If the city life has you yearning to reconnect with nature, then pack the RV and head to Malheur National Forest. Located in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, primitive campgrounds and the solitude of the forest will leave you feeling relaxed and revitalized by the end of your stay. You’ll spot pine and fir trees, alpine lakes, flower-filled meadows, and high desert grasslands. A rich history of trade, hunting, and fruit-gathering dates back to Native American times and has since been used by explorers, fur trappers, and miners. The public lands are open for all, so come and see for yourself what the forest has to offer.
At almost two million acres, a plethora of outdoor activities awaits you and your family during all four seasons. Hiking, snowmobiling, and hunting are some of the most popular activities in the forest, along with nature viewing, mountain biking, and fishing. The summer is mild with few rainy days, and the winter rarely reaches single digit temperatures.
Backpackers and RV campers alike can find a place to rest their head in the forest, though most campgrounds are simple without any type of hookups. Five campgrounds are RV- and trailer-friendly, and we’ve highlighted all of them for you to help you decide which one best fits your needs.
Malheur National Forest is located in eastern Oregon, far from the hustle and bustle of any big cities. Highway 395 and Highway 26 will lead you to many smaller roads inside of the forest, as well as various campgrounds and recreation areas. Once inside the forest, you will be essentially off the grid, so make sure to have your routes planned and store a forest map inside the RV. Most of the forest roads are rugged gravel and unimproved, so driving without four-wheel drive is not recommended. The winter season can add other obstacles with snowfall and icy roads, so be sure to check the local weather before setting out on your journey.
Some routes are paved and easily accessible to large vehicles. Strawberry Mountain Loop is a nice scenic drive, taking you through Logan Valley, the John Day River Valley, and up over the forested high country. This 74-mile route has a total elevation gain of just under 4,000 feet. The Lollipop Loop is another paved route perfect for big rigs and loops around alpine forests and meadows. This cruise spans 65 miles with an elevation gain of 4,050 feet.
Delintment Lake Campground is one of the largest RV campgrounds in the forest with 29 non-reservable sites. Although it is one of the biggest campgrounds, it only receives a moderate number of visitors, making it a great spot to escape the crowds at the end of the day. Vault toilets and potable water are available on-site for your convenience, as well as a camp host in the summer months. The campground is fairly accessible to large vehicles as it is just off of the paved Forest Road 41. The pull-through sites can accommodate trailers up to 20 feet and RVs up to 30 feet. Delintment Lake is situated nearby and offers an array of activities such as fishing, kayaking, and canoeing, so feel free to attach your boats to the rig. Other outdoor activities include hiking, nature viewing, and picnicking. In fact, the campground has 12 picnic sites available as well.
If you’re looking for a quiet place to park the RV and beat the crowds, Idlewild Campground is easy to reach and only lightly used during the summer months. Located just off of Highway 395, this 19-site campground is a breeze to navigate for large vehicles. The maximum trailer and RV length here is 20 feet. Each site is equipped with fire rings, picnic tables, and grills. Vault toilets and drinking water are also located nearby. Bird watchers from coast to coast come to Idlewild to try and spot the rare white-headed woodpecker which is only found in a few locations on the west coast of North America. Other popular activities in the area include mountain biking and hiking in the summer, and snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter. The busiest time of year for this campground is late summer through the end of autumn for hunting.
The scenic Magone Lake Campground offers a plethora of outdoor activities for campers who choose to stay here. RVs and trailers up to 30 feet in length have access to 21 pull-through sites on a first-come-first-served basis. The parking spurs are paved, making it easy for large vehicles to maneuver. Picnic tables and campfire rings are located at each site, and vault toilets and drinking water are available as well. The campground is in a forested area of ponderosa pine and Engelmann spruce, providing excellent shade for most campsites. The lake area provides great opportunities for swimming, canoeing, and fishing. Anglers will find the lake full of eastern brook and rainbow trout. Other recreational activities in the area include mountain biking, nature viewing, and hiking. Magone Lake Trail #352 and Magone Slide Trail #353 leave right from the campground, so don’t forget to pack your hiking boots in the camper if you’re looking to hit the trails.
Don’t hesitate to attach the bikes to the back of the rig, because Malheur National Forest has numerous trails to be explored. No trails within the forest are currently maintained specifically for mountain bikers, however. This means that certain trails may be steeper and have sharper turns than your typical mountain biking path. Despite this, the trails offer a sense of solitude and breathtaking scenery to be discovered. Don’t miss the North Fork Malheur River Trail, as it is one of the routes best suited for mountain biking.
Similar to mountain biking, Malheur National Forest does not currently have designated trails specifically for OHV use. This just means you may be sharing the trails with hikers, horse riders, and mountain bikers. Don’t let this deter you from hooking up the OHV trailer to the campervan though, because there are some great riding areas within the forest. Sheep Creek Trail #371 is well-liked by OHV riders and leads you to a scenic lookout near the summit of Lookout Mountain.
Hikers of all skill levels can revel at the diversity and expanse of trails within the Malheur National Forest. Over 200 miles of trails cross through mountain terrain, river canyons, and protected nature areas. A great starting place is the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. A variety of trails will lead you to lakes, waterfalls, mountainsides, and other beautiful geological features. This is one of the most popular areas within the forest, so you will likely be sharing the trail with other visitors.
Parish Cabin Campground is located on Forest Road 16 and offers several RV and trailer friendly campsites. Each site has concrete tables, raised fire rings, and a gravel pad able to accommodate vehicles up to 30 feet in length. Parish Cabin Campground provides excellent opportunities for fishing and hunting in the offseason. Being minutes from Logan Valley and a short drive away from the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, this campground is set in the perfect location for you and your family to be close to some of the most popular areas in the forest. Logan Valley is known for its spectacular array of wildflowers in the spring and early summer, so don’t forget to pack the camera along in the camper. Strawberry Mountain Wilderness is a great place to take a scenic hike or see some local wildlife. Check out Summit Trail #5002 for a rewarding view from the top of Strawberry Mountain.
One of the smallest campgrounds within the forest is Trout Farm Campground. With just six single sites, this is the perfect place if you’re looking to find a reprieve from civilization. Visitors will find the campground easy to reach as it is just a few miles from Prairie City. Campers have access to potable water, vault toilets, and a newly renovated picnic area. Each site can accommodate vehicles up to 30 feet in length. Relax amongst the ponderosa pine or take a picnic near the stream. This campground is ideal for fishing enthusiasts, as the name suggests because it sits on the edge of a stream and pond stocked with rainbow and bull trout. Strawberry Mountain wilderness is located nearby and offers more opportunities for recreation including hiking, outdoor learning, and wildlife viewing.
Hunters flock to the Malheur National Forest from late August through the end of autumn to hunt big and small game alike. Rocky Mountain elk and mule deer are the most common, but other species such as black bear, bighorn sheep, antelope, and blue and ruffed grouse can also be hunted in the forest. Trails off of the Strawberry Campground are some of the most popular areas for hunting in the offseason, but if you’re looking to be closer to your RV, Parish Cabin Campground has great opportunities as well.
The winter brings great opportunities for family fun in the Malheur National Forest. Don’t forget to pack the sleds and winter boots in the campervan because the Starr Bowl Snowplay Area provides endless entertainment for young and old alike. There is a hill perfect for sledding, tubing, and snowboarding. A warming hut nearby is open for all and is furnished with a stone fireplace when you’re ready for a warm-up before hitting the hill again. Bathrooms are also available on-site.
Feel free to hook up the snowmobile to the back of the RV, because hundreds of miles of trails within the Malheur National Forest are groomed for the winter season. Three snow parks within the forest grant access to the trails and require a permit to use. One of the most popular is the Huddleston Snowpark. This area is equipped with a cozy warming hut with a fireplace, restrooms, and a plowed parking area suitable for large vehicles and trailers.
