Discover the best private sites desert campgrounds in Oregon

United States
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Oregon

100% (85 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Oregon

Star Hosts in Oregon

4 top desert campgrounds in Oregon

100%

(6)

STEEP DREAMS

2 sites · Lodging17 acres · Sisters, OR

RELAX!!.... Or hike, or bike, or swim or simply recharge your batteries! Stay the night in our tipi or cabin while taking in the peaceful views of mountains and the treetops. Camps are located on the top of a canyon where you can see for days on this one of a kind central Oregon property. Camps are located next to county and BLM land if you want to hike, bike or take a dip in the pond. 20 minutes to Bend, 15 minutes to Redmond and only 10 minutes to Downtown Sisters.

95%

(132)

Justesen Ranches

19 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents350 acres · Tygh Valley, OR

Justesen Ranches is family owned working cattle, wheat and recreation ranch. Our properties are located in the Columbia River Plateau in North Central Oregon. Enjoy wide open spaces, reservoirs for wildlife watching and clear night skies for star gazing. This is a leave no trace, pack it in, pack it out camping area. The property is located in Tygh Valley and is only a few minutes from the general store and the stunning White River Falls State Park. The Deschutes River whitewater rafting hub of Maupin is just a 10 minute drive away. The lodge two hours from Portland and 30 min from The Dalles.

Casa Del lago 2 Lake Billy Chinook

2 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents1 acre · Culver, OR

Learn more about this land: Pull up and let the vacation begin. The Lake Billy Chinook area has everything for the perfect camp trip. There is bike riding, boating, fishing, hiking, ATV riding, swimming, kayaking, lounging and enjoying nature. When you arrive just park in your site. We have 30-amp service but no RV septic hookup. The site is gravel so you may need to level your rig. We have a fantastic outdoor area complete with couch, loungers, BBQ and fire pit. The high desert offers some of the most amazing views of the Cascade Mountains with clear blue skies and some of the best star gazing around. Casa del Lago is a dark sky site. There is a fantastic view of Mount Jefferson from the couch and the sunsets are absolutely beautiful. During the Summer we usually enjoy beautiful sunny days and cool comfortable nights. You can hang out down at the lake and find a spot on the beach to have a picnic. You can also bring your boat or rent one at the Cove Palisades Marina and enjoy water sports. Hosts live in house on property. We are located 4 miles from the lake and are nestled in a rural country neighborhood.

Goose Lake Organics

4 sites · RVs, Tents325 acres · Lakeview, OR

You will stay on the grounds of the beautiful Historic Crane Ranch, originally established in 1869. There are 325 acres to explore, including wetlands, willow forests, hay fields, creek and peat bogs. Wildlife such as deer, bear, beaver, porcupine, skunk, raccoon, fox, coyote, cougar and squirrels have all been seen on the property. And a rattlesnake was seen 18 years ago. And there are many feathered friends; it’s a bird watchers paradise. There will be a variety of primitive camp sites in addition to the existing two sites close to the headquarters that have 20 amp power via extension cord. Fresh clean water is available from several faucets around the headquarters. Most campsites are sized to allow for group camping which makes this a perfect stop for adventure bikers touring the Oregon Outback or Burners to and from Black Rock City. There is a rustic but clean open air bathroom with flush toilet and a hot shower that is available to all guests in addition to a blue portapotty. Also a community gazebo that encloses a room with netting to keep mosquitos at bay. No outside fires are permitted at the campsites, however there is a community fire ring for a warming fire, pending local fire restrictions. Located just 6 miles south of Lakeview, Oregon, our slice of paradise is only 145 miles (2.5 hours) from Black Rock City and 8 miles from the California border. This is an active ranch environment so at times there could be haying operations going on during the summer. The ranch borders rural Highway 395 and even though it’s usually pretty quiet and the camping is away from the highway, you can still hear it at times. The wetland environment supports so many species, but it also supports mosquitos during the spring and early summer. Be prepared for mosquitos at all sites especially when camping in the willow forest during spring and early summer. Dogs are welcome at all sites and are encouraged to be on leash around the headquarters. However, there is ample space for your pets to run off leash. Not responsible for any interactions between dogs and the wildlife such a skunks, porcupines, coyotes or other animals,

Dog-friendly getaways

95%

(132)

Justesen Ranches

19 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents350 acres · Tygh Valley, OR

Justesen Ranches is family owned working cattle, wheat and recreation ranch. Our properties are located in the Columbia River Plateau in North Central Oregon. Enjoy wide open spaces, reservoirs for wildlife watching and clear night skies for star gazing. This is a leave no trace, pack it in, pack it out camping area. The property is located in Tygh Valley and is only a few minutes from the general store and the stunning White River Falls State Park. The Deschutes River whitewater rafting hub of Maupin is just a 10 minute drive away. The lodge two hours from Portland and 30 min from The Dalles.

Casa Del lago 2 Lake Billy Chinook

2 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents1 acre · Culver, OR

Learn more about this land: Pull up and let the vacation begin. The Lake Billy Chinook area has everything for the perfect camp trip. There is bike riding, boating, fishing, hiking, ATV riding, swimming, kayaking, lounging and enjoying nature. When you arrive just park in your site. We have 30-amp service but no RV septic hookup. The site is gravel so you may need to level your rig. We have a fantastic outdoor area complete with couch, loungers, BBQ and fire pit. The high desert offers some of the most amazing views of the Cascade Mountains with clear blue skies and some of the best star gazing around. Casa del Lago is a dark sky site. There is a fantastic view of Mount Jefferson from the couch and the sunsets are absolutely beautiful. During the Summer we usually enjoy beautiful sunny days and cool comfortable nights. You can hang out down at the lake and find a spot on the beach to have a picnic. You can also bring your boat or rent one at the Cove Palisades Marina and enjoy water sports. Hosts live in house on property. We are located 4 miles from the lake and are nestled in a rural country neighborhood.

