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A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Forest Service campground

Carter Lake

Forest Service campground in Siuslaw National Forest, Douglas County, Oregon. About 100 feet. 4.6 miles from Dunes City.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Siuslaw National Forest
Elevation
About 100 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
21 18 standard non-electric, 3 rv non-electric
Longest rig
30 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Douglas County

Overview

Carter Lake Campground is a family favorite in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. This campground is located on Carter Lake, perfect for fishing, swimming, and boating. The Carter Dunes Trailhead is located within the campground, and the Pacific coast is just a short drive away.

Recreation

Hike the Carter Dune Trail, which attracts campers and locals alike. Fishing for rainbow trout is a good way to pass the time, and canoeing and kayaking are excellent on Carter Lake.

The dunes region is also famous for off-road vehicle riding trails.

Facilities

Drinking water and flush toilets are available and each site has a campfire pit, picnic table, and trash. Parking aprons are paved.

Natural Features

Campsites are nestled among shore pine, sitka spruce, and Douglas fir, with hedges of rhododendron. Carter Lake spans 28 acres at an elevation of 100 feet. The campground is part of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, known for its wind-sculpted sand dunes towering up to 500 feet above sea level.

Nearby Attractions

Carter Lake Campground is located near several non-motorized hiking trails, including Siltcoos Lake Trail and Threemile Creek Trail. Visitors can also use the campground as a base to explore the area's waterways, including the Pacific Ocean, Tahkenitch Lake, and Siltcoos Lake.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • swimming

The land around Carter Lake

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated July 17, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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