Best Camping in and near Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area

100% (6 reviews)

Crater Lake and the Rogue River nearby + Lost Creek Reservoir at your feet = Paradise.

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Joseph H. Stewart Campground

24 sites · RVs, Tents In Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area

Top-rated campgrounds near Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area

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Crater Lake Private Woodlands

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents100 acres · Prospect, OR

Private and protected forest woodlands, trails, wildlife, ponds, wildflowers, old growth timber and views. Unspoiled nature at its best! We are located in southern Oregon near Crater Lake NP, just off of hwy 62, part of the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway, more commonly known as the "highway of waterfalls" and near the little town of Prospect on what is known as the beautiful side of Crater Lake NP. Three waterfalls, a pizza parlor, the Prospect Cafe, and the Historic Hotel are all within a two-mile radius. If you're after that famous pie at Beckie's Cafe, you are 10 minutes close. Our 100 acre ranch allows us to host guests in their own RV's, at camp/tent sites, or in our new A-frame Cabin all located in private, and even secluded, sites. Several well maintained trails wind throughout the property and can be enjoyed by guests. Nature enthusiasts enjoy the hiking, wildlife viewing, and the beautiful ponds and woods. Crater Lake Woodlands is part of the historic Katydid Ranch. Once owned by Boise Cascade who used it both for growing seedlings to replant logged mountain sides and as a vacation getaway for their executives, the story of Katydid Ranch goes back to the early 1900's when it's owner named "Katy" used it as the "half-way" overnight lodging for horse & buggy guests traveling to Crater Lake from the Rogue Valley. Leaving the valley at the crack of dawn, they could arrive at "Katy's" by nightfall, in time for a meal and sound mountain sleep. They'd hitch up at dawn and make it to Crater Lake by nightfall. Historically, the first residents were the Rogue River Takelma and Latgawa native Americans. Latgawa lived in the Rogue Valley of interior southwest Oregon. In their own language "Latgawa" means "those living in the “uplands," though they were also known as the Walumskni by the neighboring Klamath tribes. Specifically, Ha-ne-sakh. The Latgawa were one of two peoples who spoke the Takelma language. They were hunters, gatherers, weavers and fished the Rogue River. They were known to have a stationary settlement and trading post at the Katydid Ranch location. Their tribes lived in the upper Rogue River area extending beyond Prospect and Union up to Crater Lake. Since we've owned the Ranch, we've maintained the custom of welcoming overnight guests and at the same time, we continue to honor the protected wildlife designation given to it back in the 50's. Wildlife viewing is one the delights we share with our guests. Please be mindful of native wildlife keeping dogs on leash so as to avoid chasing and barking at wildlife. Thank you. The animals here include, but are not limited to black tail deer, elk, fox, coyote, ringtailed cat, raccoon, skunk, and also typically farther up the mountain are the elusive mountain lions and black bear which we have never spotted on our property. The ponds and surrounding area are home to migratory to the Oregon Pond turtle, Canada geese, quail, wild turkeys, various owls including the great horned owls, hawks, cranes and eagles. Our pond bird watcher friends spotted Common Mergansers, Ring Necked Ducks, Canada Geese…and a Loon. The bull frogs orchestrate the evening and can be heard at times throughout the day. Katydid Ranch is a wildlife sanctuary. The flora and fauna of the forest is abundant and diverse. This land is home to many native grasses, ferns, and berries, wild flowers, as well as many other edible and medicinal plants and numerous varieties of mushrooms. If you are visiting during blackberry season, feel free to pick, pick, pick and indulge. Katydid trees include old growth Douglas Fir, Ponderosa, Sugar, and Jeffrey Pine, various Cedar tree varieties, Incense Cedar, the majestic Pacific Madrone, Alder, Big Leaf Maple, Black and White Oak, Dog wood, and Vine Maple. You may also spot the prolific wild hazelnuts. As Forest Stewards, we are committed to maintaining a well balanced and diverse forest ecosystem.

