- Mt. Hood National Forest
The best camping in Mt. Hood National Forest, OR
92% (191)
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T
Theresa
2 weeks ago
19 ft travel trailer
With pets
Burke and Shannon are fantastic and friendly hosts, who live in an absolutely stunning location. This area is amazing in its beauty and outdoor activities, and they know some good spots to check out (thanks for the Salmon River trail tip!!).
The RV spot was easy to back into, spacious, and had water/power in a convenient location. I will definitely be checking in the future to see if they are available when I’m in the area twice each year!
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Anesa
3 weeks ago
Weekend Trip to Action Sports Roamer Sites-Mt. Hood
We stayed in the heated tents and they were perfect! So cozy and warm. The entire camp was nice and clean. Would recommend if visiting Mt Hood!!
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Oka
3 weeks ago
Tent
With kids
駐車場からキャンプサイトまで行く最初の坂がちょっと急ですが、すぐ横に綺麗な川が流れていたので行く価値がありました。
Camp B に泊まりましたが、六人がけのテーブルが２つ、ファイヤーピットが一つあり、2組の家族でも十分な広さでした。
チェックイン時、チェックアウト時は特にオーナーと会うことはなかったですが、メッセージですぐに反応があったので安心しました。
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Faith
November 2025
16 ft car
Great camp ground. Very cozy and nice restroom and amenities
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Mikhail
November 2025
Tent
Everything is always perfect here minus the weather which the hosts have zero control over and my kiddo and I love the brutality of being in it! As well as the hosts asking if we need anything and even go far as giving us a staging area without being asked:) then we said we don’t need a staging area in the rain. Which… I hoped they wouldn’t listen but they did and that just made us stronger campers in lol not the best camping conditions. Love this place and coming back tomorrow, after a two week gap😘
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Jimmy
October 2025
25 ft Class B
We shared the facilities with the camp but that resulted in spotless clean, well appointed and well taken care of bathrooms. All in all a very good experience.
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Adam
October 2025
Tent
With pets
The sites are all very unique. We loved out stay. Lots of salmon making a run up river right now. It was very cool to watch the salmon and also a big group of kayakers going by. Sites were clean. Wish we would have added the sauna add on. They looked really neat.
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Chris
October 2025
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Cheyenne
October 2025
Tent
One of the best camping experiences I've had ! I ended up booking the next day. Easy to navigate to, safe feeling environment and overall just a great stay. Would absolutely recommend !
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Eva
October 2025
Tent
With pets
Beautiful campsite! This was our second time staying here- it’s very private and magical! Plus our dog loves running through the trails
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Anisa
October 2025
16 ft car
With pets
Great location, secure, thoughtfully stocked and very clean. Everything we would need. A heater in the bathroom would have been next level but not expected from this type of accommodation. Would come back!
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Mikhail
October 2025
Tent
Pouring rain but Jim set up a rain shelter for staging our tent. I don’t think I slept this good in years! That’s why we come back rain or shine!
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Jessica
October 2025
1 night at Action Sports Roamer Sites-Mt. Hood
Great place to camp in Mt hood area! Tents were very warm and the bed was comfy! Jim was so helpful and hospitable. Would definitely stay again
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becky
October 2025
Weekend Trip to WindWoodRivers
This was such a beautiful space! So thoughtfully designed and had everything we could’ve wanted. The walk down to the spot was a littler steeper than expected but absolutely worth it. The rain on the tin roof at night was so lovely. Host was also so accommodating and kind! Absolutely would come back to this space.
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Mikhail
October 2025
Tent
Been here in the best weather and the worst so far , but the hosts were super awesome to setup a rain shelter without asking. How much better customer service can you get?!?!? It rained quite successfully and my kiddo and I got amazing sleep at such a comfy place we travel to as often as time allows us. Thank you both again and again!
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Saira
October 2025
Tent
Loved the location and the beautiful woods and water access. Will definitely be back!
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Grant
October 2025
Tent
Group trip
Absolutely loved our stay at WindWoodRivers, the host was extremely responsive and helpful in answering our questions, the campsite and accommodations (ie toilet) were extremely well kept, and the campsites were well distanced to allow for a secluded experience
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Ashley
October 2025
22 ft travel trailer
With pets
Great little campground for campers! We brought our travel trailer out for a weekend trip so we could be near Hood River And this campground was great for us. Nicely wooded, small little spots that fit our camper and had space for a table and fire ring. There was a playground near the office that my 3yo enjoyed. Plus the beautiful drive to get there along the gorge. Definitely recommended!
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Joshua
October 2025
17 ft travel trailer
With pets
Nice camp ground perfectly located in the Gorge. Facilities and camp spots were clean. Everything seemed well taken care of.
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Mikhail
October 2025
Tent
There’s so much attention to detail about this place and the owners know what the campers want! A super comfy retreat with everything you need for what’s considered camping :) love this place
See moreTop public campgrounds in the park
Stay at a public campground in Mt. Hood National Forest
Top-rated campgrounds
The best camping in Mt. Hood National Forest, OR guide
Overview
About
Stretching from the Oregon-Washington border on the Columbia River and extending south to snow-capped Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Hood National Forest has long been popular with Oregonians looking to get out in nature. The hiking opportunities are hard to beat, with miles of trails traversing over a million acres of wilderness, plus plenty of options for camping, rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, and boating. Winters are equally magical, and popular activities include skiing, snowboarding, and even just relaxing by the fire at the historic Timberline Lodge in the Mount Hood town of Government Camp.
Notable campgrounds
- Best for whitewater rafters: Roaring River Campground is close to excellent rapids fed by the nearby Clackamas River.
- Best for hot springs fans: Bagby Campground gets you easy access to some of Oregon’s most popular hot springs.
- Best for peace-seeking campers: Meditation Point (Timothy Lake) Campground offers walk-in and boat-in tent sites at a lake.
Tips for snagging a campsite
- Many campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served (FCFS) basis and can fill up on weekends. If you need a weekend site, you’ll have better luck showing up on Friday evening than on Saturday morning.
- Plan ahead of time. Reservable campsites, cabins, and yurts open up six months in advance, at 7am Pacific daily, and can be reserved online.
- Check with the US Forest Service for last-minute cancellations.
- Reservable sites sometimes open up at the last minute. Hipcamp campgrounds, RV parks, and lodges provide alternative camping options in the area.
When to go
Mt. Hood National Forest is at its most pleasant between the months of July and September, when temperatures tend to be warm and rainfall is limited. If you want good weather without the crowds, come after Labor Day, when Oregon kids are back in school. However, be aware that August and September are wildfire season, and if the risk is high, your campsite reservation may get canceled. May and June are also possibilities for visits, but you’re more likely to encounter rainfall and some parts of the forest may still be blanketed with snow.
Know before you go
- Always check for road closures before heading out. Snowfall, landslides, fires, and road construction can lead to area closures.
- Fire bans are common in this area, particularly in summer, and may extend to propane stoves and other cooking devices. Consider packing food that doesn’t require cooking.
- Be prepared to pack in what you pack out, and don’t forget garbage bags. While there are plenty of campgrounds with amenities such vault toilets, drinking water, and RV hookups in Mt. Hood National Forest, many others are primitive and lack facilities for waste disposal.
- Warm days don’t mean warm nights. Temperatures can drop drastically after dark, particularly in areas of higher elevation.
- Download offline maps before you leave. Cell service can be spotty in much of Mt. Hood National Forest.
92%
191 ratings · 41 reviews
Recommends
· September 2025
Tent · With pets · Group trip ·
Kingfisher Campground
A great place to camp for a weekend getaway! Even though the campsites are right next to one another, it still felt private and quiet enough. We didn’t use the Blue Barn, but thought it was a great touch and I would have used the shower if we had stayed one more night. We will definitely be back!
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Michelle M.
1 year on Hipcamp
Sorry...I didn't go to this place & hadn't even heard of it! ( though now I have ; ). I'm just responding so that the app will stop asking me how it was. I tried other means... 😁
Anne Christina M.
