★ Field-verified · Dave's ownUSFS · dispersedFree
Willamette National Forest
Drive-up · U.S. Forest Service · Marion County, OR · 44.76067, -122.16716
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Ask about this camp →Dave's been here. A spot from Dave's own travels on U.S. Forest Service land — free to camp. Conditions still change, so confirm access, stay limits and fire rules before you go.
A secluded, primitive clearing with a small fire circle nestled in Willamette National Forest, surrounded by moss, ferns, and conifers. French Creek flows audibly just a short walk away. Some cell service. Enough room for two vehicles. A lovely setting that is not too far from pavement. Visible from forest road. Good place to stop between Portland and Bend. Recommended.
USGS topo — contours & terrain
Aerial — USGS / NAIP
Weather outlook
Loading the latest forecast…
Live NWS area forecast (~2.5 km grid, not elevation-corrected). Camp sits at 1,838 ft.
Fire & smokeNIFC · AirNow
Checking active fires & air quality…
Active wildfires from NIFC (within ~50 mi); air quality from AirNow. Always confirm current fire restrictions with the managing office before you go.
Everything you need — measured from camp
Straight-line miles · bearings approx · roads run longer
Nearest of each
- FFuel2 mi
- GGrocery2 mi
- OOutfitter2 mi
- @Mail2 mi
- ShShower2 mi
- WWater4 mi
- +Urgent care15 mi
- MMechanic22 mi
- PPropane33 mi
- HHardware34 mi
- RxPharmacy34 mi
- LLaundry34 mi
- DDump37 mi
- AAir-up42 mi
≤30 mi30–4545+water
The read: water is basically at camp, fuel & food sit about 2 mi out.
One dot per need — the nearest of each kind, straight-line from camp. Places from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Open in Google Maps ↗
The site
Access
Drive-up
Land
U.S. Forest Service · dispersed
Elevation
1,838 ft
County
Marion County, OR
Coordinates
44.76067, -122.16716
Cost
Free
Nearby & resupply (OpenStreetMap)
- Water featureFrench Creek (stream) · nearby
- Nearest townDetroit · ~1.9 mi
- Drinking waterDrinking water · ~3.8 mi
- FuelFuel · ~1.7 mi
- Propane / LPGPropane · ~22.2 mi
- Dump stationnone within 31 mi
- GroceriesMountain High Grocery · ~1.8 mi
- Hospital / clinicClinic · ~15.2 mi
From the field — what Dave saw, in person
Cell service
Had a signal
Getting there
Any vehicle managed it
Fire ring
Yes
Toilet on site
No
Tent friendly
Yes
Verdict
Recommended
Nearby restrooms — pit toilets, restrooms & rest areas (government data)
- Vault / pit toiletUpper Arm · ~1.5 mi SE · USFS
- Vault / pit toiletHumbug · ~1.6 mi SE · USFS
- Vault / pit toiletDetroit Flats · ~2.3 mi SE · USFS
- Vault / pit toiletPiety Island · ~2.7 mi S · USFS
Open this spot elsewhere
Other camps nearby
If this one is full, gated or washed out.
- Breitenbush Campground~8.7 mi
- Round Lake~12.6 mi
- Little Fan Creek Campground~16.3 mi
- Quartzville Creek Wild And Scenic River~16.5 mi
How we know this
Source
Dave's own travels
Confidence
Researched — The record is detailed and internally consistent, and the coordinates land where the managing agency says this site is.
How it was placed
FIELD VERIFIED by Dave Lalande -- he has stood on this site. Coordinates are his own GPX track point, not a geocode. County and state confirmed against the FCC Census Block API (Marion County, OR). Everything under 'From the field' is a direct observation; nothing here is inferred from a land record.
Field check
Verified on the ground. Dave has stood on this one. Conditions still change — confirm before you commit.
What we don’t know
A land record can put you within a few metres of a spot. It cannot tell you any of this — so check it yourself, and treat anything below as the open question it is.
- How many rigs actually fit
- Seasonal & winter access
- Current fire restrictions
- Whether any water here is drinkable
- Shade & wind exposure
- Noise and who else shows up
Before you go
Finding water out here →What “dispersed” means here →Dumping grey & black →Dispersed camping tips →All field notes →
Been here? Tell us what changed. This page is built from public records, so the fastest way it gets better is somebody who has actually pulled in. Road washed out, site gone, gate locked, or it is exactly as described — all of it useful. Send a report →