LIKELY PLACE RV RESORT AND GOLF, LIKELY, CA

Our Opinion: Recommend.  Well maintained, visually appealing, with some special touches.

Date of Stay:  Oct. 9-10, 2011

Weather During Stay:  A day of sun (arrival), a day of rain and clouds (meant no golf for Odel).  Cool nights.

Site Description:  Fifty gravel sites, more than half of them long, mostly level, pull-throughs.  Our site (30) was a 50 amp FHU; some sites are W/E only.  Voltage was good, but water pressure was poor.  Since we had read about that problem already, we filled our fresh water tank before arrival and used our pump to augment the water pressure.

Sites are quite spacious, with nicely mown, wide strips of grass between sites.  Roads are gravel and easy to maneuver. There are a few trees here and there in the park, and many on the edges.  The overall feel is open and spacious.

Well maintained bath house with laundry facilities (2 washers; 2 dryers).  At least two 3-sided shelters (hide from sun, wind, or rain).  The office doubles as the golf pro shop and a breakfast and lunch grill - we enjoyed breakfast there.

Rate:  With an AAA (or Good Sam) discount, $28/night for 50 amp FHU.

Phone/radio/TV:  Top-notch Verizon signal for the phones and MiFi.  WiFi is available, but we didn’t use it.  No obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite dish.  Three PBS channels and one network on the air antenna (digital).  No local NPR station.

Elevation/landscape/terrain:  This is a gently rolling campground (and golf course) at 4,600 ft. elevation.  Lots of juniper (or cedar?) trees on the sage-covered hillsides.  Views are of lovely high-desert shrubs and trees, rolling ranchland, and distant mountains.  Very appealing.

Lighting/noise:  Quite dark at night except for a tall security light here and there (too bad).  No traffic noise at all, no train noise, just a coyote chorus now and then.

Favorite Sites:  We were in site 30 and liked it fine - very spacious.  Pull-through sites 31-35 are in the “front row”, so you would not have other rigs parked between you and the view to the east, but those sites don‘t have sewer hookups.

Hiking/Walking: This park SHINES in this category!  Besides an 18-hole golf course, they have developed a geocache golf game, in three sections of varying lengths.  Do all three sections for 5.5 miles, or one section for as little as 1.1 miles.  If that doesn’t appeal, a 1.4 miles nature trail with several comfortable benches offers views of the golf course and surrounding area.  Thoughtful and fun amenities.

Comments:  The tiny town of Likely is in the remote NE corner of California.  Click here to read a bit about the history of the golf course and RV park.  Closed from the end of October until the first of May (high altitude = snow).  Otherwise, if you are traveling Hwy 395 in northern California, we recommend a stop here, especially if you golf.

COLLIER MEMORIAL STATE PARK, CHILOQUIN, OR

Our Opinion: Recommend.  Roomy sites, lovely rivers nearby, pleasant walking trails, interesting logging museum, and reasonably close proximity to Crater Lake.

Our first visit to Collier Memorial State park was two years ago, when we used it was a base camp to visit Crater Lake.  On this visit, we stayed two night, October 7-8. 

A few things have changed:

The Discovery Season rate increased $4/night, to $17.  Still a very good rate for a spacious, paved FHU site (50 amps) in a very nicely maintained campground.  Still first-come, first served (no reservations taken).  We arrived on Friday at noon and had our pick of many sites; folks arriving later on Friday had fewer choices, but the campground was not full on Friday or Saturday night.

When we visited in 2009, no local NPR station was available.  You can now pick up Jefferson Public Radio, the NPR broadcast for southern Oregon and northern California, on 90.9 FM.

Click here to read our full review from our first visit, which has been updated to reflect changes since our 2009 visit.  By the way, there is a truck stop travel plaza 3 miles south on highway 97 (east side), at the KlaMoYa Casino.  Gas and diesel (with truck pumps); easy access for big rigs.

BEND ELKS LODGE, BEND, OR

Our Opinion: Neutral.  Private; you must be an Elk to stay here.

Date of Stay: October 4-6, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Cold, day and night!  Some sun, plenty of clouds.

Sites:  Eight back-in sites at the back of the lodge on asphalt.  Sites are paved and sufficiently sloped that we needed blocks under our front tires and jacks.  All sites have 30 amp E.  Water available from one spigot on the side of the lodge when the lodge is open (you need the “key“ for the spigot).    No dump on site.

No trees; all sites have open exposure.  Sites are large enough for big rigs, but very narrow - just enough room for slides (on one side) and steps. Tow and towed vehicles can be parked in parking slots nearby.

Rate: $15/night for 30 amp E.  Stay limit 7 days.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon phones and aircard signal.  No obstructions to block TV satellite dish.  Around 10 digital stations on the air antenna, including 2 PBS stations.  Lodge has secure WiFi; we didn’t use it.  NPR on 88.1 (and probably others).

