Gold Dredge

Its 7 sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), camping costs Single site: $8 per night; group site (site 6): $25 per night; extra vehicle $5, and it is open from Memorial Day to Mid-November. Gold Dredge is a National Forest campground near Dale, Oregon.

First-come, first-served

National Forest · Dale, Oregon

Managed by: National Forest

Gold Dredge sits inside Umatilla National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.

Wild and Scenic North Fork John Day River: Set in open ponderosa pine on the river, with swimming, fishing and non-motorized boating (low water in mid to late summer); Oriental Trailhead is about 6 miles west.

Getting a site

Managed by: National Forest
Reservations: None, first-come
Fee: Single site: $8 per night; group site (site 6): $25 per night; extra vehicle $5

Source: fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

Sites and hookups

Total sites: 7
Group sites: 1

✓ Toilets
✕ Potable water

On site: Toilets. No potable water.

Source: fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

Access and cell service

Elevation: 3,057 ft

45.0019, -118.8180 in Umatilla. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Open in Google Maps Directions

Season and winter services

Gold Dredge is open from Memorial Day to Mid-November , at 3,057 ft.

Sources: epqs.nationalmap.gov, accessed 2026-09-29; fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

Common questions

Do you need a reservation at Gold Dredge?

No. Gold Dredge is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.

How much does it cost to camp at Gold Dredge?

Camping at Gold Dredge costs Single site: $8 per night; group site (site 6): $25 per night; extra vehicle $5.

How many campsites does Gold Dredge have?

Gold Dredge has 7 campsites, including 1 group site.

Is there drinking water at Gold Dredge?

No. Gold Dredge has no potable water, so bring all the water you need.

When is Gold Dredge open?

Gold Dredge is open from Memorial Day to Mid-November.

Is there cell service at Gold Dredge?

Probably not: the FCC's National Broadband Map (data as of December 31, 2025) shows no 4G LTE or 5G from AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon at or within about half a mile of Gold Dredge. The FCC map only includes 4G LTE at 5/1 Mbps or better and 5G; a weaker signal, a text, or an emergency call may still get through, but don't count on it.

Who manages Gold Dredge?

Gold Dredge is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Around Gold Dredge

fishypedia.com · 29 miles

The nearest lake with a fishing page is Anthony Lake, whose mapped center point is 29 miles away in a straight line. Stocking record and species: Anthony Lake fishing on fishypedia.com.

First-come Driftwood Dale · National Forest First-come Oriental Campground Dale · National Forest First-come Drift Fence Ukiah · National Forest

First-come Tollbridge Ukiah · National Forest

More campgrounds: camping near Dale and campgrounds in Umatilla.

Sources

apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-28
epqs.nationalmap.gov (elevationFt), accessed 2026-09-29
broadbandmap.fcc.gov (cellCoverage), accessed 2026-09-27
fs.usda.gov (sites, water, season, fee, notableFeature), accessed 2026-09-29

First-come, first-served Single site: $8 per night; group site (site 6): $25 per night; extra vehicle $5

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