How much does camping cost at Wickiup Campground?

Camping fees at Wickiup Campground range from $6/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Book online to see exact pricing for your dates.

Is Wickiup Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Wickiup Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

What is the best time to visit Wickiup Campground?

Wickiup Campground is open No specific peak season dates mentioned.. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Wickiup Campground?

Wickiup Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Can I have a campfire at Wickiup Campground?

Fire policies at Wickiup Campground: No specific campfire policies mentioned.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

How many campsites does Wickiup Campground have?

Wickiup Campground has 1 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Wickiup Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Wickiup Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Wickiup Campground?

Wickiup Campground offers: Restrooms. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Wickiup Campground?

Popular activities at Wickiup Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Wickiup Campground

4.28

18 reviews

431 Patterson Bridge Road John Day, OR 97845

Featured in:Fishing Camping Oregon

Quick Facts

4,311 ft

Price

$6/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

1 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

RV Friendly

Check Availability Official Website

Get Directions

Quick Facts

4,311 ft

Price

$6/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

1 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

RV Friendly

Check Availability Official Website

Get Directions

Wickiup Campground

$6.00 - $6.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Single Site: $6 per night Additional Vehicle Fee: $3 per vehicle per day $6/Night for single unit, $3/Night for extra vehicle

Standard Site Fee$6.00

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USFS

Provider

(541) 575-3000SM.FS.malpubinfo@usda.gov

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

431 Patterson Bridge Road John Day, OR 97845

Wickiup Campground

431 Patterson Bridge Road John Day, OR 97845

Nearby places

John Day, OR - 10 miles (~15 minutes drive)

Nearby supplies

John Day, OR, which is 10 miles (~15 minutes drive) away, offers groceries, camping supplies, and fuel options.

Weather at Wickiup Campground

Best Time to Camp at Wickiup Campground

Summer delivers the most reliable access and comfortable conditions. Daytime highs run mid-60s to mid-80s°F with nights dropping into the 40s and 50s at this elevation. Trails dry out, Forest Road 15 becomes passable, and wildlife activity peaks. Expect modest weekend traffic during summer months. Winter closes in with freezing temperatures and snow that makes the access road impassable for most vehicles.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Summer offers most reliable access; popular for shaded spots and creek activities.

Planning Tips

Peak Season: No specific peak season dates mentioned.. Book 2-3 months ahead.
Operating Season: Open year-round.

About Wickiup Campground

Wickiup Campground sits along Canyon Creek in Malheur National Forest, accessed via Forest Road 15 at 4,311 feet elevation. This single-site primitive campground runs $6 per night and offers vault toilet access but no potable water. The 2015 Canyon Creek Complex fire reshaped the surrounding landscape, creating open vistas alongside recovering forest.

Wickiup Campground is a primitive campground offering a rustic camping experience with limited amenities. It primarily caters to tent and potentially RV campers.

Historical Significance

The 2015 Canyon Creek Complex fire burned through this section of forest, resetting the landscape and triggering a visible recovery process. New growth now emerges from the burn, demonstrating how fire cycles through these mountain ecosystems.

Weather and SeasonsSummer delivers the most reliable access and comfortable conditions. Daytime highs run mid-60s to mid-80s°F with nights dropping into the 40s and 50s at this elevation. Trails dry out, Forest Road 15 becomes passable, and wildlife activity peaks. Expect modest weekend traffic during summer months. Winter closes in with freezing temperatures and snow that makes the access road impassable for most vehicles.

ElevationWhile specific elevation details await confirmation, Wickiup's mountain setting places campers firmly in the high country, where the air feels thinner and the stars shine brighter.

Natural Features and SceneryCanyon Creek flows directly past the campground, carving through mountainous terrain with pools and pockets that draw anglers. The 2015 fire opened dramatic sightlines across the canyon and ridge country, leaving standing snags mixed with new growth. Late summer brings wildflower meadows to the burn area. The creek provides constant water sound, and what shade remains comes from surviving trees and younger growth filling in the understory.

Geological RegionWickiup Campground claims its place within the vast expanse of Malheur National Forest, where Canyon Creek has carved its course through ancient mountainous terrain over countless millennia. This rugged landscape showcases the geological forces that shaped Oregon's backcountry, from volcanic origins to erosive sculpting by water and weather. The 2015 Canyon Creek Complex fire added the latest chapter to this ever-evolving geological story, demonstrating how fire serves as another architect of the forest, clearing old growth and preparing the soil for the next generation of wilderness.

Scenic ViewsViews include Canyon Creek, forested areas, and nearby mountains.

Lodging & AccommodationsNo lodging or accommodation options like cabins, yurts, or lodges are mentioned in the provided materials.

Programs & ActivitiesNo cultural or educational programs are mentioned.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Check-in

2:00 PM

Check-out

12:00 PM

Stay Limit

No specific stay limit mentioned

Guests Allowed Per Site

Not explicitly stated

Groups

Information about group camping sites and their specific capacities is not provided.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsReservations may be available; no specific platform mentioned.

Walk-in AvailabilitySites may be reservable but information on walk-up availability is not explicitly provided.

Cancellation PolicyNo cancellation policies provided in the data.

Site SizeExact dimensions of the campsites are not provided.

PrivacySpecific details about the level of privacy between sites are not provided in the information.

Total Campsites1 campsites

Recommended SitesNo specific site recommendations provided.

Need help booking Wickiup Campground?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Potable water is not available at this site. Restrooms Vault toilet(s)

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

Wickiup Campground provides activities such as picnicking, stream fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, and hunting in warmer months. During winter, it also serves as a starting point for snowmobiling.