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  This is a small, sloped parking area at 3,600 ft. elevation.  Sites face west, with a nice view of the Cascade range.  Near view is of the lodge and neighboring residences.

Lighting/Noise: Tall security lighting at the lodge keeps it very bright at night.  Reasonably quiet.

Favorite Sites: No difference between sites.

Hiking/Walking: Nothing appealing from the lodge, but there are plenty of recreational opportunities around Bend.  Several pleasant walks/hikes at nearby Pilot Butte.

Comments: Bend is a popular summer destination for RV’ers and recreation enthusiasts.  Though parking at the lodge is very tight, it is the best deal in the area for a short-term stay.  This was our second stay at this active lodge.

MT. VIEW RV PARK, BAKER CITY, OR

Our Opinion: Neutral.  A relaxed RV park with very friendly and helpful staff.

Date of Stay:  Sept. 24-26, 2011

Weather During Stay:  Highs in the upper 70’s to mid-80’s, 50’s at night.

Site Description:  This rustic-looking RV park has a mix of tent and FHU RV sites on level gravel and grass with plenty of large shade trees.  The entrance, though a small mobile home park, isn’t glamorous, but we find the RV park meets our needs.

We were in site 123, a long 50 amp FHU site with afternoon shade and no trees blocking satellite TV access.  Water pressure and voltage was good.  Our site had an aging wooden picnic table.

The park’s office, store and common area buildings are “rustic western” style, and tubs of flowers bloom along the roadway.  It is obvious that the owners care about the look of their comfortable RV park.  Nice laundry facility, spa, small swimming pool, clean restrooms, and a small store on site.  Propane sold on site.

Rate:  We paid $31/night with an AAA card and discount for paying by check.   

Phone/radio/TV:  Good Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard.  WiFi available for $2/day; we didn’t need it.  Cable TV with 40 channels.  Pick a site carefully if you have a roof-mounted satellite dish as there are a lot of tall shade trees here.  Local NPR on 88.9.

Elevation/landscape/terrain:  This flat park is in a dry area of eastern Oregon at 3,400’,  Located on the edge of town, residential on one side, commercial on the other.  Views are of neighbors and trees.

Lighting/noise:  A few tall, bright lights keep it from total darkness at night.  Mostly quiet except for 4-6 distant trains per night.

Favorite Sites:  For our size rig, sites 115-127. 

Hiking/Walking: Walk out the gate on the east side of the park, a couple blocks south and a few more east to find the 2.5 mile Leo Adler Memorial Trail.  Follow the trail south along the bank of the Powder River into the Baker City Historic Center.  Very pleasant.

Comments:  Baker City is a very friendly, unpretentious town, and Mt. View RV Park is the same.  There are two RV parks in town, not far from each other.  We pick Mt. View because we can walk to downtown Baker City from the park.  The staff here is very friendly and helpful, and the owners appear to care about the park without turning it into a resort.  This was our second stay, and we would return.

LEWIS & CLARK GOLF & RV PARK, ASTORIA, OR

Our Opinion: Rave.  We got what we paid for at this small, pretty park on the outskirts of Astoria. 

Date of Stay:  The Labor Day holiday weekend, September 2 through 5, 2011.

Weather During Stay:  Unusually sunny and warm in Astoria, a real treat for us.  Cool nights and morning fog that burned off reasonably early.

Site Description:  We sprung for a “premium” site for this stay, adjacent to the green grass of a pretty, 9-hole golf course.  Utilities are situated so motor homes can pull in head first, facing the green expanse of the golf course.  Great setup, and a huge site, totally level.

Behind our row of 8 premium sites, 21 large, level FHU sites are arranged in two rows, 10 pull-through sites and 11 back-in sites adjacent to the road.  Another row of premium sites adjacent to another fairway have been added recently, 10 or so? 

Roads are paved; all sites are gravel with manicured grass between sites.  Spacing is good for a commercial RV park, particularly the premium sites.  No picnic tables or fire rings.  A large (very large) grassy area is provided for walking leashed pets.

Rate:  We paid $41/night for our premium site.  Seems a reasonable price for the amenities and location compared with other commercial parks we have visited this summer.  Golfing is $15 for 9 holes, $20 to go around twice.

Phone/radio/TV:  Good Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard.  They have WiFi (don’t know whether it is included in the fee or not), but we didn’t use it.  Our site had no obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite TV dish.  Cable TV with dozens of stations.  NPR on 89.7.

Elevation/landscape/terrain:  This sea level park is completely flat.  Views are of other rigs, the golf course, and the forest beyond.  Very appealing.

Lighting/noise:  Very dark and quiet at night.

