Beach Camping Near Joseph, Oregon, US: 20 Best Beach Campsites 2026

The small city of Joseph sits in the northeast corner of Oregon, nestled in the foothills of the Wallowa Mountains. Joseph is home to Wallowa Lake State Park, which makes a lovely destination for alpine waterfront camping. Wallowa Lake is surrounded by mountains on three sides, giving it an appealingly isolated feel. It's also a great spot for wildlife watching, as bears, bobcats, and elk all roam this area. Coming to Joseph via RV? The lake campground features an RV park with 121 full-hookup sites and 89 tent camping sites. You can also post up at the Mountain View Motel & RV Park. It's just about 5 minutes north of town, straight up OR-82. The charming motel rooms have excellent views of the Wallowa Mountains. For the best view in the area, take the Wallowa Lake Tramway. This gondola takes you 8,000 feet from the Wallowa Valley to the peak of Mount Howard. It's the steepest tram ride anywhere on the whole continent! Once you hop off, you'll be treated to a breathtaking overlook of the 360,000-acre Eagle Cap Wilderness.

Top-rated campgrounds near Joseph

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

1. Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

99%

(34)

National forest 11mi from Joseph · 637 sites

Trek up massive peaks or descend into cavernous canyons on Oregon’s largest national forest.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Payette National Forest

2. Payette National Forest

78%

(9)

National forest 67mi from Joseph · 279 sites

Lakes, creeks, and peaks, oh my! Payette National Forest has ‘em all. Salmon-Challis National Forest and Nez-Pearce Clearwater National Forest are its neighbors, while its Victor Peak, Loon Creek, Loon Lake, North Loon Mountain, Bruin Mountain, Bear Pete Mountain, and Boulder Creek could keep you busy for months. Forage for mushrooms or berries, fish in the chinook salmon hatchery at the South Fork of the Salmon River, or snowboard down Brundage Mountain. Hike to the three historic fire lookouts, or check out the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, the second largest wilderness area outside Alaska (don’t worry, plenty before you have visited and returned). In this wealth of outdoor activity, it’s hard to tear yourself away for a visit into town. However, you will be glad you took the time to visit the closest town of McCall, where luxury mountain lodges have thermal spas perfect for resting your aching bones in between treks up or down the mountains.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Cottonwood Field Office

3. Cottonwood Field Office

Park 65mi from Joseph · 51 sites

The lands that are covered by the Cottonwood Field Office are the kind that take your breath away in one swift moment of awe. Set along the stunning Clearwater and Salmon Rivers, you can wade in for incredible trout and salmon fishing while jagged snow capped peaks tower overhead. There’s plenty of points along the way to load in your raft or kayak for the white-water adventures of a lifetime, or set up camp for a quiet night along “the river of no return”. This area has seen the likes of Lewis and Clark, and you too will find yourself out on the trails discovering some Idaho’s dearest and most spectacular treasures. With deep basalt gorges and spectacular sunrises, it’s places like Cottonwood that will remind you why you fell in love with the outdoors.

Pets

Electrical hookup

Toilets

The small city of Joseph sits in the northeast corner of Oregon, nestled in the foothills of the Wallowa Mountains. Joseph is home to Wallowa Lake State Park, which makes a lovely destination for alpine waterfront camping. Wallowa Lake is surrounded by mountains on three sides, giving it an appealingly isolated feel. It's also a great spot for wildlife watching, as bears, bobcats, and elk all roam this area. Coming to Joseph via RV? The lake campground features an RV park with 121 full-hookup sites and 89 tent camping sites. You can also post up at the Mountain View Motel & RV Park. It's just about 5 minutes north of town, straight up OR-82. The charming motel rooms have excellent views of the Wallowa Mountains. For the best view in the area, take the Wallowa Lake Tramway. This gondola takes you 8,000 feet from the Wallowa Valley to the peak of Mount Howard. It's the steepest tram ride anywhere on the whole continent! Once you hop off, you'll be treated to a breathtaking overlook of the 360,000-acre Eagle Cap Wilderness.

Top-rated campgrounds near Joseph

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

1. Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

99%

(34)

National forest 11mi from Joseph · 637 sites

Trek up massive peaks or descend into cavernous canyons on Oregon’s largest national forest.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Payette National Forest

2. Payette National Forest

78%

(9)

National forest 67mi from Joseph · 279 sites

Lakes, creeks, and peaks, oh my! Payette National Forest has ‘em all. Salmon-Challis National Forest and Nez-Pearce Clearwater National Forest are its neighbors, while its Victor Peak, Loon Creek, Loon Lake, North Loon Mountain, Bruin Mountain, Bear Pete Mountain, and Boulder Creek could keep you busy for months. Forage for mushrooms or berries, fish in the chinook salmon hatchery at the South Fork of the Salmon River, or snowboard down Brundage Mountain. Hike to the three historic fire lookouts, or check out the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, the second largest wilderness area outside Alaska (don’t worry, plenty before you have visited and returned). In this wealth of outdoor activity, it’s hard to tear yourself away for a visit into town. However, you will be glad you took the time to visit the closest town of McCall, where luxury mountain lodges have thermal spas perfect for resting your aching bones in between treks up or down the mountains.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Cottonwood Field Office

3. Cottonwood Field Office

Park 65mi from Joseph · 51 sites

The lands that are covered by the Cottonwood Field Office are the kind that take your breath away in one swift moment of awe. Set along the stunning Clearwater and Salmon Rivers, you can wade in for incredible trout and salmon fishing while jagged snow capped peaks tower overhead. There’s plenty of points along the way to load in your raft or kayak for the white-water adventures of a lifetime, or set up camp for a quiet night along “the river of no return”. This area has seen the likes of Lewis and Clark, and you too will find yourself out on the trails discovering some Idaho’s dearest and most spectacular treasures. With deep basalt gorges and spectacular sunrises, it’s places like Cottonwood that will remind you why you fell in love with the outdoors.

Pets

Electrical hookup

Toilets