Lake Camping in Columbia River Gorge, Oregon: Best Lake Campsites 2024

United States
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Oregon
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Columbia River Gorge

96% (493 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Columbia River Gorge

Dog-friendly getaways

7 top lakeside campgrounds in Columbia River Gorge

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Susan C.’s Land

1 site · Lodging4 acres · Rhododendron, OR

I grew up in the Philadelphia area and in 2002, I followed my calling and moved out to Portland, OR. I am a nature lover and enjoy everything that the Pacific Northwest has to offer -- the mountains, unlimited hiking and biking trails, beautiful lakes and rivers. Not to mention the abundance of good IPAs, coffee and delicious food. Over the years, I camped in several places in the area and always dreamed of owning a cabin near Mt. Hood. In 2008, my dream came true when I purchased my cabin and land in ZigZag. I am very excited to share this magical place with you and hope that you enjoy your time!

Zigzag Mountain Farm

6 sites · Tents50 acres · Rhododendron, OR

Located on Mount Hood about an hour from Portland, Zigzag Mountain Farm is home to an organic garden, old homestead, house, yurts, and barn. 50 acres of open meadows and forest, bordering thousands of acres of national forest. The farm is home to an organic garden, campfire circle, picnic area, a city bus with a campers' kitchen, outdoor seating area with BBQ, kids play structure and hiking trails. The cabin on the property was built by the original homesteaders. Britta and Jim purchased the property in 2009. It had been vacant for a number of years. Giant slash piles scattered the land from previous logging. The house and cabin were not livable and needed major renovations. In 2019 we purchased and brought in a city bus and converted it to a campers kitchen. A year-round creek flows through the property and 3 major rivers are nearby. The Zigzag Mountain Lookout Trail leaves from the property. The property was homesteaded in the late 1800's. E. Mountain Drive was the wagon train trail into Portland, known as the Barlow Trail. Zigzag Mountain farm offers the perfect escape from the city.

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.

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Nadja's Hideway

4 sites · Lodging5 acres · Lyle, WA

Happy New Year! We’ll be ready to open up again this spring, so start planning for the 2024 season. Hope you can be our guest this year. Play in Hood River during the day, relax in the country at night. We're 6.5 miles up in the hills, called High Prairie, above the sleepy town Lyle. Enjoy the peace on our 5 acre hideaway, wake up with the chickens - we have a rooster just FYI - (and yes we sell fresh eggs :). Take a walk to look at Mt. Adams which is just around the corner. Hiking, biking, kite boarding, windsurfing all within a few miles of reach with never ending opportunities to get your exercise. Just ask for tips. The land has mostly Oak trees where you can take your nap in your hang matt. The place is easy accessible, far away from all but still close to all Gorge attractions during the day. The town has a nice little convenience store, breakfast place and the Sandbar that has good food and some entertainment. Grocery shopping is best done in Hood River, White Salmon or The Dalles. Once up here, there isn't much, so come prepared.

The Burke Cabin

8 sites · Lodging34 acres · Rhododendron , OR

My husband, Chandler and I were both lucky enough to have grown up in the beautiful Mt. Hood area. Now with hard work and determination we are raising our five children in this magical place. A few years ago Chandler sold a large portion of his company and we purchased our rustic log cabin. We love the idea of sharing our peaceful cabin and property with the world! We recently decide to put our primary home on the site, to allow us to catch up on our debt. We are so thankful that both our places are loved by our guests. Renting our homes has allowed us to work a little less and enjoy our little ones while they are still little. Learn more about this land:Rustic log cabin on secluded 34 acres with exceptional Mt. Hood and Zig Zag wilderness views all around. Only 3.3 miles from highway 26. The property is horse trailer accessible. Just moments away from endless hiking, horse trails, and sandy river beaches...not to mention all the other Mt. Hood area attractions. We also rent our property for weddings, family reunions, camp-outs, graduation parties and other events. Bring your own bedding and towels or we can supply them for you to use for an additional fee. Pets welcome with additional $65/pet cleaning fee. Additional $50 per person fee after first two people.

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CASCADIA ESCAPE - TIPI or TINY HOME

2 sites · Lodging2 acres · Trout Lake, WA

Enjoy a one-of-a-kind, classic open-air glamping camp. Its rustic ambiance is soothing to the soul and features many magical amenities. Overnight in a tipi or tent cabin, enjoy peace and privacy amongst the towering pines. Relax and unwind. A spacious deck, comfy outdoor furnishings, and an open-air cookhouse make living in the outdoors comfortable and easy.

Myers Ferngully Resort

1 site · RV2 acres · Ariel, WA

Our site is located on our private and secluded property with our house and another family in their RV along the Speelyai Creek. Take a walk along our landscaped yard to the beautiful creek. There you can sit by the creek and enjoy your morning coffee while watching the fish jump, ducks and their young swim by, blue heron, and a possible deer or elk walking by. When it's hot you can cool off in the creek. At night that's where you can enjoy a fire in the shared firepit. There is hiking and bike riding on our property to enjoy views of Mount St Helens. When driving on our road out of respect for our neighbors please obey the 10 mile an hour speed limit and thank you. We are 5 minutes from Yale and Merwin lake. Cougar is only 10 minutes away for great dining, grocery stores and gas. If you're looking for peace and quiet but want to be close to recreation areas come stay with us. We have extra parking for boats and cars. Hunters! Great area if hunting is your passion as well. We do have dogs and cats so your puppies must be leashed at all times.

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

92%

(185)

Mt. Hood National Forest

Government Camp, Oregon

94%

(75)

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Packwood, Washington

Columbia Hills State Park

Dallesport, Washington

88%

(7)

Deschutes River State Recreation Area

Oregon

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Lakeside camping in Columbia River Gorge guide

Overview

Just an hour's drive from Portland, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is the biggest in the country. Among its many campgrounds is Eagle Creek, the first forest service campground in the USA.

Outside the national and state parks, you also find dozens of private campgrounds and RV parks on both sides of the gorge. Pitch a tent by a fishing lake, along a wild river, or amid a pine forest. If you're looking for solitude, backpacking is also allowed on more than 30 trails across the gorge.

You need at least a few days to see the region's famous sights. Multnomah Falls is the most iconic cascade in the area, roaring at 620 feet. At Beacon Rock State Park, you can gawk up at Beacon Rock. The towering outcrop is one of the most distinctive features of the Columbia Gorge.

The Mt. Hood area is your go-to spot for hiking trails, and the snow-capped peak even offers downhill skiing in the SUMMER! Along the Hood River, water sports enthusiasts get stoked for world-class windsurfing. Between adventures, be sure to grab a drink at one of the region's craft breweries or wineries.

However you choose to enjoy the gorge, remember to pack your rain gear—the region is famous for its daily drizzle. Since most campgrounds are situated near railways and the interstate, you may also want to bring earplugs.

Keep in mind there's no bad time to visit the Columbia River Gorge. July and August are the height of the tourist season, but they also boast the smallest chance of rain. For the most spectacular wildflowers, shoot for April through June. Of course, a fall camping trip puts you at the forefront of Hood River Valley harvests and stunning fall colors.