Favorite Sites:  We loved our roomy site (A11) with its great golf course view.  A10 looked even larger.  We would not want to be in one of the back in sites adjacent to the road, B11 through B21 (though I’m sure the price is lower for these).

Hiking/Walking: Good for golfers!  Plenty of good walking within a short drive, though.

Comments:  We were happy we had chosen this park for our Labor Day holiday stay.  Well managed, attractive, quiet, close to all that the Astoria area has to offer - which is a lot.

L.L. “STUB” STEWART STATE PARK - BANKS, OR (NW CORNER OF OREGON)

Our Opinion: Rave.  Huge level sites, FHU, and unlimited hiking.

Date of Stay:  Sept. 1, 2011

Weather During Stay:  Sunny and warm, with a pleasant nighttime cool down.

Site Description:  Seventy-eight 50 amp FHU sites (almost all back-ins) are arranged around two loop roads, 43 in the west loop and 35 in the east loop.  All sites are HUGE, with large gravel pads.  Generous spacing between sites.  Most of the sites are very level.  The west loop also has a separate tent camping area (12 sites).

In both campground loops, sites angle off the loop road on both sides.  The east loop is very open; lots of sunshine and not much privacy.  The west loop has a thick row of trees running through the center of the loop, so sites on both the inside and outside of the road back up to trees, providing a lot more privacy.  Flush toilets and hot showers in each loop.  Each site has a substantial picnic table and a fire pit.

We choose site 49 in the west loop, facing east to capture the warmth of the morning sun and some afternoon shade from the trees at the back of our site.  Voltage and water pressure are good. 

Roads are paved and easy to navigate (slowly) in a big rig.  There is a playground in the east loop.  Just one collection point for trash and recycling, across from the “Welcome Center” as you enter the park.

This park also has a horse camp with 16 FHU sites and other amenities, and a “cabin village” of  12 one-room cabins and 3 two room cabins.

Rate:  $26/night for FHU.  Stay limit unknown.

Phone/radio/TV:  Good Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard.  WiFi was not working at the time of our visit.  Our site had no obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite TV dish.  No stations on the air antenna; no local NPR station.

Elevation/landscape/terrain:  This is a hilly park!  Elevation is probably around 500’.  Most areas are heavily forested - the exception being the camping and cabin areas.

Lighting/noise:  Very dark and quiet at night.

Favorite Sites:  We loved our site, so big, level, and sunny.  We preferred the west loop, where the trees in the center provide much more privacy than the open east loop.

Hiking/Walking: The are trails everywhere in the park, for hikers, bikers and equestrians.  The centerpiece is the paved, 21-mile Vernonia/Banks State Trail.  A park brochure includes distance and difficulty information for all the trails.

Comments:  This fairly new park is a gem, with some of the largest sites we’ve seen in a state park.  Very friendly, helpful hosts.  As the photos show, the grass was dry and brown this time of year, but the park was appealing nonetheless.   Reservations can be made online, but very few sites were full on the day we visited during the week.

NEWPORT ELKS LODGE, NEWPORT, OR

Our Opinion: Neutral - but we would not be likely to return.  Private; you must be an Elk to stay here.

Date of Stay: August 16, 17, 18, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Beautiful sunshine, cool temperatures - and WIND at the beach..

Sites:  8 back-in sites on asphalt behind the lodge building. All sites have 30 amp E, water, and cable TV.  Rather narrow sites (no room for your awning if you have neighbors) are sloped to varying degrees; we used boards on the passenger side to level sufficiently.

Rate: $15/night for W/E and cable TV.  No dump station.  Stay limit 7 days.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon phone and aircard signal.  No obstructions to block TV satellite dish, and cable TV is provided.  NPR on 90.5 FM.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  This lodge sits on the side of a hill above the marina and old Bayfront area of Newport between a residential neighborhood and a heavily trafficked commercial street.  Most of the RV sites are not level, but we managed to settle in comfortably.  Views are of neighboring rigs, the back of the lodge, and nearby houses.

Lighting/Noise: A major east/west state highway traverses the hillside just above the RV parking.  Lots of daytime traffic noise, and occasional very noisy trucks or motorcycles during the night. If you click on the top photo, you can spot the cab of a truck passing by on the road, just above our motorhome (the one with the white solar screen).

Favorite Sites: None of them are great!  Sites 5 and 6 look reasonably level and longer, but face directly to the back of the lodge.  The photos look a bit nicer than the actual sites.

Hiking/Walking: We walked down the steep hill to the boardwalk along the marina.  Quite a hike back, but there is a bus that heads up the hill.