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Crater Lake Resort

24 sites · RVs, Tents13 acres · Chiloquin, OR

Our property has been in business in one way or another for over 70 years. The stick built cabins are pre 1950's and no one really knows for sure how old they truly are. We are located on Fort Creek named after the creek that ran through Fort Klamath. Fort Creek is a beautiful 30' wide meandering creek that runs the length of the property north to south. We offer free use of our Old Town Canoes to paddle along it's extent and on up creek to a beaver damn. There is a fun hiking trail that runs over two bridges that span the creek, one covered and one floating. We also offer free catch and release fishing, there are Rainbow and Brown Trout in our waters. Fort Klamath is the birthplace and home of the US Army 1st Cavalry and our property is located on the the Forts Southeastern grounds. We are 9 miles from the southern border of the National Park and 23 miles from the southern Rim and Rim Village.

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Umpqua's Last Resort

33 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents4 acres · Idleyld Park, OR

Umpqua’s Last Resort is nestled along the North Umpqua River in the Umpqua National Forest. This region of the Oregon Cascade Mountains is commonly referred to as “Oregon’s Emerald-Jewel Gateway” to Crater Lake National Park. Spectacular marble river views, volcanic formations, thundering waters, and towering firs are just the beginning… the North Umpqua River is World Class! Settled in the community of Dry Creek, 27-miles east of Idleyld Park [Idle-wild Park] on the North Umpqua River, Umpqua's Last Resort hosts fifteen 50/30/20amp Full Hook-up RV Sites, Glamping Tents, Camper Cabins, a Tiny Home, RV Experiences, heated shower house & restrooms, mountain Wi-Fi, access to the North Umpqua River & Dry Creek. Umpqua’s Last Resort is a privately owned recreational vehicle park & campground located on exclusive private-property deep in the heart of the Umpqua National Forest. As a proud equal opportunity recreation provider we thank you for your interest.

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Off Grid Bliss

4 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · Trail, OR

We own 40 acres just a few miles from Lost Creek Lake, walking distance if you up for a little hike, and 50 miles south of one of the wonders of the world, Crater Lake! We are working on remediating the land back to its former glory and are excited to have campers to help us get closer to reaching our goals as well as see and learn what it takes to remediate land after it has been clear cut. Don't think it is a clear piece of land with no life, it is very much full of life and doing very well at coming back to what it use to be with our help. With your visit you will be contributing to the rehabilitation.Learn more about this land:Pitch your tent in whatever area you would like. There is a shared outdoor kitchen and composting toilet near the school bus, which is also a rental. Choose to be as close or as far away as you would like. Tons of birds sing in the morning sunshine and you may even hear our resident owl at night.

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Private, gated, forested

3 sites · RVs, Tents60 acres · Prospect, OR

Old mill property with wildlife and forests.Learn more about this land:Enjoy the private tranquility of the Cascade Mountains in this beautiful rural Full hookup RV site woodlands setting amidst trees and trails. Great for travelers who need a private place to park their fully self-contained home-on-wheels while traveling to Crater Lake National Park and the scenic Rogue-Umpqua area of the Cascades. Only 24 miles from the NP south entrance (on the Prospect desirable side of the NP) and most likely the closest private RV spot. 1/2 mile outside of the little town of Prospect, 1 mile to the Rogue River (fishing and rafting), 1 mile to 3 waterfalls, 8 miles to Lost Creek Lake (boating and recreation), plus an abundance of hiking trails in nearby local area. After viewing the amazing star-filled night skies, fall into a deep relaxed sleep and wake up to birds singing, enjoy your coffee and a nature walk. This serene and quiet RV spot consists of an open space nestled in beautiful mixed woodlands of mature doug fir, cedar, pine and madrone on our 60 acre property (You won’t see our house or shop since these RV spot is on the other side of the property). RV space has 50 amp power, well water and RV sewer. Your own toilet is a must. Be prepared to “Pac-in, pack-out.” This is a protected wilderness area. There’s a mix of sun and shade. At approximately 2600 ft elevation, a fresh gentle breeze significantly cools the late afternoon and evening summer temperatures. Most cell service carriers do get reception at this location, however, there is no WIFI. This can be a pull-through-and-around area. A long RV/trailer may need to make a y turn. Short distance nature trails in the adjacent woodlands can be enjoyed in the immediate area. You will be alone in this no-frills spot. Just you and nature and your RV home.

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Myrtle's Place

2 sites · Lodging, RVs28 acres · Chiloquin, OR

Beautiful property close to Crater Lake National Park. The Wood River runs through it. The 28 acres is mostly undeveloped, but there are a few houses and a restroom outbuilding. Bring your kids, bring your dogs; enjoy the beautiful setting. We have a few kayaks, or there are rental kayaks available nearby. NOTE: Please be aware that the mosquitos can be very bad here at times.

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Forested creekside campsite

1 site · RV, Tent72 acres · Grants Pass, OR

Hey there! I'm a single dad with 2 teen-kids, medical professional, who enjoys country living and sharing it with others. I've lived in far-Northern CA and Southern Oregon my whole life, except for school/training, so State of Jefferson is my home. We bought this land in 2017, when it was just brush, poison oak, and a rotten bridge. Learn more about this land:Campsite on 72 acres along beautiful Jumpoff Joe Creek. Shaded, adjacent to romantically lighted timber-frame private covered bridge (no traffic). Very secluded, but only 1/2 mile from I-5 (no freeway noise, though). Private "beach" area and kid-friendly water play area with wild creatures (turkey, deer, fish, crayfish, water striders, turtles, frogs, etc.). Picnic table, tent spots, and fresh water spigot. Short hiking trails (watch out for poison oak!). Best for tenting, smaller RV's, tree tents, or rooftop tents. >100 yards from nearest structure. 3 nights max except by private arrangement. NO smoking/vaping/marijuana. NO wood fires, but propane fire-ring is available -- bring your own propane tank or pay $5 extra to use my propane tank if available. Good cell service from Google Fi/USCellular. WiFi available on porch of owner's house by request.

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Rosehip Mountain

1 site · Tent5 acres · Prospect, OR

5 acres of rural forested land with mountain scape views flat gravel camp site with beautiful outdoor bathhouse. 5 minutes from Lost creek lake and on the way towards Diamond and Crater lake. Tons of nearby outdoor activities including fishing, rafting, hiking, waterfalls and the beautiful scenic landscape of umqua nation forest

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Good Karma Farm

2 sites · RVs1 acre · Ashland, OR

Learn more about this land: Park your van/rig (maximum vehicle length 22ft) at Good Karma Farm. Flat, designated parking in our garden area on our micro-farm, with amazing Southern Oregon views. Outdoor showers, picnic table, and fire pit area. It's a unique, conveniently located spot right off of Exit 14. It's perfect for just passing through, hanging around camp, mountain biking or visiting downtown Ashland. We are 2 miles to downtown Ashland and a block from Mt. Ashland Adventures bike shuttle.

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Owl Creek Cabin Mountain Getaway

1 site · Lodging5 acres · Ashland, OR

Owl Creek Cabin is in the Cascade Mountains above Ashland, Oregon. The cabin is in a Douglas Fir grove, next to a seasonal creek, on five forested acres, and adjacent to BLM lands that are open for hiking. It features a firepit with Adirondack chairs and an outdoor clawfoot tub for a private soak. You’ll be greeted when you arrive and briefly introduced to some of the cabin's unique features, including attic stairs to the windowed sleeping loft. Downstairs is a sofa and sofabed. The coffee cart kitchen is equipped with a refrigerator/freezer, coffee maker, electric tea kettle, toaster oven, and microwave. An outdoor gas grill with skillet and saucepan and picnic table allow for outdoor dining. Dishes, linens, and bedding are provided. WiFi speed is suitable for basic use. Mobile phones connect through WiFi. The cabin is non-smoking. Children 8 and up are welcome. Recreational areas with miles of trails including the Pacific Crest Trail, are nearby plus lakes that offer fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and hiking trails. A 20-minute drive will take you to Lake of the Woods where you can dine, hike, and kayak. Crater Lake National Park is 50 miles away.

