Oregon State Parks and National Forest Campgrounds are opening soon. State Park Campgrounds will open June 9, but are not taking walk-ins, one must have reservations. At the moment, they won't allow reservations more than two weeks ahead. It appears they have raised prices a little. Some campgrounds through Recreation.gov are opening June 18. I'm not sure what Washington State is doing, but I heard they were opening June 1.
I know I just booked a military campground spot as well a spot in Utah for a couple of weeks from now. Glad to see things are starting to reopen. Time to get out and plan a few camping trips.
I'd like to do some of the longer trips around. TOW, Teardroppers of Oregon and Washington, do get-togethers, but TnTTT Northwest does a Fall Crawl that goes ten days or so. They go across or around Oregon, Washington, Idaho, British Columbia, etc. Jefferson State had a Spring Crawl planned, but I think they had to scrap that idea for the virus. Jefferson State takes in Southern Oregon and Northern California.
I don't know if dog child could be away from home that long, but a Crawl could be interesting.
The State of Texas has opened also.
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Most campgrounds in Oregon are open, but with reservations only in state parks and national forest campgrounds. County parks, same thing. But I just got back from two NF campgrounds close to home, and oh my, the people and screaming kids running through my space and everywhere. 25 kids ripping around with no supervision on bicycles, scooters, skateboards, were very loud. And very small children on the river bank, scary. We are told stay close to home to avoid the virus, but the large groups had license plates from other states.
The campgrounds have been stomped to death, no grass left, and they don't empty the dumpsters often enough. One I stayed at, the stench from a dumpster caused me to leave as soon as possible because I was downwind. If there is to be no school, it will be interesting this winter because many campgrounds are closed after September.
Mine was the only teardrop I saw. My dog child and i got in plenty of walks, and that was a good thing. We went to the coast to get away from the heat, and that part was a good idea. The temperatures were just right, no heaters or fans needed. But it was good to get away from all the people who were there to get away from it all.
Just finished camping in North Central Oregon at Timothy Lake. Gone Creek Campground. Very nice stay. Good social distancing and masks. However the last night were there a big party across camp took place with a lot of noise. Not good.
@tomd, that looks like a nice place, haven't been there because I've avoided places where the Portlanders might go. It seems like many people just think they can't get the virus. I'm going to get tired of just going to the coast, but when winter arrives, I probably won't want to go over the pass with snow. We did get to see a fox kit, and my boy just watches other animals very closely and doesn't bark. Foxes are somewhat curious, so he watched us for a short time. I would camp up the McKenzie River, but those are mostly closed also.
Just an update in the Northwest, some campgrounds are closed due to fires and smoke, some are filled with evacuees, be a good idea to call before going. Some roads are closed also. I get the feeling any direction I go is going to be black for quite a while. Staying home is good idea for me. Many campgrounds are closed in winter anyway
A short trip to Oregon Coast, first trip in a while, so didn't go far to try out some new stuff and got in some walking. Had the new privacy tent, a thin air mattress under the foam to make it more comfy, a wider sleeping bag which the dog laid on anyway. And I took some other stuff I won't bother with in the future. The less stuff the better. The dog child always likes different trails.
@roylewis I'm not wild about Sutton campground and did not stay there. There is Alder Dune, but not close to Ocean.
Ten miles or so north is Carl G. Washburne state park which is just across the road from day use and ocean. There is a half mile trail that goes from campground under the highway to beach. And other trails I walk with dog. No sand dunes there.
South of Yachats is Cape Perpetua cg, no privacy really. It is forest service.
Above Yachats is Tillicum Beach right by Ocean. No trails, but I've stayed there. It is forest service. My dog prefers trails to the scary ocean.
On farther is a state cg Beachside. I haven't stayed there. They are all hard to get into through summer. This one usually closed in winter.
South of Newport is state South Beach cg. There is a path or two, but one must go through dry sand part way. Not crazy about that one, but they do allow you in a tent site.
North of Newport is state cg Beverly Beach. Everyone likes it. A and B loops are close to beach but no privacy much. It's farther to walk, but I have only stayed in loops F, G, and H where there are lots of bushes.
I've stayed at Nehalem, Fort Stevens, and across the river at Cape Disappointment.
Cape Lookout is at beach, I have not stayed there. It is above Tillamook.
South of Florence, I haven't stayed in many that are close to Ocean, but did stay at Bullard's Beach and Sunset Bay and Cape Blanco that are close. They are all state.
South of Florence seven miles are a couple forest service right close together. Those are a walk to ocean, but along a river and a lagoon.
There is Barview Jetty by Tillamook also. I think it is a county park. I only drove through that one.