Comments: We would recommend this Elks parking only if you really want/need to be in Newport and are not willing to pay the high prices commanded by local RV parks - fees above $40/night are not unusual.  An nearby asphalt plant (or similar) puffs out a foul odor a couple of times a day, and there is considerable urban noise.  Next time, we’d stay at the nicer Elks parking in either Florence (south) or Lincoln City (north), or bite the bullet and pay the higher rate at an RV park.  Still, we commend the Newport Elks for making this budget-priced parking available to traveling Elks.  Probably the best deal in town.

SILVER SPUR RV PARK, SILVERTON, OR

Our Opinion: Recommend.  If you are a Passport America member, the price is very good.

Date of Stay: August 14-15, 2011

Weather During Stay:  Beautiful sunshine without too much heat.

Site Description:   Sites here are well designed for easy pull-through, with grass between the sites and a dedicated spot to park your tow/towed at the back of each site.  Our site had FHU, 30 and 50 amps, plus cable TV.  Each site had a picnic table, and sites are reasonable roomy for a commercial park.

Interior roads and sites are gravel/dirt, so a little dusty in dry weather.  Getting into the park and your site is easy; getting out is a little less easy.  Signs indicate that you are not to use the entrance road as an exit, but many big rigs did - making a left turn from the designated exit (to head west on Hwy 213) was next to impossible in a big rig.

It’s a big park (134 sites) with nice facilities including a couple of ponds, short walking trails, and a very large lodge/office building.  Price includes good WiFi.

Rate: $17/night for Passport America (minimal restrictions apply); twice that otherwise.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for phones and aircard.  We used their WiFi while here, and it was usually reasonably fast.  No obstacles for roof-mounted satellite dish, and they offered dozens of stations on cable TV.  We also got many local stations on the air antenna.  NPR on 91.5.   

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  Level park in a semi-rural area.  Views are of neighbors and distant trees.

Lighting/Noise: Considering the proximity to a major county road, this park was pleasingly quiet, and was reasonably dark at night (low lighting).

Favorite Sites: No favorites here.  Our site, 38, faced NW, so our patio side was shaded in the afternoon.

Hiking/Walking:  The park has a short walking trail around the ponds (we saw a Blue Heron).  You could walk into downtown Silverton (1 mile) and to Safeway (¼ mile or so?).

Comments: This is a good home base for exploring the Oregon Garden, Salem (Oregon’s capitol) or making a trip to Silver Falls State Park (15 miles away).  We had a pleasant stay at a very reasonable price.

5 PEAKS RV PARK, JOSEPH, OREGON

Our Opinion: Rave, if you have a self-contained RV.  Tiny (6 spaces), beautifully maintained, one block off the Main Street of Joseph.

Date of Stay: June 23-July 5, 2011

Weather During Stay:  Mountain-style summer weather - sun, clouds, rain, warmth, cold, wind, calm.

Site Description:  6 sites arranged in an L shape on a small, level, gravel lot.  All sites are FHU with cable TV.  Our site (site 1) had 50 amps, but apparently is the only one that does.  Each site has a sturdy picnic table. 

All sites backup to a wooden fence, so views are better for motor homes than for trailers.  On a cul du sac at the end of a gravel road, there is sufficient space for easy maneuvering of large rigs.  Lots of trees and flowers in the immediate area, and a clean, easy to use recycling station next to the small dumpster.

5 Peaks RV Park is intended for self-contained RV’s only: no restrooms, no showers, no laundry facilities.  This is not the place for tent or van camping.

Rate: The park has an interesting and unusual fee scale, starting at $30/night.  $120 pays for 6 nights (so if you pay $30/night for the first 4 nights, you might as well stay 6!) and each additional night is $20.  The monthly rate is $325.  We paid $20/night, the “6 days+“ rate, a very good price.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard, and a good signal on the free campground WiFi.   38 channels on cable TV.   NPR on 89.5. 

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  The small town of Joseph is at the end of a long road at the foot of the snow-capped (even in late June) Wallowa Mountains.  Elevation is 4,150 feet.  The near view from the park is of the owners small home and yard, and beyond to looming mountaintops over the trees, flowers, and small homes of Joseph.  Enchanting!

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet and dark at night. 

Favorite Sites: We had Site 1, closest to the owner’s home, and enjoyed it.  Site 2 is the most spacious site, and site 3 is nestled in the corner of the L.  Sites 4-6 face west. 

Hiking/Walking: Enjoyable walking all around this appealing town.  Walk to the small (but well-supplied) grocery store, or stop by the bakery for fresh coffee and pastries in the morning.  Wallowa Lake State Park is 6 miles farther south; pleasant walking there.  Drive a bit farther to hike the Eagle Cap Wilderness.

Comments: The first time we came to Joseph, we stayed in the pretty state park - but no cell service, no WiFi.  That’s fine when we are vacationing, but for a longer-term stay, we like all the amenities of home - including modern communications.  5 Peaks is the best of all possible worlds for us - tiny, friendly, beautifully maintained - and we enjoy the in-town convenience.  Very accommodating owners. 

EAGLES HOT LAKE RV PARK, LA GRANDE, OREGON

Our Opinion: Recommend.  A spacious, well-managed RV park in a rural area near La Grande.

Date of Stay: June 21-22nd, 2011

Weather During Stay: Sunny and hot one day; thunderstorms and cool the next.  The park had been underwater 3 weeks ago with rain and snowmelt!

Site Description:  100 FHU sites are arranged in two areas flanking the spacious entrance to the park.  Some sites are on gravel, others are on grass, but the overwhelming impression of the park is of a large, grassy meadow with ponds, landscaping, and lots and lots of parking for RV.  Plenty of room for rigs of any size here, and tenters have a shady, grassy spot away from the RV‘s. 

Our site had 50 amps, but not all do.  We faced a high, grassy hill, and when we made the reservation, the staffer thoughtfully asked if we have a roof-mounted TV satellite dish - apparently the hill presents an obstacle for satellite reception if you are in the row closest to the hill. Our site was on the west side of the entrance, where each site had a sturdy picnic table.  The grassy area to the east of the entrance was being used for a huge club rally and I’m not sure whether those sites had picnic tables.  Small (immature) trees are scattered through the sites.

Other amenities: laundry, recycling, small store in the office, grassy, shaded common areas, ponds, restrooms and showers.  The pool and hot tub were closed due to the earlier flooding.

Rate: $30/night; 10% discount for AAA, Good Sam and Military.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard, and a good signal on the free campground WiFi.   Per staff, the tall hill to the south can provide an obstacle to the signal.  Several TV stations (including PBS) are available on the air antenna.  NPR on 90.3. 

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  This park sits in a low valley (2,720 ft. elevation) in eastern Oregon, an area of rolling range with mountains to the east and west.  The park is in a rural setting, separated from the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area by the gravel entrance road.  Lots of birds and morning birdsong, including the strange warble of the Sand Hill cranes.  Expansive views to the north, distant mountains to the west and east, and a very high hill to the south.  Quite appealing.

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet and dark at night.  A train track about ¼ or ½ mile away is very active, but the sound was quite muted - rather pleasant.

Favorite Sites: We were in site 60 and enjoyed it very much - quite roomy.  Most sites here are similar, though; I didn’t see any that were objectionable.

Hiking/Walking: Do several loops around the park for plenty of exercise, or walk west on the gravel road (Hot Lake Lane) along Ladd Marsh.  VERY little traffic.  Ladd Marsh is reputed to have good walking/birding trails.

Comments: In our short stay, we visited the Farmer’s Market in La Grande (small but good), visited the historic Hot Lake Resort next door (being renovated), and drove The Grande Tour, a scenic route though small towns and historic sites in the Grande Ronde valley - barely scratched the surface of all there is to do here.  DON’T trust your GPS for directions if coming from the south unless you don’t mind a drive of several miles on a washboard gravel road - ask the staff for directions instead.

GRANT COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS RV PARK, JOHN DAY, OREGON

Our Opinion: Recommend.  Great price for FHU in a quiet and appealing setting.

Date of Stay: June 19-20, 2011

Weather During Stay: Sunny and mild, cool at night.

Site Description: 25 paved, level RV sites, half back-ins, the remainder pull-throughs.  Most are suitable for big rigs.  Each has 20/30/50 amps, water and sewer, along with a picnic table.  Lots of tall trees to provide shade.  The RV park is adjacent to a large grassy area where tenters can camp.  Restrooms and showers are available.

Rate: $20/night.  Sites can be reserved in advance (and apparently often are, for the various events held at the fairgrounds.)  Self-register at the kiosk as you enter the RV park – where you can also check to see which sites are reserved in the coming days.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard.  Choose your site carefully if you have a roof-mounted TV satellite dish, as the many (appealing) trees present obstacles to finding the signal.  Three digital PBS stations (and nothing else) are available on the air antenna.  NPR on 91.5. 

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  At an elevation of 3,100 ft., the small town of John Day is just north of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness.  Hillsides are cloaked with evergreens, and there was a lot of green grass to be seen when we visited.  Near views are of tall trees and the fairgrounds property (we are next to the equestrian ring); distant views are of high mountains (currently, with snow).  Very appealing.

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet and dark at night.  This probably changes when the fairgrounds hosts an event, but we camped here during a quiet time.

Favorite Sites: We were in site 16, one of the few back-in sites without trees to the south.  Several of the pull-through sites would have worked for us, but they face west… we wanted to face the morning sun so choose a back-in site.  The sites we would avoid are 12, 13, 14, and 15 – they are the least appealing in the park.

