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

Forest Service campground

Roaring River

Forest Service campground in Mt. Hood National Forest, Clackamas County, Oregon. About 1,000 feet. 14.4 miles from Estacada.

Managed by
Forest Service Mt. Hood National Forest
Elevation
About 1,000 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
14 13 tent only non-electric, 1 standard non-electric
Longest rig
20 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Campground closed due to the 2020 Riverside Wildfire

Roaring River Campground is located across from the Wild and Scenic Clackamas River in the beautiful Cascade Range of northern Oregon. The small, rustic campground has some charm and provides visitors with access to a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including world-famous whitewater rafting.

Recreation

Fishing is very popular in the Clackamas River and anglers can expect a catch of winter steelhead, spring Chinook and late summer Coho salmon, as well as other species of freshwater fish. The Clackamas River provides miles of wild water as it bends through the scenic Cascade Range, making whitewater rafting a very popular activity.

A hiking trail follows the river north and south. Scenic driving is also available on the nearby West Cascades Scenic Byway, which follows the river.

Facilities

The campground offers just over a dozen single-family sites, the majority of which are designated for tent camping only. RVs larger than 16 feet are not recommended in the campground. Utility hookups are not available and parking surfaces are gravel.

Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Firewood is available for purchase within the campground.

Natural Features

The campground is nestled in a wooded area thick with moss and greenery, at an elevation of about 1,000 feet. The river is across the highway and is not visible from the campground, but can sometimes be heard.

The river provides habitat for the federally protected bald eagle and northern spotted owl, as well as an occasional peregrine falcon. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the area.

Nearby Attractions

Just below nearby Indian Henry Campground, the Clackamas River provides 12.5 miles of class III-IV whitewater as it works its way toward North Fork Reservoir.

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

What people do here

  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • water sports
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Roaring River

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

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

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.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.