The best campgrounds near Mitchell, Oregon with horseback riding

Planning a camping trip near Mitchell, Oregon? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 240 options available, you're sure to find the perfect campsite to suit your needs. Whether you prefer pitching a tent, RV camping, or staying in a cabin, Hipcamp has got you covered. And with top campsites like Experience Heaven (257 reviews), Milk A Sheep Camp (202 reviews), and The Forest Cupcake (83 reviews), you can trust that you'll have an amazing experience. Plus, you'll have access to popular amenities like campfires, toilets, and potable water. Not to mention, you'll be able to enjoy popular activities such as hiking, horseback riding, and boating. So why wait? Start planning your camping adventure today!

93% (255)

Top-rated campgrounds near Mitchell

Planning a camping trip near Mitchell, Oregon? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 240 options available, you're sure to find the perfect campsite to suit your needs. Whether you prefer pitching a tent, RV camping, or staying in a cabin, Hipcamp has got you covered. And with top campsites like Experience Heaven (257 reviews), Milk A Sheep Camp (202 reviews), and The Forest Cupcake (83 reviews), you can trust that you'll have an amazing experience. Plus, you'll have access to popular amenities like campfires, toilets, and potable water. Not to mention, you'll be able to enjoy popular activities such as hiking, horseback riding, and boating. So why wait? Start planning your camping adventure today!

93% (255)

Top-rated campgrounds near Mitchell

1. Back Side of Painted Hills Camping

97%

(111)

7.5mi from Mitchell · 1 site · Tent, RV

This 320 acre plot of land on which you can hike anywhere has been in our family since 1993. Large, graveled spot for tents or two vehicles with excellent view for miles and miles and night star gazing. Primitive outhouse. Juniper forest with sage brush... basically high desert vegetation. We only allow one reservation per night. You can arrange vehicles or tents to not be in view or block any view from house way above. 320 acres to hike and roam. Mitchell is 10 miles away with well stocked grocery and feed store, restaurants, small brewery, and tire shop. We give directions fairly quickly. Road is wide, but steep at top. 4 wheel drive is recommended. Very close to the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National monument, Ochoco National Forest is seven miles. John Day River for swimming, rafting about 20 minutes. If you can book, it means you can drive on up with out contacting us.  As you drive in if at night, you will see a light on the outhouse.

2. Haystack Ranch

94%

(142)

28mi from Mitchell · 17 sites · Tents, RVs

My family has owned the ranch since 1977. We bought it from my parents a few years ago to keep it in the family. We love living here, and although it is just the two of us working it, we are slowly getting it to what we want it to be. The house we live in is over 100 years old and used to be a stage coach stop back in the late 1800's to early 1900's, You can still see some of the old stage coach roads on the property, and we are trying to preserve those the best we can. Also in the early 1900's this ranch used to be the place to go on the fourth of July. People from all over would bring their prize horses to compete in a horse race for the name of the fastest horses around While others would bring picnic baskets to set back on the knoll in one of our fields to watch. Learn more about this land:We are a 500 Acre working ranch located in Beautiful East Central Oregon, We are Between The stunning Painted Hills, and Umatilla National Forest. Just a few miles away from the Gorgeous John Day River, where Rafting, Tubing, Fishing, Swimming is always a welcome retreat. A few miles above us is Bull Prairie Lake and the wonderful Umatilla National Forest where hiking, sight seeing and wildlife viewing is always available.

3. Desert Rose Private Campground

97%

(17)

44mi from Mitchell · 3 sites · Lodging

Welcome to our family's Private Campground - The Desert Rose. A boondocking site for you and your family to enjoy! We have a Yurt, a cabin, 3 RV/Travel trailer pads and 2 tent sites created here and plenty of room for everyone to have their own space yet be all together. You can book the entire campground, or just one of the units. Whether it's just you, or you're bringing a crew, we know you'll love it here! Our favorite hikes in the Central Oregon area is Smith Rocks and Chimney Rock. The Prineville reservoir is roughly a 12 minute drive and the starry nights here are something to behold. Up the road is the most unique petting zoo that we recently found! Find it and you might just be able to hold a baby kangaroo! Boondocking site means there is no hook-ups or running water so you'll want to bring in your own water and heat if you're here in the colder months. Your four legged furry family members are welcomed! They must be accompanied at all times and not left on the property alone. The dog run is for you to keep closer tabs on them while relaxing, not for leaving them while going into town or enjoying the area. The dirt is very soft and it wouldn't take very long for them to dig under to get out and go looking for you. The cabin or yurt is also not a pet storage area - with no power or AC, pets are not allowed to be left alone in the dwellings.