Hiking/Walking: The RV park is bounded on one side by a river; a new pathway along the river was recently completed, which provides about a 30 minute walk round trip.  Walking around John Day was very pleasant, and it is an easy walk to “downtown”.

Comments: Lots of history and recreation in this area, most of which we did not explore since we were moving on east.  We did make time to visit the fascinating Kam Wah Chung site, an well-preserved remnant of John Day’s Chinese history that is now an Oregon State Historic Site (within easy walking distance).  We will look forward to a return trip to this RV park next time we pass through.

CRYSTAL CRANE HOT SPRINGS, CRANE, OREGON (SOUTHEAST OREGON)

Our Opinion: Rave!  Relax in a natural hot springs pool in the wide open spaces of eastern Oregon.

Date of Stay: June 15-18, 2011

Weather During Stay: Sunny and cool (upper 60’s for highs) during the day; chilly at night.  This has been an unusually cool spring in Oregon.

Site Description: Seven RV sites total - five pull-throughs on level gravel have 30 amps and water; two 30 amp FHU sites are somewhat sloped back-ins.  No trees at the RV sites.  All RV sites face east.  Be forewarned: this campground does not have a dump station, and just two of the sites have sewer.  If you won’t be staying in an FHU site, come with empty tanks!

RV’s sites are just one part of the story here.  The Crystal Crane compound includes several cabins, a large area for tents or small dry camping RV’s, a “camp kitchen” for the use of the guests, and a cozy common area with comfortable seating, a small library, a computer, and a large screen TV with satellite service.  Coffee is often on.  A bath house has clean, modern bathrooms and two small, overused shower rooms for bathers and campers.  Private hot baths are available for an extra fee (hourly). 

The staff is extremely helpful and friendly.  You can rent swimming noodles for $1 for the duration of your stay, and we each also rented a big, thick, terrycloth bathrobe ($2 per robe for the duration of your stay) for walking from our rig to the hot pool, to the shower and back.  Towels can be rented for $1 each.  Besides the campers, day visitors can pay to use the pool between 9 am and 9 pm.  The pool is open 24/7 to campers; the temperature averages 95 or so, with much hotter spots near the inflow of the natural hot springs.

Rate: In theory, $18 per night for W/E - but a variety of discounts are available and we were able to use them.  For the first night, we paid $9, Passport America.  For the second night, we got a 15% Escapees discount.  For the third and fourth nights, we got a 10% Good Sam discount.  The price covers 2 people, including unlimited use of the hot pool, the common area, and the bath houses.  FHU sites are $20, and I don’t know if discounts apply to those sites.  AND, there is a separate charge for pets (except indoor cats).  I don’t know how much it is, but if you have pets that go outdoors,  be aware that there is an additional charge. 

Phone/radio/TV: Here in the middle of nowhere (25 miles from a town of 4,000 people), Verizon just installed a new cell tower!  Great signal for phones and aircard, but the campground provides high-speed WiFi as well (which we used when our aircard broke!).  No obstacles for TV satellite, and two PBS stations (and nothing else) are available on the air antenna.  NPR on 90.1. 

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  Crystal Crane Hot Springs is in Harney county, a very sparsely populated area of eastern Oregon at 4110 ft. elevation.  The campground is a small oasis in a vast western landscape.   Views are very open, across miles of flat, scrub-covered ground and occasional mountain ridges.  Wide open, spacious, relaxing. 

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet at night.  Unfortunately, the camp compound is lit at night by 2 or 3 tall streetlights - a shame since this would be such a perfect “dark sky” situation.

Favorite Sites: We were in site 2, one of the 4 identical W/E pull though sites.  The two FHU sites might be nice for a longer stay, but a not as level as the W/E sites.

Hiking/Walking: The grounds of the campground are spacious, but no hikes in the immediate vicinity. 

Comments: Harney County has plenty of beautiful scenery, historical sites, interesting geology, the well known Malheur Wildlife Refuge, wild mustangs, and the Steens Mountain - all spread over a very large area populated by very few people.  Fuel up, and bring food.  We loved it.

PRINEVILLE ELKS LODGE, PRINEVILLE, OREGON

Our Opinion: Recommend.  Private; you must be an Elk to stay here.

Date of Stay: June 14, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Sunny, cool, and breezy.

Sites:  There are four electric boxes on two telephone poles at the back of the lodge lot, but sufficient space for only 3 RV’s if they have slides (4 Class B’s could squeeze in side by side).  We were the only rig there, so had our choice of where to park.  Electric only (no water or sewer at sites); nice new boxes with 20/30/50 amp outlets and excellent voltage. 

