goducks10
Keizer OR
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Joined: 02/22/2010
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Anybody have any experience with boondocking in eastern Oregon. Looking for some places to camp without crowds. Lived in Oregon all my life but never camped over east, mainly west side and in the Cascade mtns.
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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Joined: 01/05/2005
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I use this site for locating some campgrounds.
UScampgrounds
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SWMO
Southwest Missouri
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You might check out the Snow Mountain area north of Burns, or the Grassland between Prineville and Madras. There is a campgound in the national forest on a lake that is often lightly populated. It's formal but no hookups.
As you're probably aware about 60 or 70% of the eastern side is public land.
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greenrvgreen
open road
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Joined: 09/05/2007
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Well for starters, if you haven't hit the area around Sisters then give that a go. Boondocking in almost every direction for miles, and a nice little town to base out of. The Sisters peaks are right in your lap, and there's a McDonalds in town for those of us who can't be very far from one.
While everybody loves Bend, I would steer clear from it, but there's plenty of decent boondocking up towards Bachelor. Be aware there is no aspect of Bachelor that is secluded or "away from it all", but on the other hand you'll never feel like the only guy out there boondocking. FWIW, the Bachelor area has an emergency prohibition on tent camping in the winter near the highway, due to a tragedy involving a snowplow smacking people in a tent 100 feet away from the road.
If you've done Sisters and Bachelor--and they're in the Cascades so you probably have--then I would start to look at the Blue mountains on the extreme east side. I've only passed through the area years ago, but I would start my research around the town of Joseph and work my search to the south and west. The peaks look spectacular on a topo.
Lastly there are the Steens, down in the south east. Never been there, but search for posts here about a year ago. Pics look great and you are way the heck out there.
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TUCQUALA
Kennewick, WA
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Joined: 10/29/2003
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As others have commented, how far east are you asking aboot!! We used to live in Salem and camped many years around Sisters and Bend. Three Creeks Lake is a great area, as are many boonie sites around Black Pine Springs. "Squaw" Creek has many open areas (can't remember it's new PC name!!). Jack Creek area (near Camp Sherman) has a lot of boondocking, but they have cut back camping on the creeks, not allowing within 200 ft of water. There used to be a lot of great sites along the Deschutes River near Bend till the greenie weenie bike riders in their tights took over the area and got the camping closed.
Along Century Drive (Cascade Lakes Highway) are many Forest Service camps on lakes and streams. These are developed, controlled sites but are very nice and great if you fish or paddle. Most are free, but some are fee sites. One of the drawbacks of the lake area are the mosquitoes that will be there in hoards during most of the camping season!!
In the "far east" area there a lot of sites out of Baker City and LaGrande, but hard to find and quite remote for most of them. The hills and roads make the area a bit less traveled off the highways. Of course, you are a good days drive from those areas.
I really recommend the Sisters area if you haven't been there yet. We get back there to some of our old haunts about every 2 years and some weeks don't see more than a couple of other vehicles during the stay. Lots of room and sites to search. There are a few areas where the creeks have been channeled for irrigation and you can camp in the pines next to one of these little creeks.
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SWMO
Southwest Missouri
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At one time, 15 years ago, + or -, there were a lot of boondocking sites around Camp Sherman, but I wouldn't try it unless you can get some current information.
The govt agencies that are bent on spending a lot of money making camping "nice" are doing away with a lot of the rough sites.
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ReneeG
Meridian, Idaho
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Joined: 07/13/2005
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I'm interested in this information too. Last year we camped at Brownlee Reservoir on the Idaho side at one of Idaho Power's parks - Woodhead. While there we took a ride to the Hells Canyon overlook on the Oregon side and on the way up, there were a lot of pull outs that fifth wheels and travel trailers were camping in. It's a beautiful area and probaby farther East than you were thinking about. But, if you are planning on being in that area, it looks like it is either Hwy 86 or 82. We've been on the road between La Grande and Joseph and it's a good road. Not sure of the condition, grade wise between Joseph and the Hell's Canyon Overlook. Friends of ours with a 32' TT have camped up near the Imnaha river at FS CG Hidden, so maybe it's good to tow on that road. South of the Hells Canyon Overlook to about 10 miles North of the Lake Fork CG, the road climbs and twists. We would not tow up there, but between Lake Fork and the junction of Hwy 86 where you turn to go to Halfway, OR or Copperfield park near Oxbow Dam, the road is good and flat and this is where we saw a lot of boondockers.
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alageezer
seale, al
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We camped west of Unity the second week of June last year. There is a series of forest service campgrounds that would service probably 45 units. During the four days we were there, we seen three other rigs come or go.
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garyhaupt
Back living in Kitimat..northern BC.
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The Great Basin, Harney County is fabulous...down to Frenchglen and Paige Springs, a BLM campground. If you keep going south, it's Denio Junction, Nevada, but before that you come to Field Station...Best Shakes in the World, is their flame to claim.
Gary Haupt
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profdant139
Southern California
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Joined: 11/14/2005
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We found some great boondocking in the Fremont Winema NF, north of Crater Lake. The rangers in Chemult were very knowledgeable and helpful.
Our trips -- pix and text
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