U.S. National Forest Campground Guide

Malheur National Forest

Oregon



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CAMPGROUND NAME: Big Creek

VISIT DATE: 07/08/2006

UPDATE DATE:  3/14/2018

STATE: Oregon

REGION: Pacific Northwest

RANGER DISTRICT: Prairie City

NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Seneca

RESERVATIONS: No

DIRECTIONS:
In Seneca, OR, take Logan Valley Ln, which becomes Forest Rt. 16,
east 19 miles to campground sign.  Turn left onto Forest Rt. 815
(gravel) and go 0.3 miles to campground.

GENERAL COMMENTS:
The elevation is 5,100 ft.

The campground, pack it in, pack it out, stretches between Big
Creek on one side and a huge grass meadow on the other side. 
Ponderosa pine provide some shade and a fragrant aroma to the
afternoons.  None of the sites are on the creek but all are
within an easy walk to the water.  The drive along Forest Rt.
16 to the campground is through a huge, scenic meadow. 
Convenient to mountain bike trails (formerly logging roads), the
campground is popular with the pedal pushing crowd but its
tranquil atmosphere attracts folks looking for quiet.

SEASONS
Open Seasonal: Yes
Open All Year: Yes

Seasonal Comment:
Services provided Memorial Day weekend through September 30

RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED
Rate: $8 per day
Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14

CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION
No. RV Sites: 0
No. Tent Sites: 1
No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 14
   
   Total Sites: 15

Tent Pads: No
Open Sites: Yes
Wooded Sites: Yes

No. Tables on Sites: 15
No. Grilles on Sites: 15
Equestrian Camping:  No

RV INFORMATION
Hookups: None
No. RV Pull Throughs: 4
Waste Station: No
Average Parking Apron Size: 10' X 40'

Comments:
The parking aprons are gravel.

FACILITIES
Vaults: Yes
Flush Toilets: No
Hot Showers: No
Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes

Public Phone: No
Playground: No
No. Water Spigots (non-site): 1
  No. Threaded: 0

Comments:
The water spigot is a handpump.

WATER SPORTS - None

HIKING
Big Creek Area Mountain Bike Network includes:
Big Creek-Summit Prairie (foot and mountain bike) - 17.2 miles
Big Creek Loop A (foot and mountain bike) - 6.1 miles
Big Creek Loop B (foot and mountain bike) - 7.9 miles

FISHING   
Brook trout

CAMPGROUND NAME: Delintment Lake VISIT DATE: 07/11/2006 UPDATE DATE: 3/14/2018 STATE: Oregon REGION: Pacific Northwest RANGER DISTRICT: Emigrant Creek NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Hines RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: In Hines, OR (south side) at the intersection of US Rts. 20/395 and Hines Logging Rd (County Rt. 127), turn west onto Hines Logging Rd and go 12.1 miles to Delintment Lake sign. Turn left at sign, onto Forest Rt. 41, and go 26.9 miles to an intersection. Turn left, staying on Forest Rt 41, and go 4.8 miles to campground sign. Turn right at sign into campground. NOTE: Although paved, Forest Rt 41 is single-lane with turnouts for the last 15.8 miles. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 5,600 ft. NOTE: Although the campground is in Ochoco National Forest, it is administered by Emigrant Creek Ranger District of the Malheur National Forest. The campground has two unnamed loops stretching along the Delintment shoreline. Most sites have a view of this attractive little lake. Ponderosa pines tower above the sites providing some shade. With a grass-only understory and nicely separated sites, privacy is good. The lake's interesting shoreline and 5mph speed limit, makes it well-suited to canoeing. The lake's speed limit and widely spaced campsites help the campground maintain a tranquil, quiet atmosphere. Be sure to explore the Delintment Creek Trail. As one camper put it: "The Silver fire a few years ago came right up to the campground, but left it untouched. The trail down Delintment creek is a great example of forest recovery in areas from minor scorching to complete burn-out to the mineral soil." SEASONS Open Seasonal: Yes Open All Year: No Seasonal Comment: Open mid-May through mid-November - weather dependent RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $10 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 0 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 23 Total Sites: 23 Tent Pads: No Open Sites: Yes Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 23 No. Grilles on Sites: 23 Equestrian Camping: No RV INFORMATION Hookups: None No. RV Pull Throughs: 15 Waste Station: No Average Parking Apron Size: 16' X 42' Comments: Parking aprons are gravel. An RV waste station, with potable water, is available for a fee at the Chevron Gas Station on US Rts. 20/395 located at the border of Burns and Hines. FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 2 No. Threaded: 0 Comments: The water spigots are handpumps - one in each loop WATER SPORTS Lake: Yes Swimming (provided): No Sailing: No Boat Ramp: Yes Boat Carry Down Access: Yes Power Boating: Yes Boating (no power): Yes Water Skiing: No Rafting (whitewater): No Kayaking (whitewater): No Comments: Delintment Lake is 35 acres. Power boats are limited to 5 mph. The boat ramp is gravel. HIKING Delintment Creek Trail (foot) - 3.2 miles (Currently closed due to storm damage; contact ranger district office for status. FISHING Trout