Parking is on level blacktop.  Your rig probably would be surrounded by cars if there was an event at the small lodge.  Located in a nice neighborhood two blocks off the main street and a couple blocks from the Crook County Courthouse.

Rate: $10 for electric hookup; $5 to dry camp.  Dump at the county campground about a mile south for $5.  There is a hose bib on the side of the Elks which could be used to fill your tank if not obstructed by cars in the lot.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon phones and aircard signal.  No obstructions to block TV satellite.  One station (from Portland) on TV antenna.  NPR from Eugene on 88.1 FM.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Level, paved parking in a nice neighborhood in a small town at 2,830 ft. elevation.  This is the dry side of the Cascades, but close enough to the mountains to have lots of pine trees around.  Views are of the lodge, the cupola of the Crook County Courthouse 2 blocks away, and a couple beautiful, substantial older homes across the street.   Pleasant neighborhood.

Lighting/Noise: Quiet at night; the lodge leaves outdoor lights on the building all night long.

Favorite Sites: No difference between them, other than proximity to the driveway or the sidewalk.

Hiking/Walking: Nice walking around this small town (10,000 population).  Likely to be hiking opportunities in the area, but we didn’t seek them out.

Comments: This was our first visit to Prineville, passing through on our way east.  Home to Les Schwab, the tire dealer, Prineville appears to be a friendly, prosperous small town with a beautiful golf course and lots of recreational opportunities in the area.  This friendly lodge made a great overnight spot.

ARMITAGE COUNTY PARK, EUGENE, OREGON

Our opinion: Rave. We first discovered this Lane County campground in October of 2009, and we returned for six nights on June 8, 2011 and another week in August, 2011. 

This is our choice if we want FHU when we visit this Eugene.  Spacious, close to town, usually quiet, with a combination of sunny and shaded sites.  The camping area shares the park with several picnic areas, a group camping area, and a dog park.

The only drawback to this park for us?  Our Verizon air card is on National Access here (read: slow), and the new (unsecured) WiFi provided at the park doesn’t reliably reach to our favorite site!  So maybe we’ll pick a new favorite site.  :)  Updated 8/2011: we are in site 14, and the WiFi signal is strong and fast.  Our friends in site 32 find it unusable, so pick lower numbered sites if WiFi is important to you.

In 2009, word was that showers would be built soon, but that hasn’t happened yet and we saw no sign of construction during this visit.  Click here to read our full review from our first visit, which has been updated to reflect changes since 2009.

UMPQUA GOLF AND RV RESORT, SUTHERLIN, OREGON

When we first visited this small, friendly park in August of 2009 (click here to read our full review from that stay), we made a mental note to return when we had time to stay longer.  We came back on June 3rd, intending to stay 3 nights on our way north.  By the time we had settled into site 9, an east facing back-in, we had decided to add two more days to our stay. 

Why?  Start with the camp host here, Lonnie Brock, friendly, mellow and extremely helpful.   After a 5 hour drive, it is nice to be welcomed with a big smile, helpful suggestions for site selection, and the opportunity to settle into the site before returning to the office to pay.  Sites are comfortably large for a commercial park.  Then there is the view, out towards the emerald green golf course and pine covered hills.  AND, it must be the best deal in all of Oregon if you are a Passport America member, as they continue to honor a Passport America rate of $15/night (50 amp full hookups, cable TV and blazing WiFi included – so fast that we used it instead of our Verizon MiFi). 

I particularly like the hilltop location, the reason we choose this park over the SKP park nearby (same price).  Odel likes the proximity to the golf course.  The only drawback is the moderate traffic noise from nearby highway 138, a main route to the coast.  Fortunately, traffic noise drops considerably after dark.  We could happily stay here longer… but have an appointment to keep in Eugene.

COLLIER MEMORIAL STATE PARK, CHILOQUIN, OREGON

Our Opinion: Recommend.  This makes an excellent base camp for visits to Crater Lake.

Date of Stay: October 9 through 11, 2009.  Updated October 2011.

Weather During Stay:  Mostly sunny, cool days and COLD (mid-20’s) nights.

Sites: 50 FHU sites (30/50 amp) in two loops tucked among huge pine trees, heavily shaded.   Most sites are reasonably level and large enough to accommodate big rigs. Nine of the sites are pull-outs - quite close to the narrow campground road - while the rest are back ins.  The campground road and all the FHU sites are paved; an additional 18 dry camping sites are gravel with tent pads.  All sites are first-come, first-served - and were full each of the 3 nights we stayed there.  (Edit: plenty of space available in October of 2011, though early arrivals had a far better selection.)

Onsite facilities include restrooms with flush toilets and hot showers, laundry facilities, and pay phone.  Four sets of campground hosts kept the campground well-groomed and sold firewood.

