Oregon Camping Hazards

Rain

It rains. And, because that’s the way the fates operate, every time you try to do something outdoors, it is virtually guaranteed to rain the whole time. Everything gets wet, which wouldn’t be so bad if you had a fire going, until you realize that wet wood doesn’t burn very well.

Solution – Bring these items:

• Tarps – to cover the firewood, to cover the tent (it’s amazing how often they leak) and to cover anything you want to sit on when it’s not in use.
• Ponchos – it’s okay to look like a huge orange pumpkin when the alternative is being soaked to the bone.
• Dry firewood – despite all the fallen trees, if the wood gathered is damp you get a terribly smoky fire, if it lights at all.

Let's Reiterate: Rain

I know I already said it, but seriously, it rains a lot. This also creates a problem if you do something like pull your canoe up beside the reservoir, don’t tie it down properly and go to bed. If enough water collects and has nowhere else to go, the water level rises and the canoe floats away. Yeah, it’s happened; luckily it was found again too.

Poison Oak

One of the nastier plants you aren’t expecting, the sap of poison oak contains urushiol, a poisonous toxin. that coats the leaves of a poison oak plant cause incredible skin irritation and itching. Though not terribly common, it is present in much of the Willamette Valley and Cascades. The glistening leaves arranged in sets of three give the plant away. Stay as far from it as possible.

Solution:
Remember the rhyme, “Leaves of three, let them be.”
Once you’ve been exposed, you’re screwed (unless you have Tecnu on hand, see below). Sorry, best solution at that point is to not itch it, believe me it just makes it worse.

Banana Slugs

That’s right. Slugs. These are perfectly camouflaged to blend in with any natural dirt pathway and are, as the name indicates, about the size of a banana. No sensation in the world is quite like that of stepping right on a banana slug, which results in something between an explosion and a squish.

Solution:
Watch where you step and always wear close-toed shoes.

Slippery When Wet

Yeah, rocks are slippery when wet. Even better, in Oregon they get covered with moss and slime that makes them even worse to cross. Be particularly careful around and in streams.

Solution: Watch your step near any running or standing water.

Finding a Campground

Finding a place to camp in the Cascades is as easy as picking a highway and driving until a promising sign appears. The campgrounds in the Cascades are not often well-marked, but if you keep an eye out for brown signs along the road, they’re always indicated. The drives along these highways are wonderful experiences in their own rights, providing very scenic views as they wind through the mountain range.

Follow any of these major routes through the Cascades (indicated N to S from the cities they reach to the west) and you’re sure to find campsites available:

From Portland: Hwy 26
From Salem: Hwy 22
From Corvallis/Albany: Hwy 20
From Eugene: Hwy 126 or Hwy 58
From Roseburg: Hwy 138

About Oregon State Parks

If you’re not looking for an ultra-cheap campground, Oregon’s State Parks offer a better quality stay. Though a little more expensive and with a tendency to get more crowded than the Federal Parks, State Parks often feature amenities such as real showers that many Federal Parks in Oregon don’t provide.

Top Campgrounds in The Cascades