North Waldo

About

North Waldo Campground is the most popular of the three campgrounds on Waldo Lake in the Willamette National Forest. Situated at 5,400 feet elevation on the western slopes of the Oregon Cascades, it provides access to one of Oregon's purest natural lakes. Waldo Lake spans 9.8 square miles with a maximum depth of 427 feet, and its lack of permanent inlets results in exceptional water clarity allowing visibility to 120 feet on calm days. The campground offers 58 sites equipped with fire rings and picnic tables, along with potable water and vault toilets. A sanitation station is located nearby. The boat launch here is deeper than at other Waldo Lake facilities, making it the preferred choice for sailboats. Motors are restricted to electric only on the lake. North Waldo serves as a popular starting point for wilderness exploration, with access to the Rigdon Lakes Trail, Wahanna Trail, and Whig Torrey Way Trail. The 1-mile Shoreline Trail connects to Islet Campground for a pleasant lakeside hike. The surrounding 20-mile Jim Weaver Loop accommodates both hiking and biking, though bikes are prohibited in the adjacent Waldo Lake Wilderness. The drier microclimate supports fewer mosquitoes than other lake areas, though they remain plentiful in season.

Directions

From Oakridge, Oregon, travel east on Highway 58 for 23.3 miles. Turn left onto Waldo Lake Road (Forest Road 5897). Follow FR 5897 for approximately 12.8 miles and turn right at the T intersection onto Forest Road 5895. Continue 0.3 miles; the campground entrance is on the left.