1 / 65

Back Side of Painted Hills Camping

95%
·
· Mitchell, Wheeler, Oregon
320 acres hosted by Bonnie L.
1 RV/tent site
Avatar
Bonnie is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
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, although there is lodging (reserved) at the log home almost out of sight up above you. 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.This graveled spot with outhouse for tents or two vehicles with excellent view for miles and miles and night star gazing. This site is not for large RVs. Small units such as Scamps or Pick up campers are fine. Juniper forest with sage brush... basically high desert vegetation. We only allow one reservation per night, although there is lodging (reserved) at the log home almost out of sight up above you. 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 immediately and are on ranch for emergencies, questions, etc. Dirt 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. Booking should give you address. Stay to the right after leaving hwy 26 and go through green gate. Up one mile, stop at cattle guard, ease forward. Ranch house is straight ahead on up hill; but you want to look to the right. Take that drive way to camp site. As you drive in if at night, you will see a light on the outhouse at the site itself also. To star gaze, cover light with a blue rag inside composting toilet.
Activities
Biking
Fishing
Hiking
Horseback riding
Natural features
Desert
Canyon
Mountainous
Select a site
Filter by
Loading sites...
95%
66 ratings · 55 reviews
Avatar
Riley E.recommends
July 15, 2024
Back Side of Painted Hills Camping
Beautiful camping experience!
We had a wonderful experience tent camping on Bonnie's beautiful property. The view was incredible - especially at sunrise and sunset. In the summertime, there is not very much shade until about 7:00 PM - so I'd recommend bringing something to create extra shade or planning your day so you are at camp when there's shade. Bonnie was communicative and gave us good directions - we had no problem finding or getting to the campsite. We were in the area to see the Painted Hills, which were just a 25 minute drive from the site. Would also recommend swinging by the town of Mitchell for a beer at Tiger Town. Overall a great experience. Highly recommend!
Avatar
Steven L.recommends
July 6, 2024
Back Side of Painted Hills Camping
Quiet Getaway, Amazing Stars
Love visiting the Painted Hills area, Mitchell and the various units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. This off-the-beaten-path part of Oregon is full of amazing places to explore and not crowded so makes a great getaway. Bonnie's primitive site is as depicted in the photos. Incredibly peaceful and amazing night sky views (see photos I took). Quite a large space so you can choose where to camp or place your tent if you have one (we did). In the summer, it's quiet dry and dusty (to be expected) and not a lot of level, rock-free ground for a tent but we made it work. It wasn't in the listing, but there was a large bottle of fresh water with an automatic pump so we didn't have to use what we brought. There's a gas grill but you''ll need to bring your own propane tank. Outhouse is a plus, although unfortunately some previous camper put food/trash down the toilet and the critters found it, so be sure to check and let Bonnie know if there's any issue (she was super responsive). The gravel/dirt road up is indeed very, very steep and is best suited for a 4WD vehicle and there's a tight right turn down to the campsite also. No cell service up there or really much anywhere in the region, but free wifi is available at Tiger Town Brewery in Mitchell or the small visitor center building at the Painted Hills monument visitor center. Tiger Town has amazing food and beer! Route 26 Espresso in Mitchell has good coffee. There's a self-serve gas pump in Mitchell as well.
Avatar
Diego M.recommends
July 3, 2024
Back Side of Painted Hills Camping
Beautiful views and well maintained site Friendly folks
Avatar
Nadia T.
June 29, 2024
Back Side of Painted Hills Camping
Not what we expected. On arrival the outhouse was covered in rat poop, there was garbage everywhere. Amazing views but beware you really need a 4wheel drive to get to the campsite.
Avatar
Rachel E.recommends
June 24, 2024
Back Side of Painted Hills Camping
Hidden Gem
Bonnie’s land was beautiful! Our crew had a great time. We got our pop-up camper up the road no problem with our pickup. The star gazing was fantastic. The trees around the campsite helped to provide shade. We had 6 kids ranging in age from 1-8 years old. They enjoyed hiking around the property and watching the cows. It was a great spot to stay during our Painted Hills visit. We also enjoyed Tiger Town Brewing. Thank you, Bonnie!
Avatar
Cody S.recommends
June 11, 2024
Back Side of Painted Hills Camping
Don't hesitate just book it!
Loved seeing the wildlife of the high desert! Saw a lizard and snake immediately. How cool. The view was incredible! Especially at night! Talk about stargazing!
Location
Mitchell, Wheeler, Oregon, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, Nüümü (Northern Paiute), Tenino, and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Avatar

Hosted by Bonnie L.

Joined in April 2019
Things to do nearby
    More camping spots nearby
      Campers also viewed...

        Safety at Hipcamp

        Inclusion Policy
        Inclusion Policy
        Inclusion Policy
        Learn More
        Hipcamp Hand
        Hosting Standards
        Hosting Standards
        Hosting Standards
        Learn More
        Hipcamper Standards
        Hipcamper Standards
        Hipcamper Standards
        Learn More

        Safety partners

        Recreate Responsibly
        Leave No Trace
        National Weather Service

        About us

        CareersJournalGift CardsContactGeneral StoreHipcamper FAQBecome an Affiliate

        Hosting

        Becoming a HostIs my land a fit?InsuranceStandardsHosting FAQ

        Hipcamp is the most comprehensive resource for beautiful private campsites.

        Discover and reserve tent camping, RV parks, cabins, treehouses, and glamping.

        Download the Hipcamp App

        © 2024 Hipcamp, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicySitemap
        Do not sell my personal information
        Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.