4. Ochoco National Forest

77%

(11)

257 sites · Mitchell, Oregon

Central Oregon hosts high mountains, thick pine forests, and lots of wilderness.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

5. Umatilla National Forest

72%

(9)

394 sites · Summerville, Oregon

Rivers, canyons, striking peaks and abundant wildlife welcome you to an expansive Northwest forest.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

6. Buzzard's Roost

85%

(41)

33mi from Mitchell · 25 sites · Tents, RVs

Just five miles east of Post Oregon on highway 380, 1/4 mile on Pine creek and Antelope res. Rd (NF 17) Buzzard Roost Private Campground is a great getaway located in the surrounding areas of great fishing, Hunting, Biking, Hiking and just plain kicking back and enjoying Mother Nature. This is a new campground and was only open last year for a short while while in between developing the sites . It was chosen by a very reputable RV manufacturer and had a Television commercial shoot using Buzzards Roost Private Campground as the main site. There are twenty five active dry camp sites and twenty two pull through spaces for RV clamping. Please enjoy your stay

7. Malheur National Forest

100%

(9)

275 sites · Canyon City, Oregon

Hike the Blue Mountains, explore the wilderness, and see a Humongous Fungus.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Public campgrounds near Mitchell

Scotts Campground

10mi from Mitchell · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ochoco National Forest

Wildwood Campground

11mi from Mitchell · 5 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ochoco National Forest

Ochoco Divide Campground

13mi from Mitchell · 1 site · Tent, RV · in Ochoco National Forest

Barnhouse Campground

13mi from Mitchell · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ochoco National Forest

Walton Lake Campground

13mi from Mitchell · 29 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ochoco National Forest

Whistler Campground

17mi from Mitchell · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ochoco National Forest

100%

(1)

Deep Creek Campground

17mi from Mitchell · 14 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ochoco National Forest

Ochoco Forest Campground

18mi from Mitchell · 5 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ochoco National Forest

Big Spring Campground

18mi from Mitchell · 5 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ochoco National Forest

Bingham Springs Campground

19mi from Mitchell · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ochoco National Forest

Cottonwood Campground

19mi from Mitchell · 7 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ochoco National Forest

Cottonwood Pit Campground

20mi from Mitchell · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ochoco National Forest

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

Shane

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

The host was great, the space was great, the scenery was great and the area was great. Will definitely be staying here again.

Great spot! House in view, along with neighboring friendly goats and very clean compost toilet

E

Ellie

October 2025

16 ft car

Weekend Trip to Back Side of Painted Hills Camping

Great views! Lots of room to explore, caught it right before the snow came in late October! Thank you Bonnie!

J

John

October 2025

20 ft travel trailer

4 nights at Haystack Ranch

This was an amazing property. Big area, lots of trees. Space for an RV, but not at all the locations, mainly just one but an RV can honestly park anywhere it wants, just might not have a picnic table readily available but the hosts will get you one. There's a cool outhouse and hand wash station. The best part is its only 30 minutes from John Day Fossil Painted Hills. There's a cool bar and pizza food truck about 3 miles away and the town of Spray has the basic necessities. The hosts let you use their water hose that's at the edge of their house property on the fence next to the road so you can top off your RV when you get there and refill canisters if you run out. Overall great site, low frills, primitive location.

J

Jess

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

Super beautiful and private! Picnic tables were a fun surprise. The outhouse was clever and clean!

Couple of cool little trails with views. Cactus Ridge literally has tiny cacti on the ground. Watch your dogs' paws!

Leila

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Back Side of Painted Hills Camping

Loved this private spot perched high with views of the desert hills. It helped to have a more rugged vehicle to handle the steep rough road. Sunrise was gorgeous and the stargazing at night was incredible. We saw shooting stars across the Milky Way! We could occasionally see and hear the tenants at the house further up the hill (only when they were outside on the deck), but they were far enough away that it never felt intrusive. Otherwise, camp was super quiet and it felt like we had the WHOLE place to ourselves. Loved the trails on the property. The only bummer was that there were a lot of pokies that kept getting stuck in our dogs' paws which kept us from exploring more. So if you bring dogs, you may want to put booties on them. Loved the proximity to Painted Hills. This site is a total high desert gem and we will definitely be back!