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Trillium Wilderness Retreat

53 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents80 acres · Jacksonville, OR

This 80-acre property nestled along Birch Creek & the Little Applegate River is currently FOR SALE to pass forward to new stewards... maybe you! Please visit our website for more info: trilliumoregon(dot)com Trillium is a former wilderness community and retreat center tucked into a vast valley of the Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon. From ridge-top to riverside, guest are immersed in pristine nature, breathtakingly fertile and rugged landscape. Over the past 40 years, Trillium has been a multi-faceted community, education & birthing center. The history of this place is vast, rich and honored. TRILLIUM’S FIRST COMMUNITY Prior to our purchase of the property in 2017, Trillium was home to a community since the 1970’s. This community was unique in that it sustained on its own functioning without a “guru,” which was popular of that time. Trillium birthed many babies along the hippie trail, as well as many entrepreneurial ventures. Most notable of these ventures was Unicorn Domes, now known as Pacific Domes located in neighboring Ashland, OR. GRANDMA’S TROUT FARM Chant, a founder of the Trillium’s first community, tells the story of coming upon the land while out on a camping trip. The story flows like a fairytale, having a sense of awe and deep resonance of home in this place. At that time, the land was home to a trout farm, and thus many holding ponds and water features were created in Birch Creek, meandering south through the valley to feed the Little Applegate River. Our office, Cedar Barn, was filled with tanks of small trout, while the waterwheel containing them still remains on the old barn you’ll see as you enter the parking lot. APPLE ORCHARD While we don’t know much about it, there is a story of 2 sisters and their apple orchard. As we continue to explore and rehabilitate the valley, we have discovered a variety of old legacy apple trees in unexpected places. These trees were likely displaced during one of the old floods through the valley, but have held on (sometimes to the edge of a slope) and continue to produce fruit…an inspiring example of the resilience of this land. NATIVES, CHINESE IMMIGRANTS & MINERS This part of the world is gold-mining land, and there are even still claims upriver today! As with any monetary venture, there is ingenuity as well as tests of integrity. The peaceful natives of this land, the Dakubetedes were all but obliterated, while Chinese immigrants were exploited for their engineering genius and labor to construct the 26.5 mile Sterling Mine Ditch. This ditch had a “clean out” that emptied through our valley, thus named “Muddy Gulch.” It’s deep ruts are still quite evident, both physically and energetically. We seek to learn and heal these parts of our history on this land.This description of the history, lightly touching on these atrocities, can be found on the BLM website: “Long before the appearance of European settlers, Sterling Creek and the Little Applegate River area were traditional homelands of the Dakubetede people. This group was also known as the Applegate Creek Indians and was part of the Rogue River Indians, a name applied to the people of the Upper Rogue River and its tributaries. The Dakubetedes utilized an abundance of berries, seeds, roots, fish, and game throughout the year to maintain a diverse diet. The Dakubetedes spoke a dialect of the Athabascan language group, unusual for the tribes in interior southwest Oregon. The Dakubetedes took part in the Rogue River Indian Treaties of 1853 and 1854 that resulted in their removal from their homelands to the Grand Ronde and Siletz Indian Reservations in northwest Oregon. When gold was discovered in 1854 on Sterling Creek, prospectors poured into the area. At first, they panned for gold along the creek, but this proved to be inefficient in extracting the gold that was buried under layers of rock and soil. Hydraulic mining, using a powerful jet of water, promised better returns for large scale mining; they just needed more water. In 1877 miners built the Sterling Mine Ditch to redirect water from the upper reaches of the Little Applegate River to the Sterling Creek Mine. The ditch followed the contours of the rugged slopes of Anderson Butte and lost only 200 feet in elevation over its 26.5 mile length. Using hand tools, up to 400 workers, most of them probably Chinese, completed the ditch in just 6 months, at a cost of $70,000. The ditch carried water to the mine, and the trail alongside it provided access for ditch maintenance. During peak operation, hydraulic mining on Sterling Creek blasted away up to 800 cubic yards of soil and rock each day. Impacts to fisheries and water quality were immense, and generations would pass before the hydrologic balance and fish habitat in Sterling Creek would recover. The mine discontinued operations in the 1930s, and the ditch and trail became overgrown with brush and trees. The Sterling Mine Ditch Trail (SMDT) is a marvel of late nineteenth century engineering. Be sure to see the tunnel, dug as a shortcut through the ridge at the top of the Tunnel Ridge access trail! You can also see old flume remnants