Free camping and campgrounds
OREGON CAMPGROUND DIRECTORY
NATIONAL FOREST ROAD #46
WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FOREST
MOUNT HOOD NATIONAL FOREST
LATITUDE: N 44°45.094
LONGITUDE: W 122°07.810
(GPS from Rd#46 about 1 mile north from Detroit)
Dispersed and Primitive Camping

Road#46 / Milepost 7-8

Road#46 and Hwy.224 from Detroit
to Estacada is apx. 70 miles in length.
There are camp areas along the way.
Very few cars on this road that winds
and twist it's way through the Cascade
Mountain Ranges of Mount Hood and
Willamette National Forests.

Starting from Detroit on Road#46
NOTE This is only a partial list.
There are dispersed camp areas everywhere.
It is easy to find a good camp...
No services for the next 70 miles.

Fish in the River

LATITUDE: N 44°45.094
LONGITUDE: W 122°07.810
(GPS from Rd#46 north from Detroit)
One of our favorite campsites, is almost
exactly 1 mile from Hwy.22 and Detroit.
You will see a pullout and there is a road
that goes a down a couple hundred yards
towards the river. About halfway is a small
camp, keep going down and at the bottom
is a great campsite with picnic table and firering.
Follow the trail a couple hundred yards down
to the river's bank and you'll find a swimming
hole and rope swing. WARNING: If it rains,
there is a dip at the bottom of the road that
fills up with water. It can get 18" deep and a
couple more inches of mud, making it impassable
with a passenger car.

There are some good camps at exactly milepost 6.
On the right are a couple spur roads, the campsites
are just a short distance, nestled in the trees with the
roaring river about 100' below.

Camp areas...

Camp areas...
N 44°47.025
W 122°01.617
Elevations around 1950'

At mile 7.5 there are campsites on both
sides of the road. The first road is to the
right and leads to the river as it flows
through moss covered canyons. The
second road is just a couple hundred
feet to the left. There is a camp near
the entrance, but if you go to the end
of this road is a great camp along the
banks of a babbling creek as it also
flows through moss covered rocks.

ROAD#4685 (Between milepost 11-12)
Cross over the bridge and take the road
on the right. Good campsites on the river.

Camp areas between milepost 13-15

Forest boundary between Willamette and
Mount Hood National Forest between 16-17 miles.

Road#4220 Mountain Lake

On the Mount Hood NF side of the boundary
is Road#4220 / Skyline Road. Not maintained
for passenger cars, but not impossible... better
to start on Road#42 and then it will be mostly
downhill back to Road#46

Near Road#330 and Road#326
The next day these flowers were gone...

Camp areas on Road#4690(about mile 23)

Camp that is just north from Road#4590

About 100 yards north from Road#4690
(On the opposite side of Hwy.224)
there is a dirt road. It is about 1/4 mile
winding through the trees and leads
to a large camp area and firering.
Notice the custom bench in above
image. It was a simple design that
was perfect.

Blackberries

Turkey Tail Mushrooms....

Camp areas around milepost 21.
Milepost 21 is not where it should be.
Actually it is about 24 miles

Mount Jefferson from Road#6350

Mount Jefferson is the second tallest peak
in Oregon 10,497'

Mount Hood from Road#6350

Mount Hood is the tallest peak in Oregon
11,239'

ROAD#4670
(Near mile 29)
Take Road#4670 about 1/4 mile and
before the bridge there is a great camp.
Somebody hand built a classic style bench.
The river fills the air with natural music.
Continue across the bridge and to the right
are more camp areas.

ROAD#42 to Timothy Lake and Skyline Drive

MILEAGE CHART FROM: JUNCTION of ROAD#46 and ROAD#42 Highway 26 Detroit Ripplebrook R.S. Estacada Clackamas Lake Timothy Lake 25 miles 31 miles 14 miles 39 miles 17 miles 19 miles Skyline Road is 8 miles

There is a camp area at the junction of
Road#46 and Road#42. Nice little area
along a stream. A bridge passes over the
creek and next to the camp.

ROAD#42
Road#42 leads to Timothy Lake. There are a
few camp areas along the way. Timothy Lake
is a fee area... established campgrounds are
expensive and strictly enforced. There are good
views of Mount Hood.

ROAD#042
Road#042 leads a couple hundred yards back into
the trees with good campsites. There is a creek near
the camp.

Road#46 Pumice Cliffs

Between mile 36-37 are some hot springs
and a campground along the river's banks.
It is always crowded...
(About 34 miles from Estacada)

1.5 miles southeast of NF Road #63 is a good camp
tucked in a stand of old growth trees near a river.

Road #262

Another great camp is Road #262
3 miles northwest of NF Road #63
1/5 mile southeast of Road #57 / Rainbow Campground.
Road #262 is only about 1/8 mile with camps areas.
There are trails through the moss covered forest that
lead to the river. Makes a good hideout from the rest
of the world

ROAD#63
Bagby Hot Springs Trailhead
and Little Fan Campground.
40 miles north of Detroit.
30 miles south of Estacada.

Old Beaver Dam on Road#4620

DIRECTIONS:
From Detroit, OR
Turn just before the bridge(West of town)
The sign says National Forest Road #46.
About a mile up the road is the first camp.
From Portland take I-205 South
Exit on Hwy.224 towards Estacada
Estacada is at milepost 24
A couple miles past Estacada are good camps.
Hwy.224 ends at milepost 50 (26 miles)
Hwy.224 becomes Road#46

Showers at Detroit Lake State Park.
Cost $2.00

Best water at Humbug Campground
(4 miles from Junction of Hwy.22)
Natural mountain spring on Road#4670
A couple hundred yards from the junction
of Road#46. The water is clean and refreshing.

Natural Mountain Spring on Road#4670
We always fill our water containers...

Fire Prevention Sign
Rest Area on Hwy.22 near Detroit, OR

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW
WHAT FIRE RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT
Axe, shovel, and 5 gallons of water recommended
and might be required. Fire extinguisher and gloves
are a good idea.

Road not maintained for winter travel.

Homemade sign covered with bottle caps
and cigarette butts. "Do You Want Your
Children to Walk Through This"

DO YOU WANT YOUR CHILDREN
TO WALK THROUGH THIS?
Maybe this is a piece of litter...
Could be considered a piece of art...
We added a couple extra pieces and going
to use photo as a public service advertisement.
(At dispersed campsite between milepost 7-8)

On the sad side of things, this is one of the
most littered forest, most camps have piles
of garbage. You'll find toilet paper laying
on the ground at most campsites. Some
people don't have any respect for nature.

Garbage...

The last campers just left garbage spread everywhere.
This is a common scene. If I could catch these people,
they better run for their lives.

More garbage on Road#040
Baby diapers and broken bottles

More garbage...

Primitive outhouse next to river
Road#4670

Somebody built a simple style outhouse
The problem is... they built it next to the river.
It should have been at least 200" away from
water sources like rivers or lakes.

This is normal... toilet paper and human waste
along the trails and near camp areas. It is absolutely
ridiculous and obscene.

Toilet paper and human waste is common,
including in the creek and along water sources.
There is very little respect for the environment.
Bury your waste at least 200' from any water
sources...

Helicopter used for Logging Operations...
Starting early in the morning...

ESTABLISHED CAMPGROUNDS
Located in Willamette National Forest
HUMBUG CAMPGROUND $10
Good water...
CLEATOR BEND CAMPGROUND $10
(Milepost 9)
Just before Breitbush Hot Springs
BREITENBUSH CAMPGROUND $10
(Between milepost 9-10)

MORE ESTABLISHED CAMPGROUNDS
Below campgrounds are in Mount Hood NF
If you park or occupy a site for any reason,
you must pay it... a lot of rules and conditions.
RIVERSIDE CAMPGROUND $14
(Milepost 50?)
RAINBOW CAMPGROUND
(Hwy.224 / Milepost 50)
Junction of Road#57 to Timothy Lake
Road changes from Hwy.224 to Road#46
RIPPLEBROOK CAMPGROUND $14
(Near milepost 50)

Even you get a flat tire, if you don't pay,
you will go to jail. We don't like public
campgrounds run by private companies.

Your public lands...

Slash pile covered with plastic...

We see hundreds of these type slash piles that are
covered with plastic. This could be considered mis-
management... financially plastic is not cheap and
it is environmental unsound. What is the plan...
are you going to burn...

Tax dollars at work...

At first it sounded like a chainsaw.
Cleaning dust from a National Forest
must be a thankless job... not to mention
the danger of speeding cars that show
no respect. It is recommended to wear
earplugs.

Burned vehicle at Olallie Lake - July 2006

Burned vehicle on Road#4670 - July 2006

Burned vehicles are common sights in
the last couple years. Presume they were
stolen and stripped of parts, then burned
any evidence....

Also see: COVE CREEK
Also see: GREEN PETER LAKE
Also see: HIGHWAY 224
Also see: JACK LAKE ROAD
Also see: OLALLIE SCENIC AREA
Also see: ROAD#4670
Also see: ROAD #63

Google Custom Map by Ian

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

Mushrooms on Road#46

Strange Mushrooms

Strange Mushrooms

Lichens and Moss
The red colors are like imitation flowers

Don't know what to make of this...

Mushrooms dripping what looks like crude oil...
In the dying stage and there is a sludge all around.

Mushrooms dripping what looks like crude oil...
Saw this before and it is still bizarre.

CAMPGROUND INDEX
Complete free campground listing

CAMPING ADVICE AND TIPS

TOURIST PHOTOS

Mount Tabor in Portland, OR
Entrance from 60th St. and Salmon

Camped here several times in 2003 and 2004
Camped here May 18, 2005
Camped here Sept.23, 2005
Camped here Oct.4 -5, 2005(Road #262)
Camped here Oct.20, 2005
Camped here Oct.26, 2005
Camped here June 25, 2006
Camped here June 27, 2006
Camped here Sept.18, 2006
Camped here Sept.14, 2007
Camped here Oct. 8, 2007

www.eugenecarsey.com

dispersedcampgrounds.com
Free camping and campgrounds
OREGON CAMPGROUND DIRECTORY
NATIONAL FOREST ROAD #46
WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FOREST
MOUNT HOOD NATIONAL FOREST