Pack up the kids and go car-camping at one of the 71 campgrounds in the national forest. Be sure to plan a trek on the Ramona Falls loop hike! If you're more into backcountry camping, hike-in sites and camps are available.
Be sure to check the National Forest Website or give the ranger’s station a call at (503) 668-1700 before you leave. A wilderness permit is required from May 15 through October 15 and must be in your possession. Lucky you, permits are free and self-issued at trailheads and wilderness boundaries. Score! Scan for weather alerts and notices before you head out, especially in the winter due to snowfall.
Pack up the kids and go car-camping at one of the 71 campgrounds in the national forest. Be sure to plan a trek on the Ramona Falls loop hike! If you're more into backcountry camping, hike-in sites and camps are available.
Be sure to check the National Forest Website or give the ranger’s station a call at (503) 668-1700 before you leave. A wilderness permit is required from May 15 through October 15 and must be in your possession. Lucky you, permits are free and self-issued at trailheads and wilderness boundaries. Score! Scan for weather alerts and notices before you head out, especially in the winter due to snowfall.
Inner peace awaits you at the five non-reservable, hike or boat-in only sites at Meditation Point (Timothy Lake) Campground. Peeps come near and far to let their hair blow in the wind above the waters of 2+ mile Timothy Lake. Boating, fishing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, wanderlusting, and people watching--we’re really not sure if there’s anything Read more...
Imagine your epic lake fort at Oak Fort (Timothy Lake) Campground, and your search ends here! Peeps come near and far to let their hair blow in the wind above the waters of 2+ mile Timothy Lake. Boating, fishing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, wanderlusting, and people watching--we’re really not sure if there’s anything you can’t do on or around Timot Read more...
Started from the bottom now you’re here! Summit Lake Campground is a grand alternative to the busy campgrounds on Timothy, Clear, and Trillium Lakes. Five sites sit at an elevation of 4,200 feet at Summit Lake Campground, where activities include sitting on top of the world (almost!), taking in the beautiful views, and mooching off of the nearby l Read more...
To river, or not to river… Is that even a question? It shouldn’t be when the nearest source is the Clackamas, which boasts amazing whitewater rafting, endless opportunities to get your fishing game on, and wild wildlife watching--including bald eagle sightings! Riverside Campground is a quaint getaway, with 14 single, non-reservable sites at one h Read more...
You’ve got a picnic table, a grill, firepit, dirt, trees and the sun. Sounds like it’s going to be a good time at Shellrock Creek Campground! Usage of Shellrock is pretty light, and at 8 non-reservable sites, another camper could be an opportunity to meet your new adventuring companion. Bring your own water and be prepared to pack-out waste. If yo Read more...
There are many dispersed campsites along Barlow Creek--and Barlow Crossing Campground is not one to pass up. Unless of course, if you’re arriving late on a Friday to find that all six sites are already taken! Plan ahead, pack water (or a filter), and do a dance of joy for the trash pickup service at this campground--truly an overlooked luxury. Bef Read more...
You’ll experience serious hood vibes at Kinnikinnick (Laurance Lake) Campground, Mt. Hood vibes, that is! Just like the unique spelling of its name, Kinnikinnick and Laurance Lake will keep you on your toes. Bring your boat--both electric and non-motorized are welcome--and get ready to move your land legs to the 20 walk-in access campsites. Check Read more...
Despite its name, it’s quite hard to lose sight of Lost Lake Campground! 125 sites (and 18 vault toilets) are set on the edge of the 245-acre lake, with a backdrop of Mt. Hood to rest your eyes on at any point of the day. Whether you glamp (yurts and lodges and RVs, oh my!) or camp the good ol’ fashioned way, this area is your oyster with a nearby Read more...
No restrooms, no water, nada problem. Nottingham Campground is a little retreat off of Highway 35 on the East Fork Hood River, and welcomes you with an abundance of river and stream fishing, 5 wheelchair accessible sites, and two nearby waterways with arguably the coolest names: Lunch Creek and Robinhood Creek. Hit up Lunch Creek for your dinner, Read more...
We love lake, and Wahtum is a good’n! Take the Wahtum Express trail, and your dreams of living vicariously off of the lake are fulfilled as you swim, hike, and get a few games of horseshoes in by the water (you’ll have to bring your own horseshoes, btw). The five non-reservable sites at Wahtum are hot cakes in the wild, so check the current condit Read more...
Click, clack, click, clack is what you’ll hear at equine-friendly Clackamas Campground! When you’re not horsing around, there are plenty of adventures to be had on your own two feet. Click your own heels, Chacos, Bedrocks--whatever the kids are hiking in these days--together and you can find yourself boating, backpacking a snippet of the nearby PC Read more...