while hiking along sections of the trail. As you drive along Sterling Creek Road, you can see piles of stones and boulders along the creek that were left by hydraulic mining as soil was washed away in the search for gold. In addition to gold, the layers of soil and rock also yielded bones and tusks of elephants and other ancient inhabitants of the area.” GLACIERS AND BIODIVERSITY The biodiversity of the natural world is immense in our PNW pocket, and especially at Trillium. This description, and more info, can be found on the World Wildlife website under ecoregion, “Klamath-Siskiyou.” “Biological DistinctivenessThe Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion is considered a global center of biodiversity (Wallace 1982), an IUCN Area of Global Botanical Significance (1 of 7 in North America), and is proposed as a World Heritage Site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (Vance-Borland et al. 1995). The biodiversity of these rugged coastal mountains of northwestern California and southwestern Oregon has garnered this acclaim because the region harbors one of the four richest temperate coniferous forests in the world (along with the Southeastern Conifer forests of North America, forests of Sichuan, China, and the forests of the Primorye region of the Russian Far East), with complex biogeographic patterns, high endemism, and unusual community assemblages. A variety of factors contribute to the region’s extraordinary living wealth. The region escaped extensive glaciation during recent ice ages, providing both a refuge for numerous taxa and long periods of relatively favorable conditions for species to adapt to specialized conditions. Shifts in climate over time have helped make this ecoregion a junction and transition zone for several major biotas, namely those of the Great Basin, the Oregon Coast Range, the Cascades Range, the Sierra Nevada, the California Central Valley, and Coastal Province of Northern California. Elements from all of these zones are currently present in the ecoregion’s communities. Temperate conifer tree species richness reaches a global maximum in the Klamath-Siskiyous with 30 species, including 7 endemics, and alpha diversity (single-site) measured at 17 species within a single square mile (2.59 km2) at one locality (Vance-Borland et al. 1995). Overall, around 3,500 plant species are known from the region, with many habitat specialists (including 90 serpentine specialists) and local endemics. The great heterogeneity of the region’s biodiversity is due to the area’s rugged terrain, very complex geology and soils (giving the region the name "the Klamath Knot"), and strong gradients in moisture decreasing away from the coast (e.g., more than300 cm (120in)/annum to less than 50 cm (20 in)/annum). Habitats are varied and range from wet coastal temperate rainforests to moist inland forests dominated by Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Pinus ponderosa, and P. lambertiana mixed with a variety of other conifers and hardwoods (e.g., Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Lithocarpus densiflora, Taxus brevifolia, and Quercus chrysolepis); drier oak forests and savannas with Quercus garryana and Q. kelloggii; serpentine formations with well-developed sclerophyllous shrubs; higher elevation forests with Douglas fir, Tsuga mertensiana, Abies concolor and A. magnifica; alpine grasslands on the higher peaks; and cranberry and pitcher plant bogs. Many species and communities have adapted to very narrow bands of environmental conditions or to very specific soils such as serpentine outcrops. Local endemism is quite pronounced with numerous species restricted to single mountains, watersheds, or even single habitat patches, tributary streambanks, or springs (e.g., herbaceous plants, salamanders, carabid beetles, land snails, see Olson 1991). Such fine-grained and complex distribution patterns means that any losses of native forests or habitats in this ecoregion can significantly contribute to species extinction. Several of the only known localities for endemic harvestman, spiders, land snails, and other invertebrates have been heavily altered or lost through logging within the last decade, and the current status of these species is unknown (Olson 1991). Unfortunately, many invertebrate species with distribution patterns and habitat preferences that make them prone to extinction, such as old growth specialist species, are rarely recognized or listed as federal endangered species. Indeed, 83 species of Pacific Northwest freshwater mussels and land snails with extensive documentation of their endangerment were denied federal listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1994 (J. Belsky, pers. comm. 1994).Rivers and streams of the Klamath-Siskiyou region support a distinctive fish fauna, including nine species of native salmonids (salmon and trout), and several endemic or near-endemic species such as the tui chub (Gila bicolor), the Klamath small-scale sucker (Catostomus rimiculus), and the coastrange sculpin (Cottus aleuticus). Many unusual aquatic invertebrates are also occur in the region.” For more information about our community, reserving the whole property, or any other questions, please visit the TrilliumOregon website or find us on instagram @trilliumoregon

