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Welch Creek Campground & Trailhead
Welch Creek Campground has long been a favorite gathering spot for family reunion camp-outs and group hunting trips. The campground's open area and easy parking access make it ideal for such events. It features 6 campsties an accessible vault toilet, and 4 stall recreational stock corral. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack your garbage home.
Local attractions include hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, sight-seeing, photography and a trailhead for the Desolation OHV trail system. Olive Lake, where there is fishing, boating, and swimming is about 13 miles to the east along Forest Road 10.
At a Glance
| Current Conditions: | Campground fees will be charged through November 15. The campground is not maintained but is still available throughout the winter. Access will be snowmobiles only once the road is inaccessible due to snow. Please contact the North Fork John Day ranger District for more information. |
|---|---|
| Operational Hours: | The campground is closed only by snow. However, it is only maintained seasonally from Memorial Day until mid-November. |
| Reservations: | Not reservable. First come, first served |
| Area Amenities: | Accessible, Tent camping, Camping trailer, Picnic tables, Toilets, Parking |
| Fees: |
|
| Open Season: | May |
| Usage: | Light |
| Closest Towns: | Dale, OR |
| Water: | No potable water. On the bank of Desolation Creek. |
| Restroom: | Vault Toilet (1) |
| Operated By: | Forest Service |
General Information
Directions:From Ukiah, OR, travel west 1 mile to the Hwy 395 junction. Turn left (south) on Hwy 395 and go about 15 miles, and then turn left (east) onto Forest Service Road (FSR) 55. Drive a little less than 1 mile, then turn right (south) onto FSR 10. Travel about 12 miles on Forest Road 10 and Welch Campground is on the right (south).
Activities
Campground Camping
RV Camping
All sites accomodate large RVs: 2 sites require backing in, 3 sites are pull-beside, and the group site is a large pull-through
| No. of Sites | 6 |
| Reservation Info | Not reservable |
| Hookup - Water | None |
| Hookup - Sewer | None |
| Dump Stations | None |
| Hookups - Electric | None |
| Pavement Type of Parking | Gravel |
Group Camping
Site 6 provides group camping for up to 40 people and is accessible. It is directly adjacent to the recreational stock corral.
| No. of Sites | 1 |
| Reservation Info | Not reservable |
| No. of Accessible sites | All sites |
River and Stream Fishing
Fishing opportunities are available in Desolation Creek or 13 miles to the east at Olive Lake.
Horse Riding
A four stall recreational stock corral was installed in 2014. Be aware that trails in this area are also open to OHVs.
OHV Trail Riding
This site provides trailhead accesses the Beeman-Junkins Trail #3015 (8.5 miles) which connects with the Sharp's Ridge Trail #3026 (7.9 miles) to form a loop. Across FSR 10 is the Welch Creek Trail #3030 (3.5 miles) which connects with Battle Creek Trail #3004 which links to other trails within the Desolation OHV trail system. FSR 10 is NOT open to OHV riding.
Amenities
| Camping trailer: | All sites |
|---|---|
| Tent camping: | All sites |
| Parking: | Trailhead parking next to the toilet |
| Toilets: | Vault (1) |
| Accessible: | All sites are accessible |
Quick Links
Location