I was recently traveling through Oregon and ran across a fish and wildlife access on the Grande Ronde River near Troy, Oregon. The site was level, the grass was mowed and there was even a vault toilet at the site. The only camping stipulation was: No garbage collection. Pack it in pack it out. Free grassy campsites, on a river! That is my kind of campsite.
I have since searched the Oregon Fish & Wildlife website http://www.dfw.state.or.us/
to learn more. Unfortunately, I have not found a link on their site with an all inclusive list of fish & wildlife lands, access points and camping locations, but with a little leg work you can find fish & wildlife dispersed campsites across the state.
For example, if you go to their wildlife area listing at:
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/visitors/ and click on a region in the left hand margin you will find listings for each area. Listings include a description of the area, wildlife you are likely to see along with guidelines, including length of stay, pet restrictions, etc.
For example, if you click on the Prineville Reservoir Wildlife Area you will get the following description: “Best time to visit: April – October for fishing. May – September for bird viewing. Winter for viewing mule deer. Vehicle access is closed to most of the area November 15 – April 15.
What to see and do
At the wildlife area: Prineville Wildlife Area provides excellent bird viewing opportunities. Bird species include shorebirds, songbirds, waterfowl and raptors including golden eagles, prairie falcons, bald eagles, osprey, northern flickers, mountain bluebirds, California quail, kingfishers, tree swallows, and Brewers Blackbirds. Mule deer can be observed during the winter while bucks are still carrying their antlers. The reservoir contains hatchery rainbow trout, large and small mouth bass, brown bullhead, and black crappie. Five dispersed camping sites are located along the north shore of the reservoir (emphasis added). Nearby: Additional camping is available at Prineville Reservoir State Park.”
Another way to find places to camp is using the search option at the top right corner of the opening page and enter “Camping“.
Free wildlife camping in Oregon, another great adventure in RVing!
Camping Area Near Troy, OR
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
Leave a Reply