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Hidden Forest Get-away

5 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · Rogue River, OR

Elk Haven Ranch consists of 40 acres at the base of a mountain range that is BLM federal land. There is an elk herd and of course deer on the property. This property is a haven for them, no hunting is allowed. If you are looking to throw a Frisbee with your dog in a forested and meadow setting, without tons of campers right next to you, then this is your place. Room to roam, fresh water April through September and easy access to a common electricity plug-in where you can charge your cell phones and air mattresses on the electric pole by the entry gate. If you are looking to play games, just ask us for the corn hole or horse shoes, or help yourself to the games already out and available. Let us know what your goals are and we will do our best to accommodate for your stay.

The best camping near Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area guide

Overview

About

Grassy meadows to run and play...towering pine trees that envelop you in that woodsy feel. Miles of hiking and biking trails around a lake that's far more beautiful than it has any right to be. This is truly a great place to camp.

You can even rent a boat at the marina (lake access is 1 mile from the campgrounds). Catch some bass or trout, and cook it up at your site. Keep an eye open for algae bloom advisories.

Everything is just so well-run here. The bathrooms/showers are clean, there's a playground for the kids and an off-leash area for your pets. The campsites are really well-maintained—151 RV sites with a dump station, and another 50 tent sites. There's even a kitchen area with gas stoves and a bbq trailer for rent if you want to go gourmet. Don't miss the top notch star gazing after dark.

Notable campgrounds

Lakeview Campground: Offers stunning views of the water and is ideal for fishing enthusiasts.
Forest Loop Campground: Nestled among towering trees, this site is perfect for those seeking shade and tranquility.
Meadow Campground: A favorite for families, with easy access to park amenities and open spaces for play.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Book early, especially for peak season, to ensure your spot amid the park's natural beauty.
Consider mid-week stays for better availability and a quieter experience.
Keep an eye on cancellation policies for last-minute openings.
Explore nearby camping options for alternative accommodations when the park is full.

When to go

The best time to visit Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the natural scenery is at its peak. Summer offers warm days perfect for water activities, though it's also the busiest season. Winters can be cold, with some facilities closed, so check ahead for seasonal operations.

Know before you go

Check the park's event calendar for special activities and closures before your visit.
Day-use parking permits are required; purchase in advance to streamline your entry.
Review the FAQ and rules section on the park's website for safety and regulation information.
Accessibility is a priority; inquire about specific needs or accommodations.
Remember to pack out your trash and respect the park's natural environment.