Umatilla National Forest

Campground Opportunities

Important Campground Information for 2010:

• Changes to Campground Regulations for Additional Occupancy & Use: Occupancy limits only apply at many campgrounds across the forest.
• 14-day Stay Limit - Long term camping policy.
• Campground Improvements in Progress! Construction activities planned at most Forest campgrounds this summer.
• Oregon State Law now requires an Aquatics Invasives Species Permit for all operators of canoes, kayaks, drift boats and other manually powered boats 10 feet or longer.
• Recreation Reports

Forest Campgrounds by District:

• Heppner District Campgrounds

• North Fork John Day District Campgrounds

• Pomeroy District Campgrounds

• Walla Walla District Campground

Campgrounds on the Umatilla National Forest: Forest visitors can select from over 20 campgrounds designed to blend with the forest environment. Most campgrounds are located away from traffic and commercial development where there is fishing, hunting, or other outdoor activities nearby. Campsites generally have a table, a fire grate, and a tent or trailer space. Other things to consider include:

• Overnight Fees are charged at several campgrounds.
• Electric hookups are not available.
• Water may or may not be available.
• Most campgrounds have vault toilets.
• Additional occupancy and use regulations apply for several campgrounds on the Forest.
• You may camp a maximum of 14 days out of every 30 on the Forest.
• All campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Campfire permits are not required, but campfires may be restricted during extreme fire danger.
• The Forest Service administers and maintains all campsites.

Dispersed Camping:

Camping is also allowed in most dispersed areas, up to 300 feet from an open road, throughout the Forest.

Alert! Campground Improvements in Progress

Construction activities are planned this summer in most of the campgrounds on the Umatilla National Forest. Work may include installation of new picnic tables, fire rings, signs, and vault toilets. Also, water sources at some campgrounds will be upgraded and new gravel will be laid on camp spurs and roads. This activity will involve periodic noise, dust, and might create potential hazards for children or pets. There also may be a day or two where toilet facilities or water systems will not be available. To avoid these inconveniences, please contact the appropriate ranger district prior to your visit to find out the construction status. This exciting opportunity to improve your campground facilities was made possible by funding from President Obama’s economic recovery package. For accurate, updated information please contact the district office.

Occupancy Limits

Due to overcrowding and resource damage at many forest campgrounds, additional occupancy and use regulations were put into effect May 20, 2010. Campgrounds with new occupancy limits include:

Walla Walla Ranger District: Jubilee Lake, Mottet, Target Meadows, Woodward, Woodland and Umatilla Forks.

North Fork John Day Ranger District: Olive Lake, Frazier, Winom, Drift Fence, Driftwood, Tollbridge, Bear Wallow, Lane Creek, North Fork John Day, Gold Dredge, Welch and Oriental.

Here are the following occupancy and use regulations that will be enforced:

Single-occupancy site:
maximum of eight people, two tents (and/or camping trailers) and two vehicles

Multiple-occupancy site:
Varies by campground and campsite. Please contact the ranger district office for occupancy limits at multiple-occupancy sites.

Limits will be posted on the campground bulletin board and at affected campsites.

Only campers in registered campsites are allowed in campgrounds between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Occupancy and Use regulations will be enforced at campgrounds and campsites where the regulation is posted. The regulation will be posted at the campground bulletin board and at each affected campsite. For more information, please see the News Release dated June 2, 2010.

14-day Stay Limit - Long Term Camping Policy on the Umatilla National Forest

This policy was put into place to protect natural resources, address sanitation issues, prevent camps from monopolizing popular sites, and to control squatting on national forest lands.

The 14-day stay limit has been in effect on the Umatilla for many years, but until this recreation season, enforcement of the policy primarily focused on our developed campgrounds and not on dispersed campsites. This summer, law enforcement has been enforcing the stay limit across the Forest with good compliance. However, with the arrival of hunting season, we are finding many campers are not aware of the 14-day stay limit and have already planned for extended camping periods.

The following are the stipulations for long term camping on the Umatilla National Forest:

• The 14-day stay limit will be enforced at campgrounds as well as dispersed campsites
• A long term camping permit can be issued by the District Ranger on a case-by-case basis where appropriate. This permit is only available through the district office
• After 14 days, campers will need to have obtained a long-term camping permit or will have to move their camp a minimum of five miles from the original campsite
• No stay will be allowed in one campsite more than 30 days (even with a long term permit)
  

Aquatics Invasives Species Permit is now required on Oregon Waterways

This new Oregon State program to protect our waterways from the damaging impacts of aquatic invasive species (AIS) requires boaters to purchase an AIS Prevention Permit to use their boats beginning January 1, 2010.

The $5 fee is automatically paid when powerboats or sailboats 12 feet or longer are registered for the 2010 boating season. Powerboats with registrations that expire December 31, 2010 do not need a permit until 2011. The $5 fee will be included with the boat registration renewal.

Operators of manually powered boats 10 feet or longer, such as canoes, kayaks, drift boats, rafts and small sailboats, must purchase and carry the $7 permit ($5 + $2 service fee) when using their boat in 2010. These permits are available at all ODFW license agents. Out-of-state powerboat operators will pay $22 ($20+$2 agent fee), also via ODFW license agents.

The threat is real, but prevention is easy. Never Launch a Dirty Boat!

Details on the prevention program, permit availability and other details are available on the Oregon State webpage.

USDA Forest Service - Umatilla National Forest
Last Modified:  Tuesday, 07-Sep-2010 19:16:28 EDT