Bolan Lake Campground
Bolan Lake Campground sits along the shores of Bolan Lake, a 12-acre lake sitting high above the Illinois Valley. 14 campsites are in a dispersed camping area but are equipped with tables and fire pits. Large conifers provide shade in the heat of summer months, and the wildflowers are not to be missed in this area in the early summer. Bolan Lake Trail #1245, located within the campground, climbs up to the old fire lookout on Bolan Peak.
More like this: reservable in Oregon · tent only in Oregon
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 14 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | Overnight Camping: $10 per site per night; Additional Vehicle Fee: $5 per vehicle per day. NOTE: 50% discount for Interagency Senior and Access Pass holders on a single campsite. This discount does not apply to extra vehicle fees. |
- Vault Toilets
- 14 Tent Camping Sites
- No Potable Water
- Picnic Tables and Fire Rings Available
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Forest | Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest |
| Booking | First come, first served |
| Fees | $10/night for campsite. $5/night for additional vehicle |
| Rules | Quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. Campfires in developed fire pits only. Fireworks are prohibited. Dogs must be on leash. OHV/ATV use prohibited in the campground. Maximum length of stay: 14 days |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Cave Junction, OR, travel south on Highway 199 about 1 mile to Rockydale Road (1st left after crossing the river). Travel south to the end of Rockydale (about 7 miles), and turn left on Waldo / Happy Camp Road.
| Nearest town | Cave Junction, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 42.0235° N, 123.4582° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Bolan Mountain Lookout, reservations available on Recreation.gov Bolan Lake Trail #1245 Kings Saddle Trail #1245A Red Buttes Wilderness access points including Tanner Lake Trail #1243 and Boundary Tra
Charges and cancellations
This is a Scan and Pay campground. There are no refunds, modifications, cancellations, or other fee changes allowed with Scan and Pay payments. This system is the same as putting cash into a fee tube and cannot be refunded.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedPatterson Rx
38 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRoots & Shoots Rx: Or
49 mi from the campground
- PrescribedSrf 2026 Rx Implementation
50 mi from the campground · 500 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 31.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sawyer Station Paddles and Oars ↗ | 35.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Blue Compass RV ↗ | 36.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Bolan Lake VLOG
Worth a stop
- Bolan Mountain Lookout, reservations available on Recreation.gov
- Bolan Lake Trail #1245
- Kings Saddle Trail #1245A
- Red Buttes Wilderness access points including Tanner Lake Trail #1243 and Boundary Trail #1207
- 5 miLimestone Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6.8 miSturgis Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miBolan Lake0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.7 miKings Saddle1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.4 miTanner Lake3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.6 miTanner Tie0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.5 miSucker Creek Tie1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.8 miFehley Gulch1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.1 miBolan Trailhead ↗Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
- 2.4 miTannen Lakes Trailhead ↗Rogue River-Siskiyou 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
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests begins about 3.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 3.6 miRogue River-Siskiyou National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,852,705 acres
- 6.7 miRed Buttes Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 20,130 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
- Cedar Guard Station No. 1019Building · Cave Junction · 8.1 mi
- Logan Wash DitchStructure · Cave Junction · 8.8 mi
- Allen Gulch TownsiteSite · Cave Junction · 9.1 mi
Natural features
Bolan Campground is a serene alpine site located on the shores of Bolan Lake. The surrounding area sustained substantial impacts from the 2020 Slater Fire, however the ring of tall conifers surrounding the lake mostly survived the fire. Bolan Campground is a serene alpine site situated on the shores of 12-acre Bolan Lake. Nestled at roughly 5,300 feet elevation above the Illinois Valley, it features vibrant early summer wildflowers and sweeping panoramic views of the Siskiyou Mountains.
Recreation
Recreation opportunities abound in this area including; hiking, fishing, wildflower viewing and stargazing.
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 Bolan Lake Campground?
Sites at Bolan Lake Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. First come, first served Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Bolan Lake Campground?
Overnight Camping: $10 per site per night; Additional Vehicle Fee: $5 per vehicle per day. NOTE: 50% discount for Interagency Senior and Access Pass holders on a single campsite. This discount does not apply to extra vehicle fees.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Bolan Lake Campground have?
15 sites, including 14 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Bolan Lake Campground?
Bolan Lake Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is the nearest town to Bolan Lake Campground?
Cave Junction, Oregon. Bolan Mountain Lookout, reservations available on Recreation.gov
Source: Getting there
What if Bolan Lake Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are West Branch Campground (6.4 mi, first-come), Chinquapin Group Campground (8.1 mi), and Grayback Campground (8.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby