Big Meadows Horse Camp
Big Meadows Horse Camp is located 23 miles south from Idanha, Oregon, at an elevation of 3,600 feet of Big Meadows Road (Forest Service Road 2267). Big Meadows Road is paved, but most access roads and travel surfaces throughout campground and in the adjacent forest are compacted rock. There are 9 camping units that can accommodate vehicles and trailers up to 36 feet in length. Each site has a picnic table. There are two single-vault toilets and stock amenities including 4-stall corrals or highlines in each campsite, hitching rack, loading ramp, and stock water trough. Drinking water is available via hand pump.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Oregon · reservable in Oregon · big rigs in Oregon · pets allowed in Oregon
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Equestrian | 9 |
| Standard, no hookups | 1 |
| Host/management | 3 |
Site guide
10 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Equestrian | Back-in | 44 | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 2 | Equestrian | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 3 | Equestrian | Back-in | 54 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 4 | Equestrian | Back-in | 42 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 5 | Equestrian | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 6 | Equestrian | Back-in | 78 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 7 | Equestrian | Back-in | 74 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 8 | Equestrian | Back-in | 104 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 9 | Equestrian | Back-in | 90 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| Standard | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 99 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Open Year Round (weather dependent) |
| Forest | Willamette National Forest |
| Booking | No advance reservations. |
| Fees | Campsites - $21 per night. Extra Vehicles - $6 per vehicle, per night. Campsite must be occupied every night paid. Download the Recreation.gov mobile app prior to your trip so you can pay the overnight fee digitally onsite with Scan and Pay. |
| Rules | Camping is not allowed more than 14 days in a 60 day period. Check-in time: 2:00 pm or later. Check-out time: 1:00 pm. Use of chainsaws in the campground is prohibited. Dogs MUST be on leash at all times within the campground |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Detroit, Oregon, travel 25.6 miles east on State Highway 22 to Big Meadows Road (Forest Service Road 2267). Continue on Big Meadows Road (Forest Service Road 2267) for 0.9 miles to Forest Service Road 2257. Proceed on FS Road 2257 for 0.5 miles to Big Meadows Horse Camp.
| Coordinates | 44.4929° N, 121.9828° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Scan and Pay might be offered at this campground; It is recommended that you pay by cash or check for FCFS campsites.
- There are no refunds, modifications, cancellations, or other fee changes allowed with FCFS payments.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedCamas Ts Rx
19 mi from the campground
- PrescribedSisi Lookout Admin Piles Rx - West
29 mi from the campground
- PrescribedSlow Dxp/Lemiti Rx - West
31 mi from the campground
- PrescribedSpike Timber Sale Rx - West
32 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Timber Town Resale ↗ | 28 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 36 mi |
| RV sales & service | Big Country RV ↗ | 42.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Big Meadows Campground Detailed Review | Shenandoah National Park 2025
Worth a stop
Several miles of loop trails radiating from the campground into the forest area including Duffy Lake Trail, Big Meadows Loop Trail, Big Meadows Tie Trail. This site is also in close proximity to Santiam Pass.
- 6.4 miRiggs Lake Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6.9 miMckenzie River Trailhead - Upper ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.6 miInner Mountain View Loop ↗5.1 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.9 miMountain View Cutoff0.8 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.1 miFay Lake Trail3.1 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.1 miBig Meadows Loop3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miMountain View Loop Tie0.2 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.5 miPika-Fir0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.2 miBig Meadows Loop Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 1.5 miPika-Fir Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 1.6 miDuffy Lake Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 1.6 miTurpentine Loop Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Willamette National Forest.
- inWillamette National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,801,292 acres
- 2.6 miMount Jefferson Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 109,098 acres
- 8.8 miMount Washington Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 54,406 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Santiam Pass Ski LodgeBuilding · Sisters · 7.6 mi
- Marion Forks Guard StationBuilding · Marion Forks · 8.5 mi
- Independence Prairie Ranger StationBuilding · Marion Forks · 8.8 mi
Guidebooks for Oregon
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Big Meadows Horse Camp?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Big Meadows Horse Camp?
Campsites - $21 per night. Extra Vehicles - $6 per vehicle, per night. Campsite must be occupied every night paid.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Big Meadows Horse Camp?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Big Meadows Horse Camp open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Open Year Round (weather dependent).
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Big Meadows Horse Camp have?
13 sites, including 9 equestrian sites and 1 standard site without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Big Meadows Horse Camp?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Big Meadows Horse Camp?
Yes, pets are allowed at Big Meadows Horse Camp. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Big Meadows Horse Camp?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Camping is not allowed more than 14 days in a 60 day period.
Source: Fire nearby
What if Big Meadows Horse Camp is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Big Pool (under 0.1 mi), Lost Lake - Willamette (5.6 mi), and South Pyramid Horse Camp (7.7 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby