Advice on Oregon & Washington camgrounds

amishman · Post by **amishman** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:04 pm

Wife and I already have 10 nights booked for Jedediah State Park in very Nor Cal later in September BUT..... we will not know until after Labor Day if Arny and team are pulling the plug on up to 100 parks to be closed immediately. So, our long reserved spot at Jedediah may not happen if Arny and team close it down the day after Labor Day. So..... we need option # 2 if this happens.

(All I know is I better get my $$ back from Reserve America if they do close the park!)

So, we may venture up to Oregon or Washington and find someplace we can kick back for 10 nights. Mid to Late September is when we leave. Here is what we like (exactly what Jedediah offers)

River flowing through campground that we can swim in, sit on small beach and read all day, soak up the sun, and lay back. Campground needs toilets and pay for showers so we can bath every so often. If no shower, at least river to soak in daily to get ourselves clean would work also. We have done that before as the water system at Jedediah stinks and always going down so one year, we played in the river for enjoyment and to feel clean.

Also needs to be within 15 minutes to maybe 1/2 hour from a town where we can get supplies every couple of days. Maybe eat out once in a while since we are on vacation and all.

So, anything like this in Oregon that is still open mid to late September?

Let me know.

We love Jedediah sooo much. We hope it does not close but you never know. The river is shallow in areas and you can about walk to the other side up to your belly. Then in spots has nice swim holes. Nice little rocky beach so we can throw pebbles in the river for amusement. Trails, about 20 minutes away from Crescent City for supplies, etc...

We also like SHADE. We love the big trees at Jed so lots of pine of something to keep the sun off.

tj

IFBwax · Post by **IFBwax** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:14 pm

Not Oregon, but I'd go Lopez Island, in the San Juans. There's a county park there right on the water. Beautious.

deschutestrout · Post by **deschutestrout** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:52 pm

Some coastal sites have what you're looking for...minus the river. I'm scratching my head and can't think of any place. The "showers" is the kicker. There are some great places on the North Umpqua to camp, with toilets...and 30 minutes or so to town. Many, many places in the Mt Hood National Forest and Clackamas...no showers tho...and in Sept, likely won't be as warm as N. Cali and the redwoods. Good luck! Have fun!

Westy78 · Post by **Westy78** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 6:13 pm

IFBwax wrote:Not Oregon, but I'd go Lopez Island, in the San Juans. There's a county park there right on the water. Beautious.

That time of year can be iffy for weather but you might get lucky. What was it the time all of us went up there, second week of September and it was 80° every day? That's a long haul too but it surely is nice. Book it as soon as you can if you want to do Lopez. Site 13 is the best at Odlin county park. Lopez village is a five minute drive from the campground with a shower for $2 donation (no time limit!) and a nice little grocery store.

Here's some shots of our trip just a few weeks ago.

The sunsets this year were awesome.

amishman · Post by **amishman** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:31 pm

That does look rather nice. swimming too. maybe not as crowded mid to late Sept I suppose?

I will get in the net and see if I can get more info. Would be a long haul but we have 12 days or so of time so.

Thanks for the tips so far.

tj

IFBwax · Post by **IFBwax** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:35 pm

yeah that's why I suggested it.. you could camp on the way up, then get on a ferry the next day and take your time and still have plenty of days there on the island.

great pictures Jasan.. (perusual)

amishman · Post by **amishman** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:36 pm

Westy78 wrote:
IFBwax wrote:Not Oregon, but I'd go Lopez Island, in the San Juans. There's a county park there right on the water. Beautious.
That time of year can be iffy for weather but you might get lucky. What was it the time all of us went up there, second week of September and it was 80° every day? That's a long haul too but it surely is nice. Book it as soon as you can if you want to do Lopez. Site 13 is the best at Odlin county park. Lopez village is a five minute drive from the campground with a shower for $2 donation (no time limit!) and a nice little grocery store.

Here's some shots of our trip just a few weeks ago.

So I take it this is the place, spot #13 as you say.

http://www.thesanjuans.com/lopez-island ... ate-.shtml

I also saw this one. Spencer Spit. Is that any good?

http://www.thesanjuans.com/lopez-island ... park.shtml

tj

Bookwus · Post by **Bookwus** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:14 pm

Hiya TJ,

When I read your original post I thought of Tumalo Falls State Park near Bend. I'm thinking thta it meets your stated requirements and there is a ton of things to do in Central Oregon.

Just a thought.

