Instead you will have to drive another mile down the road to a flatter and slightly larger parking space at the bottom of a small hill. If you have a larger vehicle/camper, it can be challenging to find flat parking. The parking area is great for vans to camp at. NF-300 is the access point for Bend’s iconic Whoops mountain bike ride. This is not an ideal spot for tent campers but it’s perfect for vans and okay for big rigs. The further out you venture, the less cell service there will be so be prepared. Past the ruts you’ll reach more secluded campsites. Half a mile further up the road there are some big ruts that can easily be avoided if you straddle them but big rigs, you have been warned. Get there before noon on a weekday and you should be able to snag a a spot. Note however that these big spots are often taken. Right where the road begins is where the largest sites can be found and is a popular access point for Ben’s MTB trail. This is one of the best spots for big rigs or groups tent. Related Blog: 29 Last-Minute Camping Gift Ideas From Amazon NF-4610, coordinates: 44.038352, -121.419245 Big open campsites on NF-4610 There are large open areas that are great for big rigs, group camping, and more. Here are the top places for free camping in Deschutes and tips for who it’s best for. Some roads are extremely popular while others are quite desolate and different roads are also better for different size vehicles. Chopping wood and chillin on a dirt roadsĭispersed camping sites can usually be found off of any road marked NF within national forest land. If you are creeped out about camping alone in a forrest it can feel different.Ĭlick here to read our Guide to Bend’s Best Mountain Biking. Use common sense when you are setting up camp. Yes it is safe to camp in the National Forrest. The best part about free camping here is that the campsites sit right at the access points to Phil’s trail system, some of Bend’s most epic mountain biking. Point being, Deschutes NF is a large, dense forest with plenty of room for everyone who want to enjoy its dispersed camping.īy camping here you’re also only a 15 minute drive from the hustle and bustle downtown Bend as well as Tumalo Falls, which is even further west. This National Forest is very big and where Deschutes NF does ends, more NF areas like Cascade Lakes and Willamette NF begin. Deschutes National Forest is just west of downtown Bend. While most National Forest has great free camping, Deschutes NF is even more spectacular. Nearby activities: Right at the trailheads to Phil’s Trail system (Bend’s best mountain biking), short drive to Tumalo Falls, and only 15 minutes from downtown Free Camping in Deschutes National Forestīest for: Varies depending on the road quality You have successfully joined our subscriber list. I’d encourage you to check out the Cascade Lakes section of this blog below or even better, click here and check out the best paid campgrounds on the Cascade Lakes Highway. I’ve heard there’s an increasing homelessness issue which has really degraded the quality of the national forest camping here. Updated May 2021: I have to disclose that I have not been to Bend in a while. Dispersed camping is totally legal, but for the sake of protecting natural places, ALWAYS follow Leave NO Trace principles. Free camping in Bend is a pristine experience with its beautiful old growth forests and natural features. Second, nearly everything west of downtown Bend is designated National Forest land, open to the public for recreational use AKA a free camping haven. For one, being a famous mountain biking destination, right next to Smith Rock, an iconic climbing spot, and just a stone throw away from the Three Sisters mountain range, the city of Bend is an outdoor and adventure capital of the PNW. Bend is a prime free camping location for many reasons.
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