Wildflowers of Willow Creek Forest Camp, Fremont-Winema National Forest

Three views of Willow Creek Forest Camp, Fremont-Winema National Forest......June 30, 2019. See additional photo below.

Willow Creek Forest Camp is an old campground located on the eastern banks of the south fork of upper Willow Creek. Up to 8 campsites are located under large ponderosa pines with a number of aspens nearby and willows providing shade along the creek. There are two small vault toilets located at the center of the campground and each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring. No potable water is currently available although one can filter or boil water from the creek. I'm guessing cattle are grazed along the creek, so consider how that might impact the quality of the water, at least later in the season. Water can be obtained either at the Mud Creek Forest Camp several miles north of OR 140 or back at the Lakeview District Office back in Lakeview, OR. Enquire as to the location of the spigot ahead of time if there's a chance you'll arrive after the office closes (not open on weekends).

There are some interesting flowers around the campground and we enjoyed the bird watching. We have not camped there and only stopped for a picnic lunch, so I'd guess more can be found along the local roads and slopes surrounding the campground. The meadows at Willow Creek immediately north oand northwest of the campground are private property, but I'd guess those are probably pretty wet to venture into. Several old spur roads extend into the fores from near the entrance to the campground, so those may be of interest to explore for a morning or early evening adventure.

Several of the campsites are large enough to allow small trailers or several tents. It seems to get light to moderate use midweek. I'd guess the campground is full during summer holidays. Be aware that the campground is near an OHV recreation area, so local campers may be driving OHVs or motorcycles as they come and go from their adventures.

This campground is generally open with servicing by recreation crews from about May 15 to October 15. The campground can be used over the winter time when snow depths on the roads allows, although you'd need to bring your own water and have extra toilet paper on hand.

Drive north of Lakeview, OR on US 395. Turn east onto Oregon Highway 140. Cross Warner Mountain Summit and descend into Camas Prairie. At the first major 4-way junction, turn right onto FS Road 3915. Drive south about 12 miles on FS Rd 3915. At Willow Creek Meadows (unsigned), turn right onto FS Road 4011 (signed for Willow Creek CG and Crane Mountain). Drive an additional half mile or so and turn into the signed campground.

Note: Google Maps indicates that there is a slightly faster route by driving east uphill out of Lakeview on Lake County Road 2-22 which becomes FS Rd 3922 as it crosses the crest of the North Warner Mountains and joins FS Rd 3915 adjacent to the trailhead at Rogger Meadows. My forest service map indicates FS Rd 3922 is a primitive road, so I'd advise contacting the Lakeview Ranger District office in Lakeview, OR to assess the quality of that road before attempting it, especially when snow may lie along that route!

This campground is located about an hour and ten minutes to the southeast of Lakeview, OR.

June 30, 2019: Willow Creek Forest Camp, North Warner Mts, Fremont-Winema National Forest

Wet meadows along Forest Road 3915 at the Willow Creek crossing about a mile downstream from Willow Creek Forest Camp, Fremont-Winema National Forest.....June 30, 2019. The meadows are a private inholding featuring a beaver dam analog (man-mad beaver dam of posts with interwoven willow branches) used to raise the water level of the creek and help restore sedges, rushes and willows in the meadows. Crane Mountain (8347') on the horizon still has snow patches on its north-facing and eastern slopes, making access difficult for hikers.