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Thu Jun 20, 2013 4:36 pm

I'm looking for a great spot by some running water on Mt. Hood to park my 82 westy for the weekend. If anyone can help me out I would greatly appreciate it. You know, I suppose it doesn't have to be Hood I live in Portland and just need to get in the woods but don't want to be surrounded by lots of folks. Any campsite ideas would be wonderful. Thank you all so much!
Cheers!

Thu Jun 20, 2013 4:49 pm

sites on the right have a stream running behind them. All free dispersed camping, bathrooms just down Perry Vickers Road about 1/2 mile or so in the really dark forested campground.
https://www.google.com/maps?q=Trillium+Lake+Road,+...h&z=16
This is an old airstrip and I have never had a problem getting privacy, though, some times it can get a bit loud on a weekend......I sometimes camp in the center of the airport area and there are few people there, they like to be near the stream/sites on the right side. The meadow just beyond the sites is one of the best photo ops on the mountain IMHO. Just incredible!!!!!
Airstrip. 30' from a glacial creek.

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First come, first served, and, many folks who work on the mountain camp here semi-permanently, but, that being said, it is a pretty sweet spot. Pack it in/pack it out.

Also, on the road up to Lost lake is a turnoff to Wahtum Lake...IIRC, it is like $7.00 per night honor system($$ in lock box) and there is a pit toilet. Nice walk down to the lake and great fishing. Lost lake is expensive, but, never a disapointment.

http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Wahtum_Lake_Trailhead

Thu Jun 20, 2013 5:05 pm

There's also a large area for camping off E. Lolo Pass road outside ZigZag on the way to the trailhead for Romona Falls. Cross the bridge over the Sandy River and wander around the whole area there. I've found remote spots all after the turn off. It looks like it's Frooest Road NF-1825 on Google, but you just need to follow signs for Ramona Falls and explore the spur roads in that area.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=45.384888...h&z=15

http://web.oregon.com/hiking/ramona_falls.cfm

Getting There: From Portland, take Highway 26 toward Mt. Hood for 42 miles. At the village of Zigzag, turn left onto East Lolo Pass Road. After 4.2 miles turn right onto paved Road 1825, and in 0.7 mile turn right across the Sandy River bridge. Continue 1.8 miles on what is still Road 1825, and then fork left onto Road 100 for half a mile to a large parking area at road's end

Here's one of the lots that you can pull way in the back of: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=45.387314...h&z=18

Thu Jun 20, 2013 6:15 pm

I feel like I am sharing secrets here but in the spirit of sharing and the great ideas coming from others:

There is lots of great camping on the Old Barlow road. In particular a meadow near the junction with 35 with a stream just big enough to swim in where the road crosses a bridge (the bridge is out right now). It's a rocky road but should be OK in a 2WD. It is common to have the whole meadow to yourself: http://goo.gl/maps/IcXWh

Also, further down the Old Barlow Rd there is great camping by the White River near the bridge which connects with NF-48. There is a Forest Service camp site right on the river which can be crowded on holidays but empty at other times and there is dispersed camping all the way down the river and on both sides before the first bridge. Some sites are only accessible with four wheel drive but most are accessible to 2WD. This is my favorite place to camp in Fall when I am often the only person there (great mountain biking):
http://goo.gl/maps/H29l3

It used to be possible to drive the Old Barlow road between these two sites but with the bridge out it is unpassable at the moment.

There is a another good site where the Bennet Pass rd splits to Badger lake road (camping here also but it is a long bumpy ride). not many sites here so if someone gets there first you have to travel a fair way for another site. Again the road is rocky but fine for 2WD with care:
http://goo.gl/maps/eA5o1

There are a number of nice Forest Service camp sites (and free camping) by streams between NF 48 and 26 and they are often almost empty.

Thu Jun 20, 2013 7:03 pm

It isn't Hood, but there's a nice spot next to Rho Creek out in the upper Clackamas river that's been pretty nice the times I've been there .. but those trips have always been late April or early May.

More or less here: https://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=NF-4671&hl=...r&z=16

Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:56 pm

Rho Creek looks worth a visit - thanks!

If your talking Clackamas then there is the Plaza lake TH off of Abbot rd. The pull out only has room for one group so if someone else is there you are out of luck but there are great views of Mt Hood and the lake is 20 minutes walk away and perfect for swimming:
http://goo.gl/maps/qOjct

Fri Jun 21, 2013 5:33 am

We stayed at Nottingham Campground (USFS) off hwy 35 east of Mt Hood for a night last summer. The East Fork Hood River runs through the campground, and there are many nice sites. Far from off the grid, but convenient, and only a few miles from Parkdale, and the wonderful world famous Solera Brewery.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mthood/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=53256&actid=29

Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:06 am

riceye wrote: Nottingham Campground (USFS) off hwy 35 east of Mt Hood

This is what first came to mind when I read this thread. It's a great little place, but of course there will be other people there.

There's a number of freebie spots off Hwy 22 between Detroit and Santiam Pass... right on the river, too.

Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:08 am

Don't forget about Mt Adams!

There's great dispersed camping and no one to share it with. I love the Adams/St Helens area because so few people use it. It's too far from Seattle and PDX people are afraid to cross the river or something. After all, the bridge is pretty old and I-5 bridges in WA don't have the best reputation right now.
Plus, you don't want to pay sales tax, I get it.

Here's a short video for Oregonians visiting Washington for the first time:

Fri Jun 21, 2013 11:07 am

IrideWheelies wrote:

Here's a short video for Oregonians visiting Washington for the first time:

:lol: ok that is funny.

Fri Jun 21, 2013 2:20 pm

Thank you all for the camping ideas! I really appreciate it, so now its time to load the van!

Fri Jun 21, 2013 10:22 pm

IrideWheelies wrote: Here's a short video for Oregonians visiting Washington for the first time:
I keep in practice going "home" to visit family in Mexifornia. :D