Westy78 · Post by **Westy78** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:45 pm

amishman wrote:
Westy78 wrote:
IFBwax wrote:Not Oregon, but I'd go Lopez Island, in the San Juans. There's a county park there right on the water. Beautious.
That time of year can be iffy for weather but you might get lucky. What was it the time all of us went up there, second week of September and it was 80° every day? That's a long haul too but it surely is nice. Book it as soon as you can if you want to do Lopez. Site 13 is the best at Odlin county park. Lopez village is a five minute drive from the campground with a shower for $2 donation (no time limit!) and a nice little grocery store.

Here's some shots of our trip just a few weeks ago.

So I take it this is the place, spot #13 as you say.

http://www.thesanjuans.com/lopez-island ... ate-.shtml

I also saw this one. Spencer Spit. Is that any good?

http://www.thesanjuans.com/lopez-island ... park.shtml

tj

Yes Odlin is the place. Spencer Spit is a state campground but isn't on the water at all. It's really not that great of a campground imho but the spit is a nice place to take a walk around. Site 13 at Odlin will put you 40ft from the water and still have a semi private spot. The other spots right on the water are wide open and right next to each other. Great for camping in groups. Site 13 is just inside the tree line and mostly shaded. Crowds should be lessening after Labor Day. Make reservations here....
http://www.co.san-juan.wa.us/parks/

Here are some more pics of the San Juans from this year.....

http://s117.photobucket.com/albums/o65/ ... uans%2009/

deschutestrout · Post by **deschutestrout** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 9:50 pm

Bookwus wrote:Hiya TJ,

When I read your original post I thought of Tumalo Falls State Park near Bend. I'm thinking thta it meets your stated requirements and there is a ton of things to do in Central Oregon.

Just a thought.

Hiya Mike. Great suggestion. Nice creek, great hiking and biking opportunities, showers (I believe??) towns nearby. Good one.

amishman · Post by **amishman** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 9:54 pm

deschutestrout wrote:
Bookwus wrote:Hiya TJ,

When I read your original post I thought of Tumalo Falls State Park near Bend. I'm thinking thta it meets your stated requirements and there is a ton of things to do in Central Oregon.

Just a thought.
Hiya Mike. Great suggestion. Nice creek, great hiking and biking opportunities, showers (I believe??) towns nearby. Good one.

This creek good for swimming? Gotta get some swimming in for sure.

tj

deschutestrout · Post by **deschutestrout** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:47 am

Not any good swimming "holes" as I recall...and this time of year the creek will be pretty low. But, nice place. Hopefully Jed Smith will remain open!!! Have fun whatever you decide to do.

dtrumbo · Post by **dtrumbo** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:13 am

I don't recommend swimming in Puget Sound or the Strait of Juan DeFuca (San Jaun Islands) as the average water temperature is around 55 degrees. Perhaps you're a hearty soul and a member of the Polar Bear Club so this won't matter.

bretski · Post by **bretski** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:29 am

We stayed in Tumalo SP a couple of years ago before heading to the Rendezvw. Very nice park, and it was actually quite isolated from the metropolis that Bend has become, considering how close-by it is. (Supply stores within 5 minute drive).

You'll want to stay in the A loop down by the river to avoid the RVs...sites are nicer, too. River is shallow there, as Trout mentioned, but you can definitely soak while sitting in a lawn chair. I vaguely recall a bridge or two close to our site that could potentially have holes deep enough to swim in. The park has showers, but they are solar heated, so don't expect much in the way of hot water until the afternoon.

http://www.oregonstateparks.org/images/ ... lo_map.pdf

We were in Site #87, right on the river.

Edited to add:

Another nice spot was Clyde Holiday State Rec Area. It's further east, but was right on the John Day River. Lots of shade from cottonwood trees, and the river is definitely swimable. The fossil beds are in the vicinity, lots of hiking nearby, and the Strawberry Mountains are lovely!

A few pictures I found from that spot:

Bookwus · Post by **Bookwus** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:45 am

Hiya TJ,

You might also want to consider the Century Drive heading west and south out of Bend. It hits a bunch of recreation spots (camping and mountain lakes), is quite scenic, and has a bunch of "points of interest" Not sure about the availability of showers. You can certainly jump into one of the many lakes up that way. But I dunno what the skeeter situation might be like either.

Very pretty area.

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Advice on Oregon & Washington camgrounds

Advice on Oregon & Washington camgrounds