Early Spring Camping on the East Slopes

An often overlooked area just east of Mt. Hood is the under utilized Badger Creek area. Rising east of the Hood River Valley this range of mountains crests with Lookout Peak at 6,525' above sea level and then slopes east with a series of ridges and canyons which end on the Central Oregon plateau. Just to the east of this area is Tygh Valley, White River Falls, and the Deshutes River canyon. It is a fascinating transition zone which moves from alpine rock gardens through stands of Ponderosa Pine, White Oak, and on to the steppe of Central Oregon.

                                                                                     White River Falls State Park

On one of the last weekends of March I journeyed out to this often overlooked area to spend a day and get in some early spring camping. A chilly airmass was in place across the Pacific Northwest and snow was falling as I went over Government Camp on highway 26. I dropped down to Maupin on the Deshutes River and made my way south along the rushing torrent to Shearas Falls. As is so often is the case conditions east of the Cascades were cool, breezy, and mostly sunny, while the crest just a few miles to the west was covered in falling snow.

                                                                                                Deshutes River at Shearas Falls

From there I headed up through Tygh Valley up into the White River wildlife area and the frontier along the Badger Creek Wilderness area. There were very few people up on the gravel roads skirting the wilderness. I stayed at Little Badger Campground, a quite forest camp in a deep canyon along the diminutive Little Badger Creek. The campground is small and rustic with only about 4 campsites along the creek, fire pits, pit toilets, and no running water. One of the advantages of camping out of seasons is the campground was technically closed, meaning no maintenance, so there was no fee for overnight camping. The forest service does check in periodically on the campgrounds however, as on the afternoon I arrived.

                                                                          Transition zone from Cascade Range to Central Oregon steppe
I spent a night down in the canyon with a raging campfire to fight off the chill of the early spring night. There was frost in the morning as I drove the backroads. The gravel roads which dissect the ridges surrounding the Badger Creek Wilderness are relatively well maintained and lightly traveled. The country is interesting as it undulates from the plateaus on the ridge tops to the canyons below. The oak forests are unique in Oregon and are filled with wildlife such as plentiful deer, elk, and ground squirrels, as well as the opportunity to glimpse more reclusive creatures like bear, cougar, or bobcats. There are fishing opportunities in the numerous streams and nearby reservoirs. Hiking opportunities also abound as numerous trails lead up the canyons and ridges of the Badger Creek Wilderness. Overall the area is fairly lightly used, with heavy use in the fall during hunting season. Beside that it is a great place to get away and find solitude in a unique part of Oregon,.