Free camping and campgrounds
OREGON CAMPGROUND DIRECTORY
GILES FRENCH PARK
FRENCH GLEN
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
JOHN DAY DAM VISITOR CENTER
LATITUDE: N 45°42.175
LONGITUDE: W 120°43.466
(GPS from main parking at Giles French Park)
Elevation around 170'
Dispersed and Primitive Camping

Giles French Park

Dispersed campsites towards John Day Dam
John Day Dam in the background.

Dispersed campsites towards John Day Dam

Paved parking at Giles French Park

Lake Celilo...

Outhouse and garbage dumpsters
Boat Ramp at Giles French Park.

BBQ Grill at Giles French Park

Path at Giles French Park

Path at Giles French Park

Indian Fishing Platforms

Indian Fishing Platforms

Indian Fishing Platforms

Indian Fishing Platforms

Indian Fishing Platforms

Indian Fishing Platforms
John Day Dam in the Background

French Glen might not be the best campground
in the world, but it is convenient when driving
towards Portland on I-84. Mostly you will see
fishermen camped here. At the main campground
there are picnic tables, BBQ grills, and outhouses.
Great views of Columbia River Gorge.

Columbia River at French Glen Campground

Picnic tables, BBQ grills, outhouses
Water and garbage at Boat Launch
14 Day Camping Limit

US Army Corps of Engineers

Posted Restrictions

Sign near entrance to camp areas

Rufus
Treaty Fishing Access Site
United States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Indian Affairs

Preacher's Eddy
Treaty Fishing Access Site
United States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Indian Affairs

Preacher's Eddy is near the boat launch.
Restricted Access

PHOTO HERE
Mount Hood view from French Glen

PHOTO HERE
Train and railroad tracks

Old Railroad Tracks
The tracks end at the fence...
Near the entrance to Giles French Park

There is a lot of noise pollution with I-84,
railroad tracks both sides of the river, and
an occasional barge with big diesel engines.
Being in a canyon makes it more concentrated.
Kind of like the big city... you get used to it and
it is just part of the background.

PHOTO HERE
Tug boat pushing barges full of gravel

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW
WHAT FIRE RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT
WOOD FIRES ARE PROHIBITED
FIREWORKS ARE PROHIBITED

Learn to Swim...
While you still have a chance

Road at French Glen

DIRECTIONS:
Interstate 84 / Exit#109 at Rufus.
(Rufus and John Day Dam)
Take the road under the Interstate bridge
going towards the Columbia River. There
are camp areas both directions along
the Columbia River. French Glen is to the
right. You will see the sign...

Road toward I-84 Bridge and Rufus, OR

Paved parking at Giles French Park

ROAD CONDITIONS:
Paved surfaces and easy access

Photo taken from ODOT Road Cams
December 21, 2008

While the weather is more moderate in this area,
it can and does snow in winter. Usually the snow
only last a couple days...

Showers at Maryhill State Park and Historic Site
(Washington side of the Columbia River
Take Hwy.97 north from Biggs, OR)
$.50 in quarters for 3 minutes
Shower located at the Day Use Area

Showers at Pilot Travel Center in Biggs, OR
Kind of expensive

Showers at Ainsworth SP Campground
Closed in Winter Season
$2.00
I-84 / MP35 towards Portland, OR

There are supposed to be showers in Rufus, OR
At the RV Park???

Geese are migrating south this time of year.

Bird caught in fishing net left on platform.
An older gentleman had came to our camp and
asked for help in rescuing the bird. The bird
pecked us a couple times, but mostly was
cooperative.

John Day Dam

John Day Dam Park and Picnic Area

Fish ladder at John Day Dam

Part of the fish ladder system for migrating salmon
There are high tensile wires stretched about 20' above
the turbine boil. They are almost invisible and you
can't notice them in the photo.

High tensile wires stretched across the river in the
area of the turbine boil to prevent ring billed gulls
from feeding on salmon and steelhead fingerlings.
As the fish emerge from the powerhouse generators,
they are momentarily disoriented from the turbulent
flow and the gulls take full advantage of the opportunity,
eating literally thousands of salmon and steelhead smolt
each day of the migration....

Looks like an amusement park.
Part of the fish ladder system for migrating salmon.
It was a big issue in the past about the dams were
preventing the migrating salmon and steelhead from
the river...

