Welch Creek Campground & Trailhead
Welch Creek Campground has long been a favorite gathering spot for family reunion camp-outs and group hunting trips. The campground's open area and easy parking access make it ideal for such events. It features 6 campsties an accessible vault toilet, and 4 stall recreational stock corral. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack your garbage home. Local attractions include hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, sight-seeing, photography and a trailhead for the Desolation OHV trail system. Olive Lake, where there is fishing, boating, and swimming is about 13 miles to the east along Forest Road 10.
More like this: first-come in Oregon · tent only in Oregon
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | Single site: $8/night (extra $5 fee per vehicle exceeding the two-vehicle-per-site allowance). Group site: Site 6 is $25/night (no extra vehicle charge). |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | May |
| Forest | Umatilla National Forest |
| Booking | Not reservable. |
| Fees | Single site: $8/night (extra $5 fee per vehicle exceeding the two-vehicle-per-site allowance). Group site: Site 6 is $25/night (no extra vehicle charge). |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 44.8770° N, 118.7788° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireMccully
25 mi from the campground · 13,604 acres · 91% contained
- PrescribedGreenwood Rx
32 mi from the campground · 38 acres
- PrescribedBirdtrack 621 Broadcast Rx
38 mi from the campground · 377 acres
- PrescribedBird Track 610/607A Rx
41 mi from the campground · 141 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 ↗ | 35.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 3 miBattle Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 3.8 miBasin Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
Trailheads within three miles
- under 0.1 miWelch Creek Campground & Trailhead ↗Umatilla National Forest · Season May
- 3 miBattle Creek Trailhead ↗Umatilla National Forest · Season February to November
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
Umatilla National Forest begins about 3.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 3.7 miUmatilla National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,498,100 acres
- 4.1 miNorth Fork John Day Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 120,694 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
Guidebooks for Oregon
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Welch Creek Campground & Trailhead?
No. Welch Creek Campground & Trailhead is first-come, first-served. Not reservable. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Welch Creek Campground & Trailhead?
Single site: $8/night (extra $5 fee per vehicle exceeding the two-vehicle-per-site allowance). Group site: Site 6 is $25/night (no extra vehicle charge).
Source: Forest Service
Is Welch Creek Campground & Trailhead open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Welch Creek Campground & Trailhead?
Welch Creek Campground & Trailhead is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Welch Creek Campground & Trailhead is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Oriental Campground (7.1 mi, first-come), Gold Dredge Campground (8.8 mi, first-come), and Head O' Boulder Forest Camp (9.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby