Camping along Columbia River Gorge (Portland, Hood River: swimming, parks, areas)

[taoiinc]

Hello,

I am new to this board and am looking for some info about tent camping along the Columbia River Gorge. We do a lot of hiking and fishing, on this trip will have our two kids along so the hikes will be shorter but I have some great books for hikes. Now I'm looking for more info on camping.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for all the great posts!

[diggitydot]

Definitely check out Beacon Rock State Park. Very cool and you can climb the rock, too. You won't need rock climbing gear if you just want to use the trail up the river side of the rock that has a bunch of switch backs. But there are areas where you'll need the gear if you want to scale the climbing areas on the SE and S faces.

It's in the gorge, east of Camas/Washougal. The drive is gorgeous. Here's a link to the state park's site: Beacon Rock State Park (page 1 of 2)

[mystang]

I am also looking for places to camp/RV on the Oregon side, as close to Hood River as possible. Any places exist? None of the state parks are close enuf.
Are there any private or county campgrounds?

[mdvaden]

Is Mt. Hood National forest too far? I know there are campgrounds within maybe 1/2 hour or so of Hood River if you take the highway that goes toward Mt. Hood.

Don't think there are showers, and maybe no restrooms.

KOA to generic? Anyway, there's one somewhere near Bonneville Dam or Cascade Locks - in that neck of the woods.

That campground near Beacon Rock is barely 8 minutes driving from Oregon using Bridge of the Gods at Cascade Locks.

I'm itching to get a video of Beacon Rock on the way up for my hiking pages. I did one going into the trail for the Bigfoot Trap down here, Blue Ledge Mine, and Avenue of the Giant Boulders.

Once we move, I'll get the vid of Beacon Rock - like 20 clips of the trail and views at different levels. Much more fun than photo alone.

[StealthRabbit]

Isn't there a state park at Rowena? (east of HR ~ 20 min)

[mikki_when]

i want to go tent/camping along the columbia river with my kids and do some fishing but i dont want to pay to much ..... does any body know where i can go or anybody have some info for me

[mikki_when]

Did you gat any info? it sound like were looking for the same thing.

[The lighthouse]

LaPage park is nice. Good swimming area; cheap rates and especially fun if you have a boat. You can jet up to the boat access park, about three miles up the river, where you can set up tents. There is a lagoon for swimming, bathrooms, some grills, and a couple of picnic tables. The river temp is warm (as compared to the Columbia), and the river is usually smooth. Lots of fishing opportunities further up the river (the narrows), and a good place for skiing, knee-boarding, etc. The park is about 116 miles East of Portland just off of I-84.