Photo courtesy of Travel Medford on Facebook
From diverse landscapes to breathtaking views, Southern Oregon offers a variety of outdoor experiences capable of quenching any traveler’s thirst for adventure. If you’re looking to explore and breathe some fresh air, camping is one of the best ways to take it all in — and Southern Oregon is a beautiful place to pitch your tent.
There are a number of great campgrounds sprinkled in and around the Rogue Valley. Below, you’ll discover the five Southern Oregon camping spots that we recommend for their fall views, amenities, and outdoor activities.
1. Mazama Campground
You’ll find Mazama Campground tucked away in the forest, just a few miles south of Oregon’s infamous Crater Lake. It provides over 200 RV and tent sites, complete with picnic tables, fire rings, and bear-resistant food lockers. There’s also flush toilets, showers, and a camp store that offers groceries, camping supplies, and firewood.
The best part about Mazama Campground is its proximity to Crater Lake. Whether it be hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, or photography, there are plenty of activities visitors can enjoy near the captivating body of water.
2. Natural Bridge Campground
Natural Bridge Campground is located along the Upper Rogue River in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Visitors can enjoy exploring the forest on a number of gorgeous hiking trails, or spending the day on a nearby river or lake catching native fish. However, similar to Mazama Campground, the factor that attracts many visitors to the campground is its proximity to Crater Lake National Park — just 11 miles away.
Natural Bridge Campground is heavily wooded, and therefore well shaded, with overarching conifers. It hosts 17 campsites for RVs, trailers, and tents. Upholding a more rustic aesthetic, the campground provides vault toilets, but no potable water. It’s a great place to take in Southern Oregon’s natural beauty and sit by a campfire, unplugged.
3. Collier Memorial State Park
At Collier Memorial State Park, you can not only immerse yourself in nature, but also in Oregonian history. The campground hosts the state’s finest logging museum, complete with historic logging equipment, a relocated pioneer village, and a horse camp. There is no other campground that instills such great Oregonian pride.
The park’s location, just a stone’s throw away from the Williamson River, also makes it a great place to hike, bike, fish, and go horseback riding. It is equipped with 65 RV and tent sites, all including amenities like flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, and fire rings.
4. Jackson F. Kimball State Park
If you’re a true outdoors-person and enjoy a more rustic experience, you’ll be amazed by Jackson F. Kimball State Park — a primitive campground known for its seclusion and tranquility. It only hosts about 10 sites so visitors have privacy and an exclusive experience in the surrounding nature.
Located at the headwaters of the Wood River, the campground is surrounded by a variety of landscape features that make for an outstanding view: pine forests, meadows, Southern Cascade Mountains, and a spring-fed lagoon. Some popular activities include hiking, picnicking, kayaking, and observing wildlife. The park has vault toilets, but no showers available.
5. Lake of the Woods Resort
Lake of the Woods Resort is about an hour drive from Medford, and is located on the eastern side of the infamous lake. It’s a very popular spot for local families to visit, and reservations are therefore required. With RV sites, cabins, and homesites, it has a variety of lodging options suitable for everyone’s adventure and comfort levels. Nearby, there’s a “lodge” that hosts a full restaurant for all meals of the day, a small bar, and various events and live music throughout the year.
Unsurprisingly, the most popular activities at Lake of the Woods Resort are water activities. Visitors love the opportunity to get out on the lake, whether it be in the form of boating, wakeboarding, paddleboarding, or kayaking. However, many visitors also like to explore the number of nearby hiking trails, especially those surrounding Mt. McLoughlin, which is just 20 minutes away.
Southern Oregon has some of the best camping in the Pacific Northwest. When you’re ready to head back for a hot shower, why not go home to The Vineyards at Stage Pass? Just steps away from some of the best outdoor recreation and city amenities in Jacksonville and Medford, our community would make a great home base. To learn more about life here, reach out to our team today.
