3.3113 reviews
Price
$14 - $17/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
15 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
$14 - $17/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
15 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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State Rt. 224, Estacada, OR
Steelhead and Kokanee anglers or whitewater kayakers who just need a cheap riverside base at $17/night. The Clackamas runs right past camp, summer flows drop to paddling-friendly levels, and the cedar-and-alder canopy keeps sites cool in July heat.
No potable water on-site means hauling everything from Estacada, 14 miles out. Add ongoing Riverside Fire hazards, burned snags overhead, eroded slopes nearby, zero hiking trails, and sites so close together you'll hear your neighbor's conversations all night.
Reference information about Carter Bridge Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mthood/fire/?cid=fseprd835619">CLOSED DUE TO RIVERSIDE FIRE</a></p><p>On the Wild and Scenic Clackamas River. The campground is a compact single loop through cedars, maples, and alders. A couple of berry patches suggest good picking in late summer. Some sites have great views of the river. Popular recreation activities include fishing and whitewater rafting.</p><p><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1102868.pdf">Download a Whitewater Recreation Map here!</a></p>
The elevation is 900 ft. The campground, beside the Wild and Scenic Clackamas River and Carter Bridge, is a compact single loop through cedars, maples, and alders. A couple of berry patches suggest good picking in late-summer. Walk-in tent sites stretch along the river. Some of these sites have great views of the river. Combined sites are tucked under a heavy canopy and offer minimal privacy.
Open May 15 through September 7
Contact the Ranger District Office for whitewater conditions on the Clackamas River. Hiking: None Fishing: Steelhead trout and Kokanee salmon - catch and release.
Contact the Ranger District Office for whitewater conditions on the Clackamas River.
The parking aprons are either dirt and gravel and all about the same size. A waste station with potable water is available for a donation at Timber Park Rest Area in Estacada, OR on State Rt. 224, mile marker 22.3.
In Estacada, OR, at the intersection of State Rts. 211 and 224, take Rt. 224 east and go 14 miles to campground on left.
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Summer offers the best combination of warm, stable weather and full river access. Daytime highs reach 70–85°F, with cool mornings in the mid-40s to mid-50s. This is peak season for fishing and rafting when flows drop to safer levels for paddling. The campground opens May 15 and closes September 7. Weekends and holidays fill up, so book early if you want a site near the river. Early season can bring light snow; late season brings autumn's first cold snaps. Pack layers and rain gear.
Open May 15–Sept 7; summer offers best weather and full river access for fishing/rafting.
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Carter Bridge Campground offers limited amenities. It features restrooms, vault toilets, and picnic tables with grills at each site. However, potable water and firewood are unavailable, and there are no laundry facilities or camp store. The campground sits by the Clackamas River, providing scenic views from some sites, but it was damaged in the Riverside Fire, and caution is advised due to burned areas and hazards.
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