Elk Lake
This 17 site tent-only campground, located adjacent to the Bull of the Woods and Opal Creek Wildernesses, is full of beauty in the summer. Wildflowers are a beautiful sight in the campground's meadows around July. Swim or paddle in the quiet waters of the non-motorized lake, go for a great hike with views of multiple Cascade peaks, or just kick back and relax in the campground.
Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.
More like this: first-come in Oregon
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Year Round, weather dependent |
| Forest | Willamette National Forest |
| Booking | No advance reservations. |
| Fees | Single Campsites - $12 per night. Multiple Campsites - $22 per night. Extra Vehicles - $6 per vehicle, per night. Campsite must be occupied every night paid. |
| Rules | Special regulations are in place to help protect this area and preserve the experience for you and for future visitors including: No camping within 500 feet of Elk Lake. No motorized boating. ATVs use is only allowed to enter and leave the campground. 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. |
Weather by month
Getting there
12.1 miles north of Detroit. From Highway 22 at Detroit, Oregon, turn onto Breitenbush Road (FSR 46). Proceed 4.4 miles, turn left onto FS Road 4696. Proceed 0.8 miles, turn left on FS Road 4697.
| Coordinates | 44.8221° N, 122.1274° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedSisi Lookout Admin Piles Rx - West
15 mi from the campground
- PrescribedAustin Repair Pile Rx - West
16 mi from the campground
- WildfireAustin
17 mi from the campground · 12,888 acres · 98% contained
- PrescribedGoat Stew Rx - West
17 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 ↗ | 14.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 34.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 40.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 0.3 miBattle Ax Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 5.2 miUpper Arm Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 7.2 miOpal Creek Trailhead (Gate) ↗Trailhead
- 9.2 miThree Pools Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.6 miElk Lake Creek ↗8.7 mi trail
- 0.7 miBattle Ax Mountain1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.7 miBattle Ax Mountain0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.9 miBattle Axe Creek4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miBeachie2.7 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2 miGold Butte Lookout1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.3 miBattle Ax Creek 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 Opal Creek Wilderness.
- inOpal Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 20,777 acres
- 0.5 miBull of the Woods Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 36,879 acres
- 9.1 miMt. Hood National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,060,160 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
- Bagby Guard StationBuilding · Estacada · 8.1 mi
Guidebooks for Oregon
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Elk Lake?
No. Elk Lake is first-come, first-served. No advance reservations. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Elk Lake?
Single Campsites - $12 per night. Multiple Campsites - $22 per night. Extra Vehicles - $6 per vehicle, per night.
Source: Forest Service
Is Elk Lake open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Year Round, weather dependent.
Source: Forest Service status
What if Elk Lake is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Humbug Campground (4.3 mi, partly first-come), Fox Creek Group Camp (4.7 mi), and Cleator Bend (7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby