CampgroundsDB

Barlow Creek

Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), camping costs Single Site: $16 per night, and it is open from May 22 to September 7. Barlow Creek is a National Forest campground near Government Camp, Oregon.

First-come, first-served

National Forest · Government Camp, Oregon

Managed by
National Forest

Barlow Creek sits inside Mt. Hood National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com. It sits 0.2 miles outside the boundary of Mount Hood Wilderness; its permit and camping rules and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.

Historic Barlow Road: The campground lies along the Historic Barlow Road, the Oregon Trail route around Mt. Hood, near Barlow Creek. (fs.usda.gov)

Getting a site

Managed by
National Forest
Reservations
None, first-come
Fee
Single Site: $16 per night

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

What's there

  • ✓ Toilets
  • ✕ Potable water

On site: Toilets. No potable water.

Rules

Stay limit
14 consecutive days; 28 days total per calendar year

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

Access and cell service

Elevation
3,088 ft

Cell coverage by carrier (FCC map)

AT&T
No coverage at the campground; 4G LTE mapped about 0.2 mi away, 5G about 0.4 mi away
T-Mobile
No coverage mapped
Verizon
No coverage at the campground; 4G LTE mapped about 0.4 mi away
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, data as of December 31, 2025

Outdoor coverage each carrier reports to the FCC at this campground's map point, and the nearest mapped coverage within about half a mile. 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. These are carrier predictions, not measurements, and can be wrong either way: real service in canyons, under trees, and inside a tent or vehicle is often weaker. 5G speeds are the FCC's 7/1 and 35/3 Mbps tiers. This product uses the FCC Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the FCC.

45.2363, -121.6260 in Wasco. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Open in Google Maps Directions

Season and winter services

Barlow Creek is open from May 22 to September 7 , at 3,088 ft.

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

Common questions

Do you need a reservation at Barlow Creek?
No. Barlow Creek 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 Barlow Creek?
Camping at Barlow Creek costs Single Site: $16 per night.
Is there drinking water at Barlow Creek?
No. Barlow Creek has no potable water, so bring all the water you need.
When is Barlow Creek open?
Barlow Creek is open from May 22 to September 7.
How long can you stay at Barlow Creek?
The stay limit at Barlow Creek is 14 consecutive days; 28 days total per calendar year.
Is there cell service at Barlow Creek?
Not at the campground on the FCC map, but AT&T shows 4G LTE about 0.2 mi away and 5G about 0.4 mi away and Verizon shows 4G LTE about 0.4 mi away. 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 Barlow Creek itself, and nothing from T-Mobile within about half a mile. 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 Barlow Creek?
Barlow Creek is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Around Barlow Creek

Public land · within 15 miles

Public land within 15 miles: Badger Creek Wilderness (9.1 miles to its center) , Lower White River Wilderness (9.5 miles to its center) , and Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness (14 miles to its center) ; publiclandsdb.com has each unit's camping rules and boundary.

Waterfalls nearby

swimholesmap.com · within 30 miles

The nearest waterfall to Barlow Creek, in a straight line: Punch Bowl Falls (waterfall, 30 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.

First-come Barlow Crossing Government Camp · National Forest Season May 22 to September 7 Fee Single Site: $16 per night First-come Bonney Meadows Maupin · National Forest Season Mid May to Mid October Fee Single Site: $10 per night First-come Boulder Lake Dufur · National Forest Season Not on record Fee Free Reservable Frog Lake Government Camp · National Forest Season Not on record Fee Single Site: $26 per night

More campgrounds: camping near Government Camp and campgrounds in Wasco.

Sources

First-come, first-served Single Site: $16 per night
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