Rate: We paid $13 per night (Oregon’s “Discovery season” rate) for 50 amp FHU.  The in-season rate is $17, still a bargain - but we heard the fees would be increasing by $4/night next year due to budget problems.  (Edit: Paid $17/night for FHU October 2011, Discovery Season rate.)

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon phone and aircard signals.  Our roof-top mounted TV satellite couldn’t find a signal through all the trees, though there were a few sites (very few) that might work.  No TV stations on the over-the-air antenna.  No radio stations - hurray for Sirius satellite radio!  (Edit: Jefferson Public Radio, an NPR station, available on 90.9 in October 2011.)

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Flat, level parking at about 4,000 ft.  Views are of neighbors and tall pines.  A few of the sites on the south side of the campground had views of the Williamson River.

Lighting/Noise: Very dark and very quiet at night - lots of stars. 

Favorite Sites: We probably would opt for a site near the river next time - until we explored the campground on foot, we didn’t realize there is a river nearby.  We didn’t like any of the pull-outs along side the campground road, but they were snapped up by those who don’t like backing in.

Hiking/Walking: Though it was not immediately apparent, this campground has GREAT walking.  Beautiful, clear Spring Creek joins the Williamson River very close to the campground, and trails along the riverbanks are a real treat. 

The state park is also home to the interesting Collier Memorial Logging Museum and Pioneer Village, a short walk away along the river.

Comments: This campground would rate a RAVE but for one thing: lack of privacy in the sites.  The sites are roomy and very well maintained, but have no bushes to provide any privacy at all… that’s how it is in a pine forest.  We certainly will return, though.  Only 25 beautiful miles from the campground to the southern entrance to Crater Lake National Park.

VALLEY RIVER CENTER, EUGENE, OREGON

Our Opinion: Rave. This is our favorite urban dry camping site.

Date of Stay: October 7 and 8, 2009. This is our 5th stay here.

Weather During Stay: Beautiful. Highs in the low 70’s. Low’s around 50.

Sites: No developed sites. This is dry camping on asphalt, nestled up against a bike trail and the Willamette River in a far corner of a shopping center parking lot (Valley River Center).

Rate: Free. 2-night limit, can be extended by speaking with security.

Phone/radio/TV: Excellent Verizon phone and aircard reception. No obstructions for TV satellite. We didn’t put up the antenna, but there are no doubt some local stations available. NPR on 89.7 (and probably others).

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Elevation is 430 feet. View is of trees, the wide Willamette River, bikers, walkers, skaters, and joggers on the multi-use trail, and a wide expanse of parking lot between you and the shopping mall parking (this photo).

Lighting/Noise: Lights along the trail and in the parking lot illuminate the sides of the RV at night, so choose your spot with that in mind. Noise during the day from cars in the parking lot, and the conversations of passers-by on the trail. Quiet at night, until the occasional footfalls of the early joggers begin at dawn.

Favorite Sites: We like to park facing west, next to the curb along the river or, in colder weather, facing south along the curb on the west of the lot. Shopping center regulations ask that you park in the northwest corner of the parking lot, which is the least used section of the lot.

Hiking/Walking: Can’t be beat. Green space laced with a paved trail follows both sides of the river. A four-mile loop crosses the river on two pedestrian bridges (one is about 50 yards away for where we park), or cross the river and head east to the university, past a community garden and a large rose garden in the parkway. Beautiful in all directions. Photos in this collage were taken during a springtime visit, within 1/4 to 1/2 mile of our parking spot.
Comments: We love Eugene, and this convenient, free parking is a plus. Jacks and slides allowed. The parking lot is patrolled by friendly security personnel, who will stop by to register your rig. They have a list of “regulations”, apparently designed to be able to give the heave-ho to those who might take advantage of the shopping center’s tolerant attitude. After spending two nights here on one visit, we had an appointment for minor repairs in Junction City, so spoke with the security guard about the possibility of returning afterwards for one more night if necessary. Answer: “no problem“. Eugene has both a Costco and a Trader Joe’s, a short drive from VRC. A few chain restaurants are within walking distance; several good restaurants in downtown Eugene.

Directions: From I-5 (north or south), take exit 195 to head west on the Beltline Highway. After a few miles, exit to head south on the Delta Highway (I think there is a sign for “Valley River Center”). Head south a mile or two to Valley River Center Road and go west. At the intersection with Goodpasture Island Road (there is a Red Robin on the left and a Marie Callendars on the right), turn left. Turn right at the next road (not the parking lot driveway) and head towards the river, passing the small (now apparently defunct) car dealership on the right. At the dead-end (stop sign), turn right and find a place to park along the curb next to the bike trail or the field.
You can find this on Streets and Trips by looking for “Valley River Center, Eugene, OR”. I imagine the same is true of GPS systems.