The best camping near Malheur National Forest

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Malheur National Forest adventure.

100% (9 reviews)
100% (9 reviews)

Hike the Blue Mountains, explore the wilderness, and see a Humongous Fungus.  

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Malheur National Forest

Top-rated campgrounds near Malheur National Forest

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Karibu Cabin

2 sites · Lodging160 acres · Long Creek, OR
Escape to this charming log cabin nestled on 160 acres of beautiful woods, offering breathtaking mountain top views that will leave you in awe. Accommodating five or more guests, this rustic retreat is perfect for families and friends looking to reconnect with nature. Pets are welcome, making it an ideal getaway for your furry companions. Experience the true essence of the outdoors with dry camping available for RVs and tents, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the serene landscape. Note that this cabin features no running water or electricity however it does have a nice wood stove, providing an authentic off-grid experience. Enjoy starlit nights, crackling campfires, and the soothing sounds of nature right outside your door. For those seeking adventure, this incredible land is also a prime spot for hunting season. Fill your tag while exploring the diverse terrain, making this cabin the perfect base for your outdoor pursuits. Whether you’re hiking, hunting, or simply relaxing with a book, Karibu Cabin is the ultimate retreat for your outdoor adventure! This property welcomes ATVs, dirt bikes, and snowmobiles. Please note that all activities are at your own risk, and we are not responsible for any injuries.
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$99
 / night
95%
(31)

Towering Tamaracks

4 sites · Tents20 acres · Baker City, OR
Heavily forested mountain property way off the grid in the Elkhorn Mts and borders National Forest. Enjoy hiking, biking, climbing, hammocking, watching wild animals, star gazing, etc. Sorry, no sounds of the city. Host will send you driving directions that need to be printed. There is a short hike (4 to 5 minutes) to each camp site from the Common Parking area, so I suggest packing as lightly as possible. Feel free to use the supplied cart to carry your gear. Campers have also enjoyed kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, hiking, and the mountain biking trails at Phillips Lake, which is a little over eight miles from TT. For trails, visit Trailforks.com and search Phillips Lake. Trails range from Easy to Black Diamond. This area used to have train tracks nearby, thus the road name Old Trestle Lane. Legend has it that "there's gold in them there hills". Visit nearby gold mining town, Sumpter (about 45 minute drive), while you're here. There is an authentic gold dredge you can walk through or you can schedule a steam powered train ride. http://www.sumptervalleyrailroad.org/index.html If you don't mind the hour drive, explore the history of Baker City and check out the Oregon Trail Museum just outside of town.
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$24.30
 / night
99%
(41)

Epic Stargazing @ Malheur Basecamp

3 sites · Lodging5 acres · Drewsey, OR
STARGAZING + AMAZING VIEWS: Our place sits on five acres overlooking the middle fork of the Malheur River, surrounded by cattle ranches. Our nearest neighbor is about 2 miles away, we're remote, but accessible... if you don't mind a couple of miles of gravel road. We're in a dark spot, perfect for laying out in the lounge chairs and admiring the Milky Way in an indescribable setting. At night, the only lights visible truly are the moon and stars. Bring your telescope if you've got one! COOKING + DINING: Prepare your meals in our simple, yet functional outdoor kitchen. There's camp stove, picnic table, wash station, and firepit*. The water spigot is located at the north end of the cabin porch. This is a shared area, but we rarely have both accommodations booked at the same time. We've recently decided to make our DELUXE CAMP KITCHEN complimentary**! You won't have to worry about bringing cookware, dishes, cutlery, knives, cutting boards, a can opener, a bottle opener, basic seasonings, or dish washing necessities! **We just ask that you let us know when a seasoning or condiment is running low and that you please wash and return everything to its original spot to avoid an additional cleaning fee of $35. *Please don't use the firepit if a burn ban is in effect. SHOWERING + WHATNOT: Enjoy a luxurious shower in our outdoor shower house, complete with skylight and on-demand hot water. Towels are provided. The building also contains a fabulous composting loo. On the rare occasion that we also have guests staying in the other site, we'll try to coordinate so that you don't disturb each other. We'll communicate with both parties and try to come to a shower schedule that works for everyone. PETS: We welcome your furbabies! Please be advised that there is an additional fee per pet, payable as a Hipcamp "extra" or in good ol' American greenbacks. Please pick up after your pets and try to keep them in your area. We ask that you do not allow your pets on the furniture -- if we find that they've been allowed on the bed, we will require you to pay for the replacement of the bedding at a cost of $300. We have two dogs, an exuberant 150 pound Newfoundland named Hagrid, a little ankle-biting mutt named Hugo, multiple free roaming cats, and three semi-feral children who may be outside. If you are bringing your pet(s), please contact us prior to arrival. HORSES: We have two pastures available if you'd like to bring a trusty steed, or several, on your trip! They're both about two acres (barbed wire fenced) and are right below the main house/cabin. We also have parking for your horse trailer, just let us know ahead of time so that we can have the gates set and the troughs filled! SUSTAINABILITY: We're kinda into crunchy stuff like solar power, composting, sustainability, salvage/upcycling/recycling, and supporting local farmers - artisans - businesses. You'll find that many of the little touches on our replace reflect those values. CHARITY IRONWORKS: If you see or hear Tom puttering around out in the blacksmith shop, you’re welcome to go over and visit. If you need gifts for the folks back home or souvenirs from your epic trip, we also have a selection of our blacksmithing and other unique wares available -- just ask us and we’d be happy to show you our stock. We also offer our 3 Hour Blacksmithing Basics Workshop with Tom. Age 12+ - payable as a Hipcamp "extra" or in cash money. *SUMMER/FALL: PLEASE CONTACT US ABOUT THE WORKSHOP PRIOR TO BOOKING - Tom is a wildland firefighter and his availability will be dependent on fire activity.* OTHER THINGS TO NOTE... There IS cell phone reception here - Verizon works best and there's usually 2-3 bars of LTE. We're in the Pacific Time Zone... But while you're here your phone will probably ping off of a tower located in the Mountain Time Zone, so if you're not sure what time it is, just ask! We have lots of complimentary maps and brochures available to help you explore the local sights and cuisine. We're always happy to give recommendations to our favorite haunts. Did we mention that we're remote? And that the nearest grocery store is at least an hour away? STOCK UP: Either in Vale if you're coming from the east, Burns if you're coming from the west, or John Day if you're coming from the north. We're about 15 minutes from the Malheur National Forest, 30 minutes from Beulah Reservoir, and an hour and a half from Steens Mountain. BE COOL: Please don't allow your pets on the beds or furniture. Please don't smoke in the cabin, bus, OR in the shower house. Please don’t take the bedding or pillows out of the bus or cabin. Please don’t cook in the bus or cabin. Please wash and return the deluxe camp kitchen pieces to their designated spot. Please don’t put anything in the loo except TP, sawdust, and your business. We only mention it because, well, we’ve had people do a few sketchy things in the past. We’re sure you’re super cool and would never do anything like that, but we kinda gotta say it anyway. We don't want to have to give you a poor review and/or charge you extra cleaning and damage fees, and we're sure that'd be a bummer for you, too. **SHOWER AVAILABILITY DEPENDENT ON WEATHER.**
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$105.30
 / night

The best camping near Malheur National Forest guide

Overview

About

It might take its name from the French word for “misfortune,” but there’s nothing unlucky about the Malheur National Forest. With a massive 1.7 million acres, including two wilderness areas, two Wild and Scenic Rivers, and almost 240 miles of hiking and backpacking trails, there’s everything hikers, campers, and outdoor adventurers need to escape to the wild. Bring your mountain bike, horse, OHV, or snowmobile, enjoy trout fishing along the rivers, and don’t forget to check out the famous Humongous Fungus, the world’s largest living organism. When it comes time to camp, choose from 30 developed campgrounds, cabin rentals, and dispersed camping.

Notable campgrounds

  • Best for RVs: Delintment Campground has pull-through sites for RVs up to 30 feet with paved road access and a boat launch on Delintment Lake. 
  • Best for four-season camping: Idlewild Campground has tranquil tent and RV sites with access to hiking and equestrian trails in summer and snowmobiling trails through winter.
  • Best for hikers: Strawberry Campground has 10 tent or RV sites right by the Strawberry Basin Trailhead.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. All campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis only. 
  2. The forest’s four cabins can be reserved online up to six months in advance.
  3. With such a huge number of camping spots available, you won’t struggle to find a spot in the forest, even on summer weekends and holidays.

When to go

Malheur’s sweeping woodlands and desert grasslands transform through the seasons, from the colorful wildflowers of spring and summer to the snowy winters, ideal for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Fall is the busiest season, when hikers set out to admire the vibrant yellow foliage of the park’s western larch forests. Some campgrounds and trails may close from November through March, so check ahead.

Know before you go

  • The vast Malheur National Forest stretches from the Blue Mountains to the Strawberry Mountains in eastern Oregon. There are three ranger districts (Blue Mountain, Emigrant Creek, and Prairie City) with multiple entrances to the park, and US Routes 395 and 26 run through the park. 
  • There are no day-use fees for Malheur National Forest, but camping fees apply between May 1 and October 31.
  • Vault toilets and picnic facilities can be found at many of the campgrounds and trailheads, but there are limited amenities within the forest, so bring everything you need with you and take all waste away with you. None of the campgrounds have dump stations.  
  • Cell phone service is patchy throughout the forest, so make sure to inform the ranger stations of your hiking and dispersed camping plans. 
  • Pets are welcome in the forest but must be kept on a leash at all times.
  • Pay attention to seasonal fire restrictions; the forest is at risk of wildfires during dry periods.

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