Take Me Camping

Posted July 5th, 2008 in camping, Family Outing, Milagros News, Outside of Portland

It is summer time! Time to get the family out of the house and into the great outdoors!

Looking for some family camping suggestions? Here are few places we enjoy!

Close to Town: Oxbow Regional Park: It is an easy drive from Portland (about 30 minutes) and is very family friendly. Oxbow has play structures, miles of trails open to hiking and biking, a boat ramp, and beach access. However, the beach is a river not a lake. Extra caution when swimming, wading, paddling, etc. is recommended due to currrents. A couple of unique additional features: 1) educuational kid-friendly programs in the campground ampitheater on Friday and Saturday nights during the summer and 2) flush toilets and showers (bring quarters for the showers). More info on Oxbow.

Note: No pets are allowed at Oxbow or any Metro facility.

Hoodland: Trillium Lake: Our first car camping trip with Mila was to Trillium Lake in the Mt. Hood area when she was 3 months old. We have gone back every summer since. It is very family-friendly. It sports a level hike around the lake and the roads in the campground are paved – nice for first time bikers and strollers. The lake is safe for swimming and you are able to fish there. No motor boats are allowed on the Lake so it is quieter than other lakes in the Mt. Hood area. We bring a kayak and enjoy floating on the water and taking in the wonderful views of Mt. Hood. Sites may be reserved in advance.

On the Coast: Oswald West State Park: For Oregon coastal camping, we love the walk-in campground at Oswald West. Pleasant sites, great beach access, and numerous trails to enjoy. It is first come, first serve and very popular in the height of the summer. We have had good luck there in May or on summer weekdays but it is good to have a back-up plan. More info

Good back-up camping for Oswald West or just good camping in the coastal area near Portland: Nehalem Falls (lovely falls), Nehalem Bay State Park (bring your kayak or canoe!), or camping at Jones Creek along the Wilson River in the Tillamook Forest (lots of blackberry picking in the area and near the Tillamook Forest Center).

Out East: Columbia Hills State Park: If you want a high desert feel but with a shorter drive than heading to Central Oregon, check out Columbia Hills State Park across from the Dalles in Washington State.

Swim, kayak and fish in Horsethief Lake, enjoy boat access to the Columbia, hike and climb at Horsethief Butte, and see the petroglyphs and pictographs saved from Petroglyph Canyon. Few day-use folks and small, comfortable campground makes for a relaxed time. Very close to The Dalles if you forgot something.

A couple of drawbacks, camping is first come, first serve and the campground is small – less than 20 sites – so be ready with a back-up just in case (such as Maryhill State Park down the road). Like all camping on the Columbia River, train noise is a nightly occurrence and it can get VERY windy – so bring earplugs for sleeping (although I recommend this for ALL campgrounds).

Photo by Jon Maus – Camping with Mila and Elani at Oxbow