Once you go Gone Creek, you may never go back. Peeps come near and far to let their hair blow in the wind above the waters of 2+ mile Timothy Lake, and camping at Gone Creek Campground is the icing on the cake! (Or… the jam on the s’more?) Boating, fishing, wakeboarding, windsurfing--we’re really not sure if there’s anything you can’t do on Timoth Read more...
Take your pick from seven non-reservable sites when you reach Clear Creek Crossing Campground! $11/night isn’t too shabby for a sweet spot to fish for rainbow trout, or go on a day hike to discover where indigenous people of the area went to harvest edible camas root. What is camas root you ask? Camas is a type of lily that produces beautiful blue Read more...
Like the majority of Mt. Hood National Forest campgrounds, the five tent-only sites at Keeps Mill are first-come, first-served! Here you can angle the day away on the wild White River or watch the action from afar while strolling along the river corridor. If you’re venturing outside of the open season (June), make sure to check the current conditi Read more...
Leave civilization in the dust when you pick from the nine sites that border Hideaway Lake. And if one lake isn’t enough for ya (maybe you have a two lake minimum), pick a day hike, any hike--and you’ll stumble upon a trail that leads to Shellrock Lake, Rock Lakes Basin, and Serene Lake. All of which provide ample opportunities to fish. Since ther Read more...
Indian Henry Campground is a hot bed of activity, boasting a bustling 86 sites! Campsites are situated at an elevation of 1,249 feet, in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, nestled in a mixed forest of conifers and hardwoods. A thick gathering of ferns and ivy create privacy between sites, and while some overlook the river, others neighbor the mountain cr Read more...
Rainbow Campground will lead you to your own personal ‘pot of gold’, whether that be an artisanal s’more at the end of a day’s hike, whitewater rafting, or grilling up your prized river monster over the campfire. Each of the 17 sites comes prepped with a table, campfire ring, nearby vault toilets, and potable water. Give the ol’ legs a stretch, an Read more...
Reservable campsites in Mt. Hood National Forest! And potable water! If you’re jonesin’ for a trip to the wilderness, Armstrong Campground is an excellent choice. Of the 12 single sites available, two are set aside as FCFS (first-come, first-served). Sites at this campground border the Clackamas River where you can go fishing for steelhead, chinoo Read more...
Mt. Hood National Forest
Just 20 miles east of Portland, Mt Hood forest spans over a million acres. Get yourself outside!
Pack up the kids and go car-camping at one of the 71 campgrounds in the national forest. Be sure to plan a trek on the Ramona Falls loop hike! If you're more into backcountry camping, hike-in sites and camps are available.
Be sure to check the National Forest Website or give the ranger’s station a call at (503) 668-1700 before you leave. A wilderness permit is required from May 15 through October 15 and must be in your possession. Lucky you, permits are free and self-issued at trailheads and wilderness boundaries. Score! Scan for weather alerts and notices before you head out, especially in the winter due to snowfall.
Pack up the kids and go car-camping at one of the 71 campgrounds in the national forest. Be sure to plan a trek on the Ramona Falls loop hike! If you're more into backcountry camping, hike-in sites and camps are available.
Be sure to check the National Forest Website or give the ranger’s station a call at (503) 668-1700 before you leave. A wilderness permit is required from May 15 through October 15 and must be in your possession. Lucky you, permits are free and self-issued at trailheads and wilderness boundaries. Score! Scan for weather alerts and notices before you head out, especially in the winter due to snowfall.
Activities in the park
71 campgrounds in Mt. Hood National Forest
Inner peace awaits you at the five non-reservable, hike or boat-in only sites at Meditation Point (Timothy Lake) Campground. Peeps come near and far to let their hair blow in the wind above the waters of 2+ mile Timothy Lake. Boating, fishing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, wanderlusting, and people watching--we’re really not sure if there’s anything Read more...
Imagine your epic lake fort at Oak Fort (Timothy Lake) Campground, and your search ends here! Peeps come near and far to let their hair blow in the wind above the waters of 2+ mile Timothy Lake. Boating, fishing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, wanderlusting, and people watching--we’re really not sure if there’s anything you can’t do on or around Timot Read more...
Started from the bottom now you’re here! Summit Lake Campground is a grand alternative to the busy campgrounds on Timothy, Clear, and Trillium Lakes. Five sites sit at an elevation of 4,200 feet at Summit Lake Campground, where activities include sitting on top of the world (almost!), taking in the beautiful views, and mooching off of the nearby l Read more...
To river, or not to river… Is that even a question? It shouldn’t be when the nearest source is the Clackamas, which boasts amazing whitewater rafting, endless opportunities to get your fishing game on, and wild wildlife watching--including bald eagle sightings! Riverside Campground is a quaint getaway, with 14 single, non-reservable sites at one h Read more...
