down to Roseburg, then follow the North Umpqua toward Crater Lake. Absolutely gorgeous back there. Plus, if you've never been to Crater Lake, it's worth the trip.
posted by willpie at 4:13 PM on May 29, 2009


How about Bagby Hot Springs?
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:17 PM on May 29, 2009


(On second thought, it doesn't satisfy your 4-hour requirement because you have to come in from Estacada to reach it.)
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:18 PM on May 29, 2009


Seconding the Metolius area.
posted by liet at 12:52 PM on May 31, 2009


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