Eagle Creek Campground

Hi guys! This one is just for me, so I remember in case I want to stay here again. It might not be that interesting to anyone else. Sorry!

To make sure I got on the trail early, I reserved a spot before my backpacking trip at the Eagle Creek Campground. I was also hoping that it would help me get a good parking spot in the morning – and I was right! A sign (below) posted at the site says it is the first developed campground in the entire US National Forest Service, dating to 1915. That is really cool and I didn’t know it when I booked.

Viewing tent camping sites from Recreation.gov is challenging when a person has never seen the campground, because the graphics they use are completely unhelpful for most of the things I care about when selecting a spot.

For anyone who wants better info (including my future self), here are the notes I took while exploring the campground:

Eagle Creek Campground in early July is pleasantly shady and far away from the thousands of hikers parked below. It’s dry and the campsites themselves are very dusty. Four separate water fountains are great to have handy and fill up all my water containers with potable water before my hike. There is one central bathroom with pit toilets and no sinks/mirrors, and no water, except the water fountain outside. Highway noise is loud, and the trains are loud, and both continue all night long. As the sign above says, it’s worse on campsites above Insterstate 84 and the train tracks.

Every site has space for an RV, and the parking areas are all paved. Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table. When I reserved my spot, I had to say whether I was bringing an RV or a trailer, and there was no option for a tent. I just chose RV. I checked today, and there is now an option for a tent. I explained this to the camp host when I was there and she said it was no problem to have selected a vehicle that I was not arriving in.

Site 1 – camp host. A friendly woman met me as soon as I parked, and took down my license plate number. She said she was available if I needed anything. Then I never saw her again, which was perfect for me.

Site 2 – Excellent choice for a small setup/or a small tent and small footprint. Trees and bushes make total privacy even though right next to bathrooms, on a hill slightly above them. It has a private path from site to bathrooms.

Site 3 – In full view of site 4. There is a spot for a big tent. Sites 3 & 4 a good choice if you want to combine campsites for a big group, though there is a log between them that prevents easy access to each other, that you would have to step over.

Site 4 – In full view of site 3. See notes for 3. Only site for tent is small and sloped.

Site 5 – Big space, farthest away from highway noise. Excellent large flat space for big tent. Can easily park multiple vehicles in paved parking area. There is access to Buck Point trail from the parking area. There is a nearby amphitheatre (!!) in disrepair but still bench seating for about 15 with a second fire pit, that you can access from parking area.

I can’t believe it didn’t occur to me to take a photo of the small amphitheatre, which was so unexpected. It made me wonder if this campground was used in the past by Girl Scouts or a church Youth Group or something.

Site 6 – Impressive view (photo at top and below). Site removed from other camp sites. Not good for small children or dogs, as there is no barrier between campsite and steep, treacherous drop off. Flat spot for tent. Massive trees. Very annoyed chipmunk. Highway noise more noticeable here. 6 & 7 farthest from bathrooms.

Site 7 – A little like site 4, with tent site not flat, in view of site 8. No view. Highway noise.

Site 8 – Sort of a view through trees. Highway noise. Tent site sort of flat. In view of site 7.

Site 9 – Large, nice, private spot. View of river through trees. Highway noise. Bit of a steep hill at the edge, but not as dangerous as 6.

Site 10 – Right next to, and just below toilets and it stinks. Only possible tent spot immediately next to picnic table. (My notes had sites 9 & 10 switched, but I changed them here to match the map above. So, um, beware…in case my notes were right originally)

Site 11 – Across road from bathrooms but no smell and not too close. Highway noise. Great river view. Access to Gorge Trail from campsite.

Site 12 – Space for two tents. Great river view. Access to Gorge Trail overlooking river from campsite. Lots of highway noise.

Site 13 – Small and private. Flat spot for small tent. Highway noise. Can see river through trees.

Site 14 – Very close to site 15. Good choice for combined campsite for large group with 15. Unlike the logs between 3 & 4, these have easy access to each other. Highway noise. Access to Gorge Trail from campsite. Only decent tent spot is between fire pit and table.

Site 15 – Full view of site 14. Can see specks of river through trees. Highway noise. Big flat spot for huge tent or for congregating with a big group.

Site 16 – Very big, room for three tents or maybe four. Highway noise.

Site 17 – Two tent spots. Directly across from, and in view of, campground host. Highway noise.

First thing in the morning, a small cottontail rabbit was in my campsite, munching little bits of green things growing. That’s an added bonus.

The campground is high on a hill above the parking for the Eagle Creek Trailhead. In fact, I didn’t even know there was a campground up here for years because it’s so far removed. Thursday morning, I drove down the hill again to the trailhead and at 7:50 am found plenty of parking right at the trailhead. I buttoned up the car, used the nearby bathroom – which has a sink with running water, unlike the one in the campground – and threw on my pack.