Car camping near Clarno/John Day?

[Azeal]

I've got a Clarno to Cottonwood float on the John Day coming up, and I want to try and head over and camp the night before so I can get on the water bright and early. Anyone have suggestions on good places to camp near (within an hour or so) of the Clarno put-in?

Any tips will be appreciated. I'll be camping with my wife and a friend, and towing a trailer.

[ReadyPro1]

The Clarno rd. that heads north from the grange hall just before the bridge has a few spots along the road but it is rough and full of ruts I wouldnt reccomend going down very far there is a small spot on the left about 1/4 mile down the road. Other wise you could stay right at the grange hall itself it has a small gravel lot.



1988 17' Arima Sea Chaser

[IMBacklasher]

When you cross the bridge, turn west just past the Grange and OSU plant agriculture experiment plot (dirtroad)... pulling a trailer will be vicarious but i've seen plenty of large motorohomes in there... just take your time and you won't have any problems unless you drive into the river...you'll get an early start on your drift then!

[BuKuBass]

If you're pulling a trailer "vicariously", you and your friends will be camping only in your imagination.
Why not just park at the ramp? It's about an acre in size.

[retaliate]

Deschutes River just up stream from Maupin, plenty of free Camping there, or at least it used to be free. :cool:

[shalom]

There is little free camping on the Deschutes . Every place that you pull off , is a fee camping now .