McCormack slough, Umatilla � Camping

39rivers · 11-11-2008, 12:30 PM

Can anyone help me out with directions to the nearest place to camp? I�m headed over Friday night to hunt for the weekend, and just need a place to pitch a tent and have a fire�

saltchucker · 11-11-2008, 01:30 PM

That is tough, try the 3 mile canyon turnoff before boardman. I am not sure but there may be legal camping on the river side (the fire could be a problem). Not sure the exit number, it is the turnoff at the large rip rap bay between arlington and boardman. I have rolled a bag out there on my way through but not for a while....if you find something post it I would like to know. I am heading over tonight and will try to remember to pull in and check it out for you.

Will

Linejerk · 11-11-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 39rivers

Can anyone help me out with directions to the nearest place to camp? I�m headed over Friday night to hunt for the weekend, and just need a place to pitch a tent and have a fire�

We are also going over there this weekend and go all the time we stay at the river view inn it is only $50 a night so if there are 2 or more people going it makes it very cheap there is RV camping just down the road from the refuge it is on your right on your way down there you can't miss it it is only like 1 mile from the refuge and you may be able to just rent a spot for your car good luck

billc_sbio · 11-11-2008, 02:10 PM

There are 3 places within ~20 min. drive of the Refuge.

As mentioned, there's 3 Mile Canyon, and yes it's free (but pretty primitive, i.e. Porta Potties, Gravel Road, and Sagebrush).

The closest one is only ~1-1/2 miles from the Refuge Check Station right ON Patterson Ferry Road. In the warmer months it also looks (to me) a little "Primitive". Pretty much out in the open, little shade, unwatered grass, and gravel pads. It's a private-commercial venture.

In between is the NICEST one. It's ~10 min. drive from the Refuge Check Station and it's the Boardman Riverside City Park. You just take the Boardman exit, drive toward the river, cross over the RR tracks and make a left. It has beautifully groomed green grass, lots of shade trees, 4 "Tent" sites on the lawn (only useable on the weekends, they'll have you pitch your tent on the gravel portion of an RV site, what MOST of their sites are, on weekdays), nice heated bathrooms w/showers, laundromat, and so on. I think they charge ~$15/day for Tent sites.

You can call ahead for reservations.

lentz · 11-11-2008, 02:40 PM

Let us know how you did. A couple of friends went west of Boardman today. I havn't talked to them yet today but i hope that they did well.

39rivers · 11-17-2008, 12:38 PM

Thanks for the help! We did end up camping at the park in Boardman.
We went to the refuge on Saturday and ended up being the last standby hunters. With the full moon, and a bluebird day we didn�t have a very good hunt.
On Sunday, we had the #2 reservation, and had one of the best shoots I have ever had.
Three hunters = 6 geese, 14 mallards and 5 wood ducks.

Linejerk · 11-17-2008, 01:48 PM

Nice work 39rivers, were you guy's out on 2 we had 4 right behind blind 2 and I think that was you guy's??? Foggy day out there but it sure kept the geese flying low.

lentz · 11-17-2008, 01:59 PM

Glad to hear that you guys did good!