Rebecca

September 2025

16 ft car

1 night at Back Side of Painted Hills Camping

Campsite was beautiful, clean bathroom. The stars were unreal. I was the only one there and it was amazing

K

Karl

September 2025

15 ft travel trailer

With pets

3 nights at Back Side of Painted Hills Camping

Quiet, beautiful! Light trucks (SUV’s) with small trailers can easily negotiate the road in We did not meet Bonnie.

J

Jill

September 2025

Tent

1 night at Back Side of Painted Hills Camping

Great private site with a beautiful view and amazing spot for stargazing in the dark sky. The trees provided nice shade in the heat. The charcoal grill was very little but worked well for two people. The bathroom and site were clean and well maintained.

S

Samantha

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

Beautiful part of the state with wide open grass lands and interesting geological sites. The camp was quiet and comfortable. We had trees for shade and were an easy walk from the nicely maintained outhouse. A pump handwashing station was a nice touch. Plenty of camp site options with level ground for camper vans (or tents/RV's). Be prepared for lots of prickly bur buttercup, black medic, chickweed, and thistle.

K

KATHERINE

August 2025

Tent

With kids

1 night at Back Side of Painted Hills Camping

Beautiful location! We loved the sunset and stars, it was quiet and beautiful. My husband was worried about the steepness of the mile-long loose gravel road, but our SUV made it up fine. We brought one of those large blue water jugs and only needed about half of it for the four of us, and it was an easy drive to visit the Painted Hills the following morning. Would love to go back.

R

Rob

August 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Desert Rose Private Campground

It was as promised and we scored with the weather for the stars.

Sam

August 2025

13 ft travel trailer

With pets

Weekend Trip to Back Side of Painted Hills Camping

Amazing location with a breathtaking view. Wish we could have stayed longer!

Mary

August 2025

15 ft travel trailer

With pets

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

As noted the site is a bit hard to find from the south but google maps does get you to the correct spot. Just look for the secluded picnic table. Our host was fantastic and offered us some fresh picked produce. This is a beautiful area and I will stop again.

L

Lea

August 2025

16 ft pop-up camper

Weekend Trip to Back Side of Painted Hills Camping

The quiet and solitude not to mention views of neighboring landscapes are not to be missed. But... try to miss the access road if it's a rare sustained downpour which is what we faced and made it to camp ok in 4WD with some consternation. Mainly we hoped the heavy rain didn't wash out the exit road. As soon as it dried next morning though all was good. Just saying. FYI since we didn't have levelers for our popup truck camper there's a really nice level spot just at the entrance to the picnic/BBQ flat landing spot.Super chill place for quiet,stars,views and a nice hike up the hill.

Jacqui

August 2025

17 ft Class C

With kids

1 night at Back Side of Painted Hills Camping

Amazing view from up high in the hills! It was a bit challenging to navigate when we arrived after dark, but we made it. We definitely appreciated the solar shower and water setup. Also enjoyed saying hello to the goats. Thank you!

E

Elena

August 2025

30 ft campervan

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

Tent camping was great! Had the place to ourselves out of sight from the main house. The out house and sink were amazing to have! Super kind host and got a few bars of soap which are lovely. She even sent us off with some fresh veggies! Will definitely want to stay here again.

S

Susan

July 2025

Tent

1 night at Back Side of Painted Hills Camping

The view from our site was incredible and it was so quiet! Highly recommend! (Short drive to the Painted Hills and Mitchell’s great pub Tiger something.)

P

Paolo

July 2025

16 ft campervan

1 night at Back Side of Painted Hills Camping

Bonnie's spot was wonderful! There's a wonderful sense of solitude, a clean bathroom, a great view over the surrounding hills, and a spectacular, practically pristine night sky (I say this as an amateur astronomer who's spent years looking for unpolluted skies). It's also uniquely situated as one of the very few HipCamp spots near the beautiful Geologic playground of John Day Fossil Beds. We definitely plan to return.

C

Callie

July 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

Very relaxing place! Toilet was very clean and well taken care of. Spaces were spread far enough apart for some privacy. You get to choose the available space you want when you arrive which is nice. The house is just down the road so getting water is super convenient!

S

Saraju

July 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

Great property and amazing views. Also wonderful, accommodating host. Very helpful and sweet person.