11 reviews
Shawn’s property is beautiful and maintains the integrity of the land. All campsites seemed lovely but I can certainly say the a-frame was a beautiful stay. I especially love that one full side of the a-frame extends. Velcro lines the outer edges when it’s extended and bug mesh is available under the bed to help keep the bugs out while letting in air. A dog bed is also available for use. It was the perfect spot for our dog to relax after a day hiking the Olympics and exploring the creek just a short walk away from the site.
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Jordyn G.
3 years on Hipcamp
Not recommend
· June 2025
This website makes no sense at all, and is very hard to navagate.
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Ken S.
6 months on Hipcamp
July 2023
This is incorrect. There are restrooms, several clean out toilets. There are 21 sites, not 23, and most are on the river.
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Amy E.
2 years on Hipcamp
July 2023
07/01/2023: I didn’t camp but did a hike in the area up to Elk Cove. @Marielles the road to the lake and campground is completely passable for any vehicle despite the warnings on the FS website. There was a Prius and Tesla Model S at the lake when I passed by.
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Jason Z.
3 years on Hipcamp
April 2023
I have not camped here yet so this is not really a review. I'm trying to get more information about the road to get there. I have read online that they recommend vehicles with high clearance only. We have a very basic 2012 Honda Civic, so not Jeep or truck or anything like that. Would we still be able to make it with this car? What cars have others used? Thank you!
Marielle S.
2 years on Hipcamp
December 2020
UPDATE: MOSTLY CLOSED. The bridge to the campsites and vault toilet (and trash pickup) has been condemned and intentionally blocked off by huge fallen trees (and later boulders to prevent off-road crossings through the creek itself). There are still a few spots near the creek, kind of RV friendly and the toilet can be accessed on foot, but it is no longer serviced. I think this happened in late 2017. The dispersed camping along the creek North of the bridge is still accessible from the Northern approach to 3530 but only in high-clearance vehicles.
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Kira K.
6 years on Hipcamp
July 2020
This site is filled with beautiful trees on the wild Clackamas river. There is river access. The only downside is the proximity to the highway - but get close enough to the river and it drowns out the sound of the cars during the day. Not a noisy highway at night. The proximity to Portland makes it a wonderful site for a quick get away. The vault toilet may have been the cleanest of its type I've ever seen. Additional ammenity: Ranger Scott. I made a rookie mistake in trying to secure a first come, first served site, and my site was taken when I arrived. He was able to creatively help me out by letting me stay in the day use area, which was bonus. He also had tons of tips and stories about camping, so he was a great part of my experience.
Stephanie V.
8 reviews
July 2020
This site is filled with beautiful trees on the wild Clackamas river. There is river access. The only downside is the proximity to the highway - but get close enough to the river and it drowns out the sound of the cars during the day. Not a noisy highway at night. The proximity to Portland makes it a wonderful site for a quick get away. The vault toilet may have been the cleanest of its type I've ever seen. Additional ammenity: Ranger Scott. I made a rookie mistake in trying to secure a first come, first served site, and my site was taken when I arrived. He was able to creatively help me out by letting me stay in the day use area, which was bonus. He also had tons of tips and stories about camping, so he was a great part of my experience.
Stephanie V.
8 reviews
September 2019
One of the best views of Mt. Hood... this place is unmatched in the summer time. If you have time head over to the Lost Lake Resort for a number of activities, including boating and kayaking. A large portion of the sites are near the water and are very spaced out. You can set up a massive camp site and still feel alone.
Emmett M.
6 years on Hipcamp
July 2019
Don't go there if you're queer, a person of color, or a woman. And if you're not any of those things, you shouldn't go there either. The camp hosts are extremely hostile, verbally abusive and discriminatory against anyone who is not like them. Dangerous!
Rebecca K.
6 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2018
No water
Dale P.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2018
Don't go on weekends
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Elizabeth S.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2018
Mosquito repellent
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Elizabeth S.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2018
Bring your paddle boards and chairs to enjoy the nice clean lake :D
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Sophear O.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· March 2018
Ultimate Oregon campsite! Trees and moss for miles! Go on hikes and walk over fallen trees!
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Leslie M.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· March 2018
Wonderful hot springs experience, but avoid peak times! Dog friendly!
Emily S.
3 reviews
This is my absolute favorite summer weekend getaway from Portland. It’s just over a two hour drive and once there, a beautiful 2 mile flat forested hike in. There are five designated sites and many more sites along the way along the edge of the lake. Each spot is private and has its own beach. The water is warm and absolutely perfect for swimming. Great spot for wildlife viewing. Once watched a hawk devour a bat right in our campsite. We often see deer too. And, of course, the symphony of frogs at night. On a calm night you can climb out on one of the many fallen logs the protude into the lake for an epic echo effect rolling around the large lake. This place gets busy on summer weekends and parking can be tricky but I’ve always found a spot
Emily S.
3 reviews
Recommends
· January 2018
No running water to come prepared.
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Melissa T.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· November 2017
Great Family location, be sure to reserve your campsites well in advance, this has become a very populated campground for summer months!
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Joe L.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2017
If you can't make a reservation or are going on a spontaneous trip, camping on the side of the lake opposite of the campground is great. And it's free as long as you have the forest pass.
Elijah A.
8 years on Hipcamp
August 2017
While the campground is closed for camping in the winter, the groomed trails make for an awesome day snowshoeing or cross country skiing with the whole family, your gang of friends, and your fur children. Trillium Lake on a clear day provides awesome snowy views of Mt Hood and if you bring bird food the birds will eat straight from your hands. Trillium Lake Campground is very busy but incredibly beautiful in the summer time and definitely worth checking out no matter what time of the year.
Elle H.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2017
We arrived on a hot Thursday summer day to a busy lake, The camp host's Ken and Renee where very friendly and helpful with lots of knowledge of the area. Wildlife is everywhere here including, Fishing, Eagles, Beavers, and Deer. Laurence lake rode is a tight twisty road and really only wide enough for 1 way traffic if your hauling a small camper. Beware of kids speeding around blind corners. Most sites are a walk in tent site, with well marked trails to each site. Near the boat ramp there are 4 campgrounds you could get a small trailer or pickup camper in to. There is no potable water and there are two vaulted restrooms kept very clean. The campground is well landscaped for a 1 man crew and garbage service is available too. Day use and/or camping fee's apply to help pay for the services.
Cell phone service, and electricity are non existent.
Option to reserve camping spots are coming soon.
Stayed July 2017
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Dan H.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2017
Being nestled away in the Mt. Hood forest makes it a little difficult to navigate to, however once you set up camp right on the ice cold, (literally melted glacier water), crystal clear creek, you're all set for a great stay of trail hiking, light rafting, and plenty of deer sighting. Great for group camping or a little hideaway.
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Emily G.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2017
Know that the wildlife enjoy organic almond butter almost as much as you and they will chew thru the lid for a taste.
Christine C.
2 reviews
Recommends
· May 2017
Make sure get enough gear
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Reymundo N.
8 years on Hipcamp
July 2016
We camped here over the July 23rd campground and a few things to say about it:
The campground itself was nice. Large campsite that could easily fit 2-4 tents and 1 car (a few could fit a couple cars). The campground was also about 50% full and seemed far more used than was otherwise indicated. Probably due to the increased traffic, the vault toilets were devoid of paper (so bring your own) and were not the most pleasant smell. Also, I can tell you the mosquitos are still pervasive, especially close to the waters edge, throughout the summer.
The road to the campground was terrible. We drove up in an F-350 dually and while we were able to get up there, we found a few places where we had just over an inch of clearance from boulders and
Caroline F.
10 years on Hipcamp
Definitely not a great place to go if you don't have a truck or suv. The roads are bad around the lake with tons of wash outs. Drive carefully! The lake is silting in, and the marshy area much bigger than it used to be. Probably from all the beetle kill and damage from forest fires that hit awhile ago. You used to have water directly from the lake, but it's no longer potable, so you have to bring your own. Still no swimming allowed in the lake though. The big old trees I remember as a kid are gone, and it's mostly small hemlocks. Still decent fishing, but the mosquitoes were so numerous it made camping not pleasant. We got eaten alive.
Stacey B.
9 years on Hipcamp
March 2016
Just to give some up-dated info, OHV are not allowed in the campground or on the roads in the area. Camp Host will be on site during camping season from May 1st thru mid-October.
Ken N.
9 years on Hipcamp