STEEP DREAMS

2 sites · Lodging17 acres · Sisters, OR

RELAX!!.... Or hike, or bike, or swim or simply recharge your batteries! Stay the night in our tipi or cabin while taking in the peaceful views of mountains and the treetops. Camps are located on the top of a canyon where you can see for days on this one of a kind central Oregon property. Camps are located next to county and BLM land if you want to hike, bike or take a dip in the pond. 20 minutes to Bend, 15 minutes to Redmond and only 10 minutes to Downtown Sisters.

Goose Lake Organics

4 sites · RVs, Tents325 acres · Lakeview, OR

You will stay on the grounds of the beautiful Historic Crane Ranch, originally established in 1869. There are 325 acres to explore, including wetlands, willow forests, hay fields, creek and peat bogs. Wildlife such as deer, bear, beaver, porcupine, skunk, raccoon, fox, coyote, cougar and squirrels have all been seen on the property. And a rattlesnake was seen 18 years ago. And there are many feathered friends; it’s a bird watchers paradise. There will be a variety of primitive camp sites in addition to the existing two sites close to the headquarters that have 20 amp power via extension cord. Fresh clean water is available from several faucets around the headquarters. Most campsites are sized to allow for group camping which makes this a perfect stop for adventure bikers touring the Oregon Outback or Burners to and from Black Rock City. There is a rustic but clean open air bathroom with flush toilet and a hot shower that is available to all guests in addition to a blue portapotty. Also a community gazebo that encloses a room with netting to keep mosquitos at bay. No outside fires are permitted at the campsites, however there is a community fire ring for a warming fire, pending local fire restrictions. Located just 6 miles south of Lakeview, Oregon, our slice of paradise is only 145 miles (2.5 hours) from Black Rock City and 8 miles from the California border. This is an active ranch environment so at times there could be haying operations going on during the summer. The ranch borders rural Highway 395 and even though it’s usually pretty quiet and the camping is away from the highway, you can still hear it at times. The wetland environment supports so many species, but it also supports mosquitos during the spring and early summer. Be prepared for mosquitos at all sites especially when camping in the willow forest during spring and early summer. Dogs are welcome at all sites and are encouraged to be on leash around the headquarters. However, there is ample space for your pets to run off leash. Not responsible for any interactions between dogs and the wildlife such a skunks, porcupines, coyotes or other animals,

Private sites desert camping in Oregon guide

Overview

Oregon has long been known as an outdoor destination, with snow-capped mountains, rugged high desert, Pacific Coast beaches, and roaring rivers all within a few hours’ drive of one another. While Portland attracts visitors with its celebrated food scene and music venues, Oregon offers much more for those who’d prefer a quieter getaway out in nature. If you’ve come to camp or hike, you’ll have no shortage of options to choose from—in fact, there are 11 national forests, hundreds of state parks and recreation areas, and 2.5 million acres of protected wilderness within the state’s borders.

Where to go

The Willamette Valley

Extending from the border with Washington state down to the community of Springfield, the Willamette Valley is Oregon’s main economic and cultural hub. Although it’s home to the state’s three most populated cities (Portland, Salem, and Eugene), much of the Willamette Valley is dominated by forests and countryside, with plenty of state parks, hiking and mountain biking trails, hot springs, and rivers.

Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge

Just east of Portland on the border with Washington, the Columbia River Gorge offers easy access to miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, and great skiing and snowboarding. The adjacent Mt. Hood region has equally beautiful scenery and is as popular for winter skiing and snowboarding as it is for hiking, swimming, and camping in the summer months.

The Oregon Coast

This region is popular year-round, attracting whale-watching fans in the cooler months and campers and hikers in the summer months. Popular Oregon Coast activities include hiking, tide pool viewing, clamming, crabbing, off-road vehicle rides on the sweeping Oregon Dunes, and sampling world-famous cheese and ice cream in Tillamook. While some brave souls don wetsuits for surfing and diving, the Pacific Ocean waters rarely get warm enough for comfortable dips. Some of the area’s best camping options can be found at Harris Beach State Park, Sunset Bay State Park, and Cape Lookout State Park, all of which offer tent camping, yurt rentals, and RV sites with hookups.

Eastern and Central Oregon

Stretching from the portion of the Cascade Range south of the Columbia Gorge all the way east to the Oregon-Idaho border, central and eastern Oregon offer a dryer, sunnier alternative to the rainier parts of the state, with a mix of lush forest and craggy high desert landscapes. Highlights include Deschutes National Forest, popular for backpacking and backcountry stays, while campers in search of a more developed camping experience can head to one of the many Oregon state parks along the Deschutes River, near Bend.

Southern Oregon

Oregon’s southernmost region offers a variety of scenery, with a mix of lakes, forests, and rivers interspersed with rolling expanses of countryside (not to mention some great wineries). The region’s most famous natural attraction is Crater Lake National Park, Oregon’s only national park, set near the southeastern reaches of Umpqua National Forest.