

Get Directions to Elk River Road Wildhorse Meadow For More Info:Įlk River Road is part of Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.Ĭall the Powers Ranger District for more information: (541) 439-6200

You can dispersed camp in Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest for up to 14 days at a time.
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Small RVs and trailers should be fine, but plan to stick to the free developed campgrounds or the roadside pullouts. This area is best suited for tent, van, and vehicle camping. Depending on where you set up camp, it takes just 30 minutes to 45 minutes to drive to Port Orford.
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What I Like:Įlk River Road is perfect for those looking for free camping on the southern Oregon Coast. Drive in a few miles for campsites right on the river with safer river access and the best swimming holes. The first mile or two of dispersed campsites are high above the river on steep cliffs. Almost all public lands have a major trash problem nowadays, but Elk River seems particularly bad. Please make sure to pick up your trash (and properly dispose of human waste !). I don’t recommend this area for big rigs, although smaller RVs and trailers should be fine. When I last visited, there were several minor rockslides partially blocking the road. Sunshine Bar Campground and Butler Bar Campground are the two I’ve visited myself.Įlk River Road is windy with the occasional pothole (yet paved) and most of the dispersed campsites are somewhat small. There are also several small free first-come, first-served developed campgrounds along Elk River. You’ll notice campsites and pullouts almost immediately, but I personally prefer to drive in several miles before setting up camp. Most are little more than pull-offs, just off the main road, but a few are large, somewhat private, and even have river access.ĭispersed camping starts just after the Elk River Salmon Hatchery on Elk River Road (County Road 208).

Located in Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, the Elk River is dotted with an abundance of dispersed campsites. Get Directions to Tillamook State Forest Elk River RoadĮlk River Road is home to some of the best free camping on the southern Oregon Coast. Tillamook State Forest is managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry.Ĭall the Tillamook Forest Center for more information: ( 503) 815-6800 You can dispersed camp in Tillamook State Forest for up to 14 days at a time. Camping here is best for those willing to wander around for an hour or two to find the best dispersed campsite. Tillamook State Forest is perfect for those who want to camp close to Nehalem, Tillamook, Cannon Beach, and other coastal towns in the area. Don’t be afraid to scout ahead on foot to get a better lay of the land before navigating any particularly rough sections in your vehicle. So, pay close attention and make sure you have a map (paper or offline). Tillamook State Forest is largely a mishmash of winding logging roads. And give yourself plenty of time to explore in person and you’re sure to find something truly special. Look around on Google Maps satellite view for promising potential spots. Look for dispersed campsites around Cook Creek near Mohler, off Highway 53 near Coal Creek and Cole Mountain Ridge, west of Timber along Wheeler Road, and off Highway 6 near Jordan Creek and Lyda Camp OHV Area.īut don’t limit yourself to just spots listed online – there are hundreds of under-the-radar campsites here. There are campsites accessible by all vehicles (including smaller RVs and trailers), but many others that require high-clearance and/or 4WD. There’s a mixture of relatively flat, gravel access roads as well as others that are very steep, narrow, and rough. Peace and quiet abounds when dispersed camping in Tillamook State Forest.ĭespite the proximity to both the Oregon Coast as well as Portland, it’s easy to find a completely private campsite here. Start your search for the best free camping near the Oregon Coast with my top five picks below.īut, remember, there are plenty of other dispersed camping options if you do your own research or just poke around a little in person. My Favorite Free Campsites on the Oregon Coast Or, use our Oregon Coast free camping map to browse the area’s best free campsites. Jump straight to the free campsite you want to learn more about: See Also: Best Dispersed Camping in Oregon Here’s exactly where to go dispersed camping on the Oregon Coast on your next trip.

The Oregon Coast is home to some of the most scenic camping in the United States.īut, while paid camping at developed campgrounds is readily abundant, free dispersed camping is in surprisingly short supply.Īlthough there is no longer any free beach camping ( that I know about, at least), there are some awesome free campsites if you’re willing to drive about 30 to 45 minutes inland.
