Oregon Mine Campground
Open first-come, first-served with no fees and no reservations. Vault toilet on site; no potable water, so bring your own and pack out all trash.
Alcohol Prohibitions
This Order describes acts that are prohibited upon lands, roads and trails within the National Forest System administered by the Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region in regards to alcoholic beverages.
Aquatic Invasive Species
This Order prohibits 1) possessing, storing, or transporting any aquatic invasive animal species AND 2) prohibits possessing, storing, or transporting any aquatic or riparian invasive plant species - on National Forest System lands in the Pacific Northwest Region as specified in the Order.
Restrictions on Use of Forage and Mulch Products
This Order prohibits unloading, storing, or using any straw, hay, grain, seed, or other forage or mulch products that are not state-certified weed free on the National Forest System lands, roads or trails in any Closure Area as specific in the Order. Some examples of these include hay bales, hay…
Fireworks and Explosives are always Prohibited
Fireworks and explosives (including explosive targets) are always prohibited on national forest lands. The prohibition of fireworks and exploding targets on national forest system lands is part of a set of permanent fire safety regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), listed below.…
Stancliff Bridge FSR31 Closure for Repair
This Closure is necessary to facilitate emergency repairs to roads and bridges within the Emigrant Creek Ranger District. Road maintenance on the Emigrant Creek Ranger District will commence on Monday, April 20, 2026. The Stancliff bridge must be closed to protect the public during the repair…
Magone Trail Closure Continuation 2026
Due to precommercial thinning operations that are planned around Magone Bike trail paths, for the safety of the public these trails need to be closed to the public while falling activities take place. Trails and Trailheads affected:Porcupine Springs #5089Phlo #5091Pumphouse #5091
14 Day Stay Limit
Prohibition of Camping on the Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, and Malheur National Forests for a period longer than 14 days within any 30-day period. 36 CFR § 261.58(a)
About
Oregon Mine Campground is a small, primitive five-site forest camp on the Blue Mountain Ranger District of the Malheur National Forest, tucked into a stand of large ponderosa pines along Murderers Creek. Sites have compacted gravel and dirt pads with raised fire rings and picnic tables, and several pull up close to the creek. A buck and pole corral adjacent to the campground makes it a popular base for horse campers, and the area sees heavier use during late-summer and fall big game hunting seasons. Facilities are bare-bones: a vault toilet serves the campground, there is no potable water, and trash must be packed out. There are no fees, no reservations, and no hookups, so the camp operates first-come, first-served. Horses must not be pastured in the riparian area, and only certified weed-free hay is permitted. Recreation in the area includes bird watching, fishing in Murderers Creek and nearby drainages, big game hunting in season, and day hiking in the Cedar Grove Botanical Area and on Fields Peak Trail. The Murderers Creek Wild Horse Territory surrounds the campground, and visitors occasionally spot wild horses moving through the country.
Directions
From John Day, OR, travel approximately 18 miles west on US Highway 26 to the junction of Forest Service Road 21. Travel south on FSR 21 for approximately 12 miles to the junction with Forest Service Road 2170, then west on FSR 2170 to Oregon Mine Campground.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| SM.FS.malpubinfo@usda.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (541) 575-3000 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
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