Barton Park sits on the Clackamas River 20 miles southeast of Portland, drawing families and tubers with 98 campsites, a boat ramp, and direct river access. The county-run park offers water and electric hookups, warm showers, and a small entrance store selling firewood and supplies. Sites run $25-$125 per night. Reservations are essential on summer weekends.
Weather and SeasonsSummer delivers the best conditions. Daytime temperatures sit in the mid-60s to mid-80s°F, warming the Clackamas enough for comfortable tubing, swimming, and boating. All park services and extended hours (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) run May through September. Weekends fill up fast. Reviewers suggest arriving before midday to claim parking and launch spots. October brings 8 p.m. closures and thinner crowds. Some loops stay open for self-contained RVs through mid-November, though wet weather and higher river levels make fall less appealing for water activities.
Natural Features and SceneryThe campground spreads along a wooded bend of the Clackamas River, mixing Douglas fir shade with open grassy areas near the water. Upper loops sit on concrete pads under tree cover, while lower sites closer to the river have grass and dirt surfaces that can get muddy after rain. The river runs clear and calm through this section, warm enough for wading and tubing by midsummer. At 100 feet elevation, the landscape stays lush through peak season with ferns and undergrowth typical of western Oregon lowlands.