USDA Forest Service · Oregon
North Waldo
USDA Forest Service · Oregon, United States
- Sites
- 43
- Hookups
- 38 no hookups
- Max RV length
- 50 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,482 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- NORTH WALDO C G (NFSR 5898516) · asphalt · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Willamette National Forest
- Nearest town
- Oakridge
- Address
- FS Rd 5895 at Waldo Lake, Oakridge, OR, 97463
- Phone
- 801-226-3564
- Activities
- Boating, Day Use Area, Fishing, Hiking, Swimming
41 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Waldo Lake is one of the largest natural lakes in Oregon. It offers a uniquely peaceful setting on the water and along remote shorelines, surrounded by forests of Douglas fir and mountain hemlock. Recreation in the area is abundant with the lake an ideal location for water activities like sailing, canoeing and swimming.
Recreation
Waldo Lake is circled by the Jim Weaver Loop, 20 miles of trail for hiking and biking. Bikes are allowed on the trails, but not in the nearby Waldo Lake Wilderness. There is also easy access to the Pacific Crest Trail and North Waldo is also a popular starting point for many wilderness trails and lakes, most notably the Rigdon, Wahanna and Torrey Lakes. There is a 1-mile Shoreline Trail between North Waldo Campground and Islet Campground which provides a short and pleasant hike along the lakeshore.
Facilities
North Waldo is the most popular of the Waldo Lake Campgrounds. There are 58 sites with fire rings and tables, 34 are reservable. The boat launch is somewhat deeper than the others on the lake, which is more accommodating for large sailboats. The drier environment supports fewer mosquitoes, but they are still plentiful in season.
This facility is operated by American Land & Leisure. We appreciate hearing from you. Comment cards are available from campground hosts or online at www.americanll.com.
Natural Features
Situated high on the western slopes of the Oregon Cascades at 5,400 feet in elevation, Waldo Lake is one of the purest lakes in Oregon (9.8 square miles with a maximum depth of 427 feet). It has no permanent inlet to bring nutrients into the lake for plant growth. The lack of plant life contributes to its purity, allowing you to see to depths of 120 feet on a calm day.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36° | 23° | 10° | 48° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 34° | 24° | 1° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 39° | 24° | 13° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 43° | 27° | 15° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 51° | 34° | 26° | 72° | 9 of 11 |
| June | 63° | 41° | 30° | 82° | 3 of 11 |
| July | 75° | 50° | 38° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 76° | 51° | 40° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 65° | 45° | 35° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 57° | 36° | 24° | 74° | 6 of 10 |
| November | 43° | 30° | 16° | 59° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 34° | 23° | 9° | 52° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Islet Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 33 sites
- Taylor Burn Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Shadow Bay · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 57 sites
- Skookum Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi · 4 sites
- Little Cultus Campground · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 29 sites
All public campgrounds in Oregon · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-01. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.