Hiking

Fishing

Wildlife viewing

Winter Activities

Water Sports

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsPotential hazards include rapidly changing weather conditions and wildlife risks.

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not present at the campground. A user review explicitly states, "be warned that one reviewer stated that there is running water and flush toilets. This is false. The one toilet here is a vault toilet."

Fire PolicyNo specific campfire policies mentioned.

Quiet HoursQuiet hours are Between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM.

Emergency ServicesMalheur National Forest Headquarters / Blue Mountain Ranger District (address: 431 Patterson Bridge Road John Day, OR, phone: (541) 575-3000). The closest hospital, police station, and other emergency services are likely in John Day, OR.

Trash & RecyclingVisitors are required to pack out all trash, as stated in the guidelines: 'Pack it in/Pack it out. Anything you bring with you into the forest, including all trash, must be taken home.'

Water FeaturesAdjacent to Canyon Creek.

Cell CoverageCell phone service availability is not explicitly stated in the sources.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

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From Booking Sources

4.3

18 reviews

Satisfactory

Wickiup Campground is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews

The campground is consistently praised for its peaceful and scenic setting along Canyon Creek. However, some reviews clarify incorrect information about the facilities, including the lack of flush toilets and potable water.

Review Summaries

Based on 18 reviews

What Campers Love

Reviewers frequently highlight the beauty and tranquility of the campground, with mentions of its setting by Canyon Creek and the surrounding natural environment.

Based on 18 reviews

Common Concerns

Common complaints include the lack of potable water and flush toilets as well as the occasional spread of misinformation about the site's amenities.

Based on 18 reviews

Site-Specific Reviews

No specific campsites are mentioned or reviewed in the materials.

Based on 18 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Campers are advised to bring their own water and be prepared for primitive camping conditions. One user noted the campground is an ideal spot for a 'beautiful primitive get-away.'

Based on 18 reviews

Seasonal Insights

The campground is popular during the summer for its shaded spots and proximity to Canyon Creek, with winter drawing snowmobile enthusiasts. However, visitors are advised to prepare for rapidly...

Based on 18 reviews

Camper Quotes

1. 'This is a really nice small campground that I have been to dozens of times.' 2. 'I stayed here for almost two weeks. It was so beautiful and peaceful that I had a hard time leaving.' 3. 'Be...

Based on 18 reviews

Accessibility Features

No user reviews specifically address accessibility features or issues.

Based on 18 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

No reviews discuss experiences with pets or pet policies.

Based on 18 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.

Go if

Anglers and solitude-seekers who pack in their own water will find the creek access and post-fire canyon views hard to beat for six dollars. Summer is the reliable window before the access road gets sketchy.

Skip if

No potable water is the real filter here, car campers expecting even basic hookups or flush toilets will be disappointed. Winter snow makes Forest Road 15 impassable for most vehicles, so cold-season trips need serious prep.

Nearby Campgrounds

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Forest Road 16, Seneca, OR

Parish Cabin Campground sits at 5,000 feet along Bear Creek in the Malheur National Forest, about 16 sites spread across a loop-within-a-loop design. Young lodgepole pines provide good privacy between large, spacious sites. Fees run $4-8/night, with potable water available Memorial Day through September 30.

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Starr Campground, US Highway 395, John Day, OR

Starr Campground sits in Malheur National Forest at 5,177 feet, offering basic camping near Highway 395 for $6 per night. The campground splits into two areas: upper sites closer to the highway and lower sites tucked further into the ponderosa pines with better privacy. It's a no-frills basecamp for accessing Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, with vault toilets and fire rings but no water or trash service.

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Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site

PO BOX 10, MOUNT VERNON, Oregon, 97865, United States

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$26.00 - $34.00 / night

327 SW Front Street Prairie City, OR 97869

Murray Campground sits on the northern rim of Logan Valley in Malheur National Forest, a single-site spot at 5,282 feet that draws visitors seeking quiet and fishing access. The campground costs $8 per night and has no potable water, so plan accordingly. Reviews consistently mention the tranquility and brook trout fishing.

1 campsites

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Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin

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Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin sits at 5,949 feet in Malheur National Forest near Prairie City, operated by the Blue Mountain Ranger District. This historic fire lookout offers 360-degree views from its catwalk, serving hikers and wildlife watchers who want solitude and panoramic alpine scenery. The cabin accommodates guests seasonally during warmer months when trails are snow-free and wildflowers peak.

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Strawberry Campground

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Strawberry Campground sits at 5,860 feet in the Malheur National Forest, serving as the trailhead gateway to the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. The 10 first-come, first-served sites fill quickly. Often by afternoon in summer. And cost $4-8 per night. Ponderosa pines shade the sites along Strawberry Creek, and the rough access road keeps crowds manageable but demands high clearance.

$4.00 - $8.00 / night

327 SW Front Street Prairie City, OR 97869

Big Creek Campground sits at 5,100 feet in Logan Valley, where ponderosa pine forest meets open grassland at the edge of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. The campground offers 15 primitive tent sites for $8 per night, with potable water and vault toilets available Memorial Day weekend through September 30. Reviewers praise the quiet, secluded atmosphere and spacious sites.

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Campgrounds

Malheur National Forest

Wickiup Campground

From the U.S. Forest Service

Reference information about Wickiup Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →

Overview

<p>Wickiup Campground sets off of Forest Road 15 tucked amongst trees, next to Canyon Creek, the perfect place to relax in the shade during the summer months and listen to the creek flow past.  This is a beautiful campground that offers opportunities for picnicking and stream fishing.  The campground is a good starting point for hiking, viewing wildlife and hunting during the summer and fall months.  During the winter the entry to the campground makes a great starting point for snowmobile riders. </p>