Sponsored by Great Old Broads for Wilderness (new this year)!

This is not a Sierra Club Event, But We Are Invited

Friday evening to Sunday noon, July 10 to 12, 2026

Weekend Getaway in the Beautiful Ochoco Mountains

Ochoco Forest Group Campground

Gentle mountains and valleys, views of the Cascade range, old-growth pines, old friends, new friends, homemade music around the campfire ... the perfect weekend in the Ochoco Mountains!

Join the Great Old Broads for Wilderness,  Bitterbrush Broads and Bros, for a weekend camping trip to the heart of the Ochoco National Forest. Friday evening we’ll have a short welcoming and orientation program. Saturday daytime will be hikes in the surrounding area to be determined by the available hike leaders and group interest. Saturday evening we’ll have a potluck group dinner and discussion about ongoing conservation efforts in the area.

Registration and Payment

Registration is available through the Google Form Ochoco Campout Registration. Non-members are welcome too. You are requested to RSVP by July 1st.

Suggested Donation: $20/person for the weekend to help defray campground, food and expenses. Children under 18 free. Collect from you on arrival: please bring a $20 bill with you, cash only. Sorry, GOB cannot process paper checks, credit cards, or Venmo.

Important Stuff

Tenting: Bring your own tent and camping gear. Tent sites are a short walk from parking. Although the weather is usually excellent at that time of year, be prepared for rain.

Hiking/Paddling: For hiking bring a day pack with the “Ten Essentials,” binoculars, camera, comfy hiking boots … you know what you need! Walton Lake, a lovely little stream-fed lake, is a short ten minute drive from the campground so you might want a kayak or canoe.

Location: Transportation is on your own, but we ask you to carpool as much as humanly possible as there is limited parking at the site. We will send precise directions to registered participants.

Paperwork: You will asked to register and sign a Great Old Broads liability waiver for the campout and any organized hikes or trips you decide to join.

Food: Bring their own meals. Some snacks will be available. On Saturday night for we'll have a group potluck dinner with grilled salmon burgers provided. Drinks are BYOB/W/L. Coffee in the morning at the pavilion.

RVs: Large RV parking is not available at the Group Site. However, small trailers that can be unhitched, van campers or pickup truck campers are OK if you don't take up more than one standard size vehicle parking space. There are NO HOOKUPS. If you have a larger vehicle, the group campsite won't work -- but non-electric RV campsites are available at: the Ochoco Forest Campground (first come, you pass it on your way into the Group Site) or nearby Walton Lake Campground (reserve on https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233895).

Children: Children are welcome to the campout, though most hikes will be too difficult for younger children.

Dogs: Dogs are also welcome to camp if trained and quiet. However, we are asking you to tell us if you are bringing a dog so we can keep a running tally of how many dogs are coming: too many dogs in strange surroundings can make it unpleasant for all, including the dogs. In addition, if you want to bring your dog on a hike, bring a leash. Each trip leader will want to know about your dog’s training and experience before accepting it on a hike, and we may need to limit the number of dogs on any one hike for everyone's enjoyment and safety.

Other considerations: There is an outhouse and potable water on site. Cell service does not seem to work from the campground, but some carriers do seem to work a short walk away up a steep hill. Ticks are common at this campground. Other wildlife may also be present. Wild horses frequent this area and caution is advised, as well as controlling your dog. We are here to enjoy wild nature.

Weekend Schedule

Sure to be enhanced as we get closer to the date:

Friday

• Arrival as early as 3pm to help set up camp.
• Evening campfire and short welcome and introductions.
• Bring a musical instrument if you play.

Saturday

• Hikes: There will be some hikes depending on the availability of hike leaders and attendee preferences. TBD. Trips to Walton Lake for canoe paddling is on your own and we will ask you to sign out because of insurance liability considerations. We’ll sort out leaders and groups Friday night and Saturday morning.
• Saturday evening dinner: Happy Hour will start when you want to be happy, likely in the Pavilion around 4:00, but you never know. Around 6:00 PM there will be a group potluck dinner in the pavilion and we will provide grilled salmon burgers. You bring the rest to share.
• Program: About 7PM. Program will include updates on: grazing on public lands, current proposed and ongoing Ochoco NF projects, and the broader National Forest Service "reorganization.

Sunday

• Breakfast on your own and we’ll break camp by Noon.