The American state of Oregon has quite a lot to offer nature lovers when it comes to hiking and camping, especially the western region. The natural beauty that lies upon the Oregon Coast all the way to the Cascade Mountains is simply splendid and it can be enjoyed even more by spending a few days camping out in one of the fine state park camping areas.
It’s not hard to find a suitable campground in Oregon. All you need to do is select one of many locations, pack your gear and head out. You’ll find that the majority of the campgrounds have everything you need for a comfortable trip. Most of them have washrooms as well as showers.
(photo by mwestcalifornia)
About half of the state campgrounds are built on the first-come-first-served basis and the other half take advance reservations for campsites.
It’s a good idea to contact the ground well ahead of time in the busy summer months to make sure that there are some vacant sites for the dates you want to visit. If you’re not really into tent camping you’ll find there are several other options to choose from at some locations. These include cabins, tee pees, and yurts.
The yurts can hold up to five campers and come with a bunk bed, futon sofa, and skylight. Electricity and heat are also available. Pets aren’t allowed in the yurts, but they can be kept just outside the door. All you really need to take along with you is a pillow, blanket, dishes and food. The yurts can be rented all year long at most Oregon campgrounds, but the tee pees are usually only available between late spring and fall.
There are many excellent campgrounds in Oregon, but these are some of the most popular.
1. Detroit Lake State Campground
This campground is located within the Detroit Lake State Recreation Area. The lake possesses just over 30 miles of shoreline and some of the camping sites are right on the water’s edge. These sites offer excellent views of the beautiful Mt. Jefferson.
The lake’s deepest point is 400 feet and it’s about nine miles in length. It’s a superb destination for swimming, boating, water skiing, and fishing. The state campground opens up every March 1st and closes at the end of November for the year. It hosts a spectacular fireworks display over the lake to celebrate every 4th of July, but it takes place a week before the actual holiday.
2. The Cape Perpetua Campground
One of the most gorgeous camping areas in Oregon has to be Cape Perpetua, which lies on the Oregon Coast between Yachats and Florence. The busy ground opens each May to September. The site sits below the cape, which is Oregon Coast’s highest point. You can climb the Saint Perpetua trail if you’d like to reach the peak of the cape. Once you reach the top of it you might be lucky enough to see a gray whale or two as they migrate along the along the scenic coastline.
3. Jessie M. Honeyman State Park
This beautiful park sits about three miles south of the town of Florence over on the central Oregon Coast. The beach is just a few miles away and is located in the Oregon sand dunes. You’ll find two clear freshwater lakes in the park which are ideal for swimming, fishing, and boating. There are several amenities and services available. These include interpretive events, nature programs, bird watching, hiking trails and showers. The park is also home to Oregon’s second-biggest campground.