Part of the fish ladder system for migrating salmon

Camp trailer parked right under the main power lines.
Personally we don't camp under high voltage power lines...
And these lines make a lot of static noise

JOHN DAY DAM AND VISITOR CENTER
LATITUDE: N 45°42.296
LONGITUDE: W 120°42.943
If you go east to the end of the road is the
John Day Dam and Visitor Center. The road
follows the edge of the Columbia River There
are dispersed campsites along the river. Continue
towards the Visitor Center are some more paved
parking areas with metal BBQ grills.

Power lines at John Day Dam

PHOTO HERE
Satellite Image of John Day Dam
Image has been blurred...

When checking satellite images for the area
they were all blurred... guessing because of
terrorist threats to John Day Dam.

PHOTO HERE
Rufus Grain Silo at French Glen

Blurred lights of boat on the Columbia River

The river is lined with blackberry bushes.
Harvest season is August or early September?

Campsite on the road towards Rufus Landing
There used to be a sign that said "No Camping",
now there is a picnic table...

Road towards Rufus Landing

Columbia River Gorge
Viewed from Rufus Landing

Columbia River Gorge from Rufus Landing

Columbia River Gorge and John Day Dam
Viewed from Rufus Landing

Rufus Landing Camp Area

RUFUS LANDING
LATITUDE: N 45°41.593
LONGITUDE: W 120°45.288
(GPS from outhouse at Rufus Landing)
If you follow the road west, there is a big
parking area where you can park along the
banks of the Columbia River. There are
usually a couple RVs.

John Day Dam Petroglyphs
Indian Petroglyphs at Cliffs Park

JOHN DAY DAM PETROGLYPHS
LATITUDE: N 45°42.981
LONGITUDE: W 120°42.272
From the fishing platform nearest to
John Day Dam walk along the river
towards the lock. The petroglyphs
are on the cliff face. There are Bear
Paws and other symbols.

Wind Turbines on Smith Road

Wind Turbines on Smith Road

Wind Turbines on Smith Road

At the time we took these photos of
wind turbines, they were a novelty, but
in recent years they have built hundreds
more and dominate the landscape...
a scenic area is now industrialized.

Deschutes Crossing
Deschutes River drains into the Columbia River

From Deschutes Heritage Site

DESCHUTES STATE RECREATION AREA
4 miles west from Biggs, OR
Electric $12.00 / Tent $5.00
Picnic Area and Drinking Water

Deschutes River and State Recreation Area

Flowers at Deschutes State Recreation Area

Flowers at Deschutes State Recreation Area

Wagon at Deschutes State Recreation Area

Three Bridges over the Deschutes River
Deschutes Crossing and Deschutes State Recreation Area

Raccoon Tracks
Deschutes State Recreation Area

Columbia River from Cliffs Park

CLIFFS PARK
LATITUDE: N 45°42.819
LONGITUDE: W 120°42.718
West on Hwy.14 at the John Day Dam
Road follows the Columbia River for several
miles with dispersed campsites. Incredible
scenery...

Avery Park and Fishing Treaty Site

AVERY PARK
LATITUDE: N 45°39.748
LONGITUDE: W 121°02.117
Hwy.14 between milepost 89-90
(3 miles west from Wishram, WA)

Sundale Park and Fishing Treaty Site

SUNDALE PARK
LATITUDE: N 45°43.134
LONGITUDE: W 120°18.924
Indian Fishing Treaty Access Site
Hwy.14 at milepost 128

Rock Creek Boat Ramp

ROCK CREEK BOAT RAMP
LATITUDE: N 45°43.165
LONGITUDE: W 120°27.649
Hwy.14 / Milepost 121
Take Rock Creek Road for xx miles

Maryhill, WA

Stonehenge Memorial

STONEHENGE MEMORIAL
LATITUDE: N 45°41.660
LONGITUDE: W 120°48.380
Hwy.14 east from Maryhill, WA
Stonehenge Memorial is a replica of
the Stonehenge Monument in England...
Built by Samuel Hill as a memorial to
Klickitat County soldiers who lost their
lives in World War One. Construction
was completed in 1929.

War Memorial

The War Memorial is dedicated to...
Next to Stonehenge Memorial.