You’ve got a picnic table, a grill, firepit, dirt, trees and the sun. Sounds like it’s going to be a good time at Shellrock Creek Campground! Usage of Shellrock is pretty light, and at 8 non-reservable sites, another camper could be an opportunity to meet your new adventuring companion. Bring your own water and be prepared to pack-out waste. If yo Read more...
There are many dispersed campsites along Barlow Creek--and Barlow Crossing Campground is not one to pass up. Unless of course, if you’re arriving late on a Friday to find that all six sites are already taken! Plan ahead, pack water (or a filter), and do a dance of joy for the trash pickup service at this campground--truly an overlooked luxury. Bef Read more...
You’ll experience serious hood vibes at Kinnikinnick (Laurance Lake) Campground, Mt. Hood vibes, that is! Just like the unique spelling of its name, Kinnikinnick and Laurance Lake will keep you on your toes. Bring your boat--both electric and non-motorized are welcome--and get ready to move your land legs to the 20 walk-in access campsites. Check Read more...
Despite its name, it’s quite hard to lose sight of Lost Lake Campground! 125 sites (and 18 vault toilets) are set on the edge of the 245-acre lake, with a backdrop of Mt. Hood to rest your eyes on at any point of the day. Whether you glamp (yurts and lodges and RVs, oh my!) or camp the good ol’ fashioned way, this area is your oyster with a nearby Read more...
No restrooms, no water, nada problem. Nottingham Campground is a little retreat off of Highway 35 on the East Fork Hood River, and welcomes you with an abundance of river and stream fishing, 5 wheelchair accessible sites, and two nearby waterways with arguably the coolest names: Lunch Creek and Robinhood Creek. Hit up Lunch Creek for your dinner, Read more...
We love lake, and Wahtum is a good’n! Take the Wahtum Express trail, and your dreams of living vicariously off of the lake are fulfilled as you swim, hike, and get a few games of horseshoes in by the water (you’ll have to bring your own horseshoes, btw). The five non-reservable sites at Wahtum are hot cakes in the wild, so check the current condit Read more...
Click, clack, click, clack is what you’ll hear at equine-friendly Clackamas Campground! When you’re not horsing around, there are plenty of adventures to be had on your own two feet. Click your own heels, Chacos, Bedrocks--whatever the kids are hiking in these days--together and you can find yourself boating, backpacking a snippet of the nearby PC Read more...
Once you go Gone Creek, you may never go back. Peeps come near and far to let their hair blow in the wind above the waters of 2+ mile Timothy Lake, and camping at Gone Creek Campground is the icing on the cake! (Or… the jam on the s’more?) Boating, fishing, wakeboarding, windsurfing--we’re really not sure if there’s anything you can’t do on Timoth Read more...
Take your pick from seven non-reservable sites when you reach Clear Creek Crossing Campground! $11/night isn’t too shabby for a sweet spot to fish for rainbow trout, or go on a day hike to discover where indigenous people of the area went to harvest edible camas root. What is camas root you ask? Camas is a type of lily that produces beautiful blue Read more...
Like the majority of Mt. Hood National Forest campgrounds, the five tent-only sites at Keeps Mill are first-come, first-served! Here you can angle the day away on the wild White River or watch the action from afar while strolling along the river corridor. If you’re venturing outside of the open season (June), make sure to check the current conditi Read more...
Leave civilization in the dust when you pick from the nine sites that border Hideaway Lake. And if one lake isn’t enough for ya (maybe you have a two lake minimum), pick a day hike, any hike--and you’ll stumble upon a trail that leads to Shellrock Lake, Rock Lakes Basin, and Serene Lake. All of which provide ample opportunities to fish. Since ther Read more...
Indian Henry Campground is a hot bed of activity, boasting a bustling 86 sites! Campsites are situated at an elevation of 1,249 feet, in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, nestled in a mixed forest of conifers and hardwoods. A thick gathering of ferns and ivy create privacy between sites, and while some overlook the river, others neighbor the mountain cr Read more...
Rainbow Campground will lead you to your own personal ‘pot of gold’, whether that be an artisanal s’more at the end of a day’s hike, whitewater rafting, or grilling up your prized river monster over the campfire. Each of the 17 sites comes prepped with a table, campfire ring, nearby vault toilets, and potable water. Give the ol’ legs a stretch, an Read more...
Reservable campsites in Mt. Hood National Forest! And potable water! If you’re jonesin’ for a trip to the wilderness, Armstrong Campground is an excellent choice. Of the 12 single sites available, two are set aside as FCFS (first-come, first-served). Sites at this campground border the Clackamas River where you can go fishing for steelhead, chinoo Read more...