Looking for real world experience and knowledge of areas east of La Pine for dry camping (boondocking???) and riding. I'm coming from the south (Grants Pass) so I'm really looking at La Pine since it's a bit closer than Bend. I understand east of La Pine (about 20+ miles) starts the area where it allowable to dry camp and ride. I'm curious about the actual camping areas in terms of amount of areas and terrain to be expected, proximity to other camps, etc. I like to be more private so I can let my dogs off leash and not worry about neighbors and such. I've never been out that way so I want to get an idea of what to expect. We have a rhino and bikes for the family so that's the type of area and crowds I'm hoping to be in the mix with. Any advice or even other areas closer than La Pine would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
East Fork rock is almost due East of La Pine and has a lot of riding. I was there in June of last year and it was dusty as heck, but it may have snow this time of year. At least it shouldn't be dusty! Neat trails, but enough lava rock rough spots to make Momma and kids not too happy on some of the trails.
If you are into dunes Christmas Valley is a little ways Southeast of La Pine. Plenty of boondocking space and a neat riding area with the dunes and the Lost Forest.
On area you're looking at is the East Fort Rock OHV area, the campground I stayed at was called China Hat. Some great area to ride, trails range from hard pack dirt, pumice and even some with large/small obsidian chunks. It can be VERY dusty, bring bandanas or masks, the dust can be think so space our riders and check air filters after a day of riding. That said it's also gorgeous place to ride. It's all dry camping, no water either. You can probably find place to fill up in La Pine. I've ridden here once, great time. There was water however it was not safe to drink then, not sure if it's changed or not. We've stayed at Newberry RV Park on our way to Crescent Lake, you can probably pay to fill up/dump there if needed. They were nice and let us dump on our way home from the Lake. It's just off the highway with full hook ups.
Y-Guy wrote: On area you're looking at is the East Fort Rock OHV area, the campground I stayed at was called China Hat. Some great area to ride, trails range from hard pack dirt, pumice and even some with large/small obsidian chunks. It can be VERY dusty, bring bandanas or masks, the dust can be think so space our riders and check air filters after a day of riding. That said it's also gorgeous place to ride. It's all dry camping, no water either. You can probably find place to fill up in La Pine. I've ridden here once, great time. There was water however it was not safe to drink then, not sure if it's changed or not. We've stayed at Newberry RV Park on our way to Crescent Lake, you can probably pay to fill up/dump there if needed. They were nice and let us dump on our way home from the Lake. It's just off the highway with full hook ups.
I'd agree it's very family friendly, however there are some that race the trails and for that reason you need an adult rider out front. If you have balding tires watch for the Obsidian trails as they can puncture tires, thankfully there are only a couple of them. There are also at least one area you can rock crawl too.
I appreciate the information. So it sounds like it's a pretty easy deal, head out there and I should be able to find a place to camp and set up pretty easily? I've looked at the East Fort Rock area on the maps, but can only tell so much so that's why I was putting out the questions. Any other areas south of La Pine that are like the East Fort Rock area? It seems like once I get down the hill from Diamond Lake and onto US 97, all that terrain is pretty much the same all the way up to Bend. If I can shorten my trip then by all means I'm interested.
Regardless, thanks for info, I'll be checking it out as soon as the snow melts a bit more and things warm up some.
FJ60Kai wrote: I appreciate the information. So it sounds like it's a pretty easy deal, head out there and I should be able to find a place to camp and set up pretty easily? I've looked at the East Fort Rock area on the maps, but can only tell so much so that's why I was putting out the questions. Any other areas south of La Pine that are like the East Fort Rock area? It seems like once I get down the hill from Diamond Lake and onto US 97, all that terrain is pretty much the same all the way up to Bend. If I can shorten my trip then by all means I'm interested.
Regardless, thanks for info, I'll be checking it out as soon as the snow melts a bit more and things warm up some.
This Forest Service Webpage has the Motor Vehicle Use Maps available. These are the "bible" of what is open or closed.
I really hate how some Forest Service websites bury the MVUM and don't provide links to them from other logical places on the website.
You can also access East Fort Rock from the south end out of LaPine instead of coming all the way north to Bend and then east. This end of the riding area has snow longer than the north end.
A group of us are going down to the north end of EFR May 16-20. We are all on m/c.
Kevin
Retired, Fulltime RV'er
1999.5 F350 4X4 CC Diesel Flatbed
2007 Alpenlite Defender Toyhauler
2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 (Green-It's your Daddy)
One Tough Kitty Named Bob
If you want private dry camping East Fort Rock is the place to go. I usually look for new camping spots while riding. I don't know of any place better to ride when it's damp. The dust hits around Mid May. There is a big poker run May 5th and an ISDE race the 29th of this month in case you want to avoid crowds.
FJ60kai, I heard Prospect down by you is a good place to ride. Any places to dry camp down there with a trailer?
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