CAMPGROUND NAME: Dixie VISIT DATE: 07/07/2006 UPDATE DATE: 3/14/2018 STATE: Oregon REGION: Pacific Northwest RANGER DISTRICT: Prairie City NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Prairie City RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: From Prairie City, OR, take US Rt. 26 east 8.7 miles to campground sign. Turn left at sign and go 0.2 mile to campground. Note: Turn left 0.1 miles after Site #1 for the rest of the campground. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 5,200 ft. The campground, pack it in, pack it out, is a series of switchbacks down a hillside on Dixie Summit. Lodgepole pine, along with Douglas and White fir, provide ample shade. Topography and the switchbacks provide excellent privacy. Convenience to US Rt. 26 makes this a good campground for an overnight stop. The nearby Austin House at Austin Junction, offers a cook's night out, gas, limited groceries, and some delicious ice cream cones. SEASONS Open Seasonal: Yes Open All Year: Yes Seasonal Comment: Services provided Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $8 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 0 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 10 Total Sites: 10 Tent Pads: No Open Sites: Yes Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 10 No. Grilles on Sites: 10 Equestrian Camping: No RV INFORMATION Hookups: None No. RV Pull Throughs: 0 Waste Station: No Average Parking Apron Size: 11' X 42' Comments: The parking aprons are gravel. An RV waste station, with no potable water, is available for a fee at Chevron Station Gas on US Rt. 26 in Prairie City. FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 0 WATER SPORTS - None HIKING - No FISHING - No

CAMPGROUND NAME: Idlewild VISIT DATE: 07/11/2006 UPDATE DATE: 3/14/2018 STATE: Oregon REGION: Pacific Northwest RANGER DISTRICT: Emigrant Creek NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Burns RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: From Burns, OR, take US Rts. 20 East and 395 North 1.7 miles to an intersection. Turn left, staying on Rt 395 north and go 14.2 miles to campground on right. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 5,400 ft. Although many think this campground is good only for a brief overnight stay, its tall Ponderosa pine providing ample cooling shade, several hiking and mountain bike trails, and convenience to Burns, OR, are attracting more campers to this little campground. Pull-throughs are good size, thus the reason for the campground's popularity with transient campers, but back-ins tend to be on the short side. SEASONS Open Seasonal: Yes Open All Year: Yes Seasonal Comment: Services provide May 20 through November 1 - weather dependent RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $10 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 6 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 19 Total Sites: 25 Tent Pads: No Open Sites: Yes Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 25 No. Grilles on Sites: 23 Equestrian Camping: No RV INFORMATION Hookups: None No. RV Pull Throughs: 9 Waste Station: No Average Parking Apron Size: 12' X 30' Comments: The parking aprons are paved. An RV Waste Station, with potable water, is available for a fee at the Chevron Gas Station located at the border of Burns and Hines on US Rts 20/395. FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 5 No. Threaded: 0 Comments: The campground's only wheelchair-friendly vault is in the day use area. Water system is solar powered. WATER SPORTS - None HIKING Devine Summit Interpretive (foot, horse, & mountain bike) - 2 miles Idlewild Loop (foot and mountain bike) - 0.8 miles Microwave Tower (foot, horse, & mountain bike) - 2.5 miles FISHING - No

CAMPGROUND NAME: Joaquin Miller VISIT DATE: 07/11/2006 UPDATE DATE: 3/14/2018 STATE: Oregon REGION: Pacific Northwest RANGER DISTRICT: Emigrant Creek NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Burns RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: From Burns, OR, take US Rts. 20 East/395 North 1.7 mile to an intersection. Turn left, staying on Rt 395 North, and go16.3 miles to campground on left. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 5,200 ft. This horse camp meanders over a Ponderosa pine-covered hillside next to US Rt 395. Many sites have been decommissioned (table and grilles removed) providing very spacious camp sites with good privacy. Corrals and a few hitching rails are provided for equestrian campers and their horses. A unique feature of this campground is the lack of formal designated trails; riders can just go wherever. SEASONS Open Seasonal: Yes Open All Year: No Seasonal Comment: Open May 1 through December 1 - water dependent RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $8 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 1 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 11 Total Sites: 12 Tent Pads: No Open Sites: No Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 12 No. Grilles on Sites: 11 Equestrian Camping: Yes RV INFORMATION Hookups: None No. RV Pull Throughs: 7 Waste Station: No Average Parking Apron Size: 11' X 37' Comments: The parking aprons are paved and all about same size. An RV waste station, with potable water, is available for a fee at the Chevron Gas Station on US Rt. 20/395 at the border of Burns and Hines, OR. FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: No Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 1 No. Threaded: 0 Comments: The water system is solar powered. WATER SPORTS - None HIKING - No FISHING - No

CAMPGROUND NAME: Magone Lake VISIT DATE: 07/07/2006 UPDATE DATE: 3/14/2018 STATE: Oregon REGION: Pacific Northwest RANGER DISTRICT: Prairie City NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Prairie City RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: From Prairie City, OR, take US Rt. 26 west 3 miles to "Magone Lake" sign. Turn right at sign onto Keeney Fork Rd (County Rt. 18) and go 12.3 miles to another Magone Lake sign. Turn left after sign onto Forest Rt. 3620 and go 1.3 miles to a Y intersection. Bear right onto Forest Rt. 3618 and go 0.9 miles to campground on left. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 5,000 ft. This pack it in, pack it out campground, adjacent to the scenic Magone Lake (ma-goon), has two unnamed overlapping loops. A pleasant mix of conifers, including Engelmann spruce and Ponderosa pine, provide ample shade. Magone Lake was formed by a landslide in the 1800s and the story tells of a Major Magone stocking the Lake by carrying two buckets of brook trout to this scenic spot in the late 1800s. Today it is popular with anglars and wildlife. Deer are frequent visitors to the campground while ducks, beaver, muskrat, osprey, and Blue heron are often seen at the Lake. Possible daytrips: Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and its visitor center and the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center. SEASONS Open Seasonal: Yes Open All Year: Yes Seasonal Comment: Services provided Memorial Day weekend through September 30 RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $13 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 3 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 15 Total Sites: 18 Tent Pads: No Open Sites: Yes Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 18 No. Grilles on Sites: 18 Equestrian Camping: No RV INFORMATION Hookups: None No. RV Pull Throughs: 4 Waste Station: No Average Parking Apron Size: 13' X 45' Comments: The parking aprons are gravel. FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 5 No. Threaded: 0 WATER SPORTS Lake: Yes Swimming (provided): Yes Sailing: No Boat Ramp: Yes Boat Carry Down Access: Yes Power Boating: Yes Boating (no power): Yes Water Skiing: No Rafting (whitewater): No Kayaking (whitewater): No Comments: Magone Lake is 50 acres. Powerboats are limited to 10mph. There is a small sandy beach swim area. HIKING Magone Slide Trail (foot) - 0.5 miles Magone Lake Trail (foot) - 1.5 miles There is a series of mountain bike trails in the area. FISHING Brook and Rainbow trout

CAMPGROUND NAME: Middle Fork VISIT DATE: 07/07/2006 UPDATE DATE: 3/14/2018 STATE: Oregon REGION: Pacific Northwest RANGER DISTRICT: Prairie City NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Austin RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: In Austin (a.k.a. Austin Junction), OR , at the intersection of US Rt. 26 and State Rt. 7, take Rt. 7 north 1.1 miles to "Suzanville 19" sign. Turn onto Middlefork Ln (County Route 20) and go 6.4 miles to campground on left. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 3,900 ft. This pack it in, pack it out campground stretches between County Rt. 20 and the Middle Fork John Day River under a dense canopy of Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and Tamarack (Western Larch). Grass and wildflowers form a pleasant understory but provide minimal privacy. The campground is filled with the sounds of wind and flowing river. While not on the designated scenic State Rt. 7, the campground is close enough to be considered for an overnight stop. SEASONS Open Seasonal: Yes Open All Year: Yes Seasonal Comment: Services provided Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $8 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 0 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 10 Total Sites: 10 Tent Pads: No Open Sites: Yes Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 10 No. Grilles on Sites: 10 Equestrian Camping: No RV INFORMATION Hookups: No No. RV Pull Throughs: 0 Waste Station: No Average Parking Apron Size: 18' X 40' Comments: Parking aprons are gravel and dirt. An RV waste station, with no potable water, is available for a fee at Chevron Gas Station on US Route 26 in Prairie City. FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 0 WATER SPORTS - None HIKING - No FISHING Rainbow trout

CAMPGROUND NAME: Parish Cabin VISIT DATE: 07/08/2006 UPDATE DATE: 3/14/2018 STATE: Oregon REGION: Pacific Northwest RANGER DISTRICT: Prairie City NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Seneca RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: In Seneca, OR, take Logan Valley Ln, which becomes Forest Route 16, east 11.1 miles to campground sign. Turn left and go 0.1 miles to campground. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 5,000 ft. This pack it in, pack it out campground, is a loop within a loop through a stand of Lodgepole pine. Pull-through parking aprons are large enough for multiple families or group to camp together. Young Lodgepole pine and spacing provide good privacy for most sites. The campground has an unkept, wilderness feel. SEASONS Open Seasonal: Yes Open All Year: Yes Seasonal Comment: Services provide Memorial Day weekend through September 30 RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $8 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 0 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 16 Total Sites: 16 Tent Pads: No Open Sites: Yes Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 16 No. Grilles on Sites: 16 Equestrian Camping: No RV INFORMATION Hookups: None No. RV Pull Throughs: 6 Waste Station: No Average Parking Apron Size: 14' X 47' Comments: The parking aprons are gravel. Grey water disposal sites are scattered throughout campground. FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 4 No. Threaded: 2 WATER SPORTS - None HIKING - No FISHING - No

CAMPGROUND NAME: Rock Springs VISIT DATE: 03/14/2018 STATE: Oregon REGION: Pacific Northwest RANGER DISTRICT: Emigrant Creek NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Burns RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: In Burns, OR, at the intersection of US Rts. 20 and 395 and State Rt. 78, take US Rts. 20 East/395 North 2.8 miles to an intersection. Turn left, staying on Rt 395 north, and go 30.8 miles to County Rt. 73. Turn right onto CR 73 (paved) and go 3.9 miles to Forest Rt. 17. Turn right onto FR 17 (paved) and go 0.4 miles to Forest Rt. 54 (gravel) and campground sign. Turn right and go 0.4 miles into campground. GENERAL COMMENTS: Elevation is 5,200. This pack it in, pack it out campground has two loops and offers secluded campsites well-suited for overnight or longer camping. Campsites are tucked in among mature Ponderosa pine offering ample shade. Although there is no understory, separation between campsites provides fair to good privacy. This is one of those hidden gems known best to the locals. NOTE: This campground came online after the authors researched Malheur National Forest. All information provided by the Emigrant Creek Ranger District Office. SEASONS Open Seasonal: Yes Open All Year: Yes Seasonal Comment: Services provided May 25 through November 1 - weather dependent RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $8 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 0 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 12 Total Sites: 12 Tent Pads: No Open Sites: Yes Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 12 No. Grilles on Sites: 12 Equestrian Camping: No RV INFORMATION Hookups: None No. RV Pull Throughs: 0 Waste Station: No Average Parking Apron Size: 12' X 30' Comments: The parking aprons are gravel. FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 0 WATER SPORTS None HIKING No FISHING No

CAMPGROUND NAME: Yellowjacket VISIT DATE: 07/11/2006 UPDATE DATE: 3/14/2018 STATE: Oregon REGION: Pacific Northwest RANGER DISTRICT: Emigrant Creek NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Hines RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: In Hines, OR (south end), at intersection of US Rt. 20 and Hines Logging Road (County Rt. 127), turn west onto Hines Logging Rd and go 12.1 miles to an intersection and Yellow Jacket Lake sign. Turn right, onto Forest Rt. 47, and go 6.9 miles to Yellowjacket sign. Turn right, onto Forest Rt 37, and go 2.5 miles to another intersection. Bear right and go 0.7 miles to campground. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 4,800 ft. The campground has two overlapping loops on a hillside overlooking Yellowjacket Lake. Ponderosa pine provide some shade. While some sites have a view of the Lake, they can be close together. With only a grass understory and little middlestory, privacy is minimal. The man-made Yellowjacket Lake is known for its fishing and is visited by birds and wildfowl. SEASONS Open Seasonal: Yes Open All Year: No Seasonal Comment: Open May 20 through November 11 - weather dependent RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $8 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 0 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 18 Total Sites: 18 Tent Pads: No Open Sites: Yes Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 18 No. Grilles on Sites: 18 Equestrian Camping: Yes RV INFORMATION Hookups: None No. RV Pull Throughs: 1 Waste Station: No Average Parking Apron Size: 15' X 45' Comments: The parking aprons are gravel. An RV Waste Station, with potable water, is available for a fee at the Chevron Gas Station located at the border of Burns and Hines, OR on US Rts. 20 and 395. FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 1 No. Threaded: 0 Comments: The water system is solar powered. WATER SPORTS Lake: Yes Swimming (provided): No Sailing: No Boat Ramp: Yes Boat Carry Down Access: No Power Boating: Yes Boating (no power): Yes Water Skiing: No Rafting (whitewater): No Kayaking (whitewater): No Comments: Yellowjacket Lake is 30 acres. Power boats are limited to 5mph. Boat ramp is gravel and primitive. HIKING - No FISHING Rainbow and Brook trout




Fred and Suzi Dow