Windsurfers in Columbia Gorge

Old Church on Hwy.206 / Milepost 11
About 3 miles north of Wasco, OR

Old Buildings on Haggerty Lane
LATITUDE: N 45°10.239
LONGITUDE: W 120°42.075
South from Kent, OR
Hwy.97 / MP 42-43

Historic Cemetery
LATITUDE: N 45°09.371
LONGITUDE: W 120°41.211
South from Kent, OR
Hwy.97 / MP 43-44
Most of the dates are from the early 1900's

Gas Pumps in Kent, OR
LATITUDE: N 45°11.755
LONGITUDE: W 120°41.773
Hwy.97 / MP 40-41

DeMoss Memorial Park on Hwy.197
LATITUDE: 45°30.715
LONGITUDE:120°40.975
Oregon Hwy.97 MP 15
3 miles north from Moro, OR
Vaulted Toilets, Garbage, Picnic,
Water in Season
Historical Structures and Information

PHOTO HERE
Mountain Identifier
LATITUDE: 44°59.440
LONGITUDE:120°50.960
Oregon Hwy.97 MP 62
Mount Rainer, Adams, St.Helens, Hood,
Jefferson, Three Finger Jack, Washington,
Three Sisters, and Broken Top.

PHOTO HERE
Mountain Identifier
LATITUDE: 44°58.938
LONGITUDE:120°59.477
Criterion Summit / Elevation 3360'
Oregon Hwy.197 MP 62

Wishram, WA

Stone House on Hwy.14 / Milepost 85
Near Horse Thief State Park

Columbia River Gorge from Hwy.30

Columbia River Gorge towards Portland

Highway 30

Deschutes River from Buck Hollow
LATITUDE: 45°16.050
LONGITUDE:121°01.135
Highway 216 between Maupin and Grass Valley

Train Bridge over the Deschutes River
(North from Buckhollow)

Sherars Bridge
LATITUDE: 45°15.650
LONGITUDE:121°02.250

SHERARS BRIDGE
This area of the Deschutes River has
been a river crossing and fishing location
for thousands of years. Peter Skene Ogden
made note of an Indian camp and bridge
when he crossed here in 1826.

White River Falls SP
LATITUDE: 45°14.600
LONGITUDE:121°05.815

There are a series of waterfalls as the river
snakes it's way through the canyon. From
the viewpoint you only see the upper set of
falls, but this is a double waterfall. The lower
pool and falls can be viewed by walking
down the trail a short distance.

If you walk down past the old powerhouse
there is another waterfall.

White River Falls Powerhouse

White River Recreation Site
LATITUDE: 45°13.940
LONGITUDE:121°04.050
Confluence of the Deschutes and White Rivers.
Road xx East from Maupin, OR.

Also see: 29 PINES CAMPGROUND
Also see: AVERY PARK
Also see: BROADWAY LAVA FIELD
Also see: CLIFFS PARK
Also see: GLENWOOD-GOLDENDALE
Also see: HAYSTACK RESERVOIR
Also see: MOUNT SAINT HELENS
Also see: NORTH SHORE ROAD
Also see: OCHOCO NF / COTTONWOOD
Also see: OCHOCO NF / ROAD#16
Also see: OCHOCO NF / ROAD#27
Also see: ROCK CREEK BOAT RAMP
Also see: RUFUS LANDING
Also see: SALT CREEK ROAD
Also see: SKULL HOLLOW
Also see: SUNDALE PARK
Also see: TEANAWAY CAMPGROUND
Also see: WILLIAMS CAMPGROUND

Google Custom Map by Ian

OREGON FREE CAMPGROUND MAP
Google custom map by Ian with most of the
free campgrounds in Oregon.

Liberty Site, WA
Near Williams Campground in Washington.

Peace Treaty of 1855

Peace Treaty of 1855

By R.E. Pierce and Don Prechtel

Peace Treaty of 1855
Tum-A-Lum Lumber Company
811 E.2nd
The Dalles, OR

Maupin 1921

Maupin 1921

Maupin 1921

MAUPIN 1921
Mural painted on side of
Deschutes Angler Fly Shop
Hwy.191 in Maupin, OR

CAMPGROUND INDEX
Complete free campground listing

CAMPING ADVICE AND TIPS

TOURIST PHOTOS

www.eugenecarsey.com

Camped here several times over the years.
Camped here January 20, 2008
Camped here March 15, 2008

dispersedcampgrounds.com
Free campgrounds and camping
OREGON CAMPGROUND DIRECTORY
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE SCENIC AREA
JOHN DAY DAM VISITOR CENTER
GILES FRENCH PARK
FRENCH GLEN