Williamson Campground

Williamson is one of 8 campgrounds along the Lostine River. It's 11 miles south of tiny town of Lostine. The gravel road is in pretty good shape at this point along the river. Williamson costs a dollar more than the other campgrounds, probably because it's got not just one, but TWO pit toilets! Williamson derives its name from an old prospector who lived in this area.

Each of these facilities (called "Forest Camps" by the NFS) is well maintained (we spent a morning visiting each one early in June of 2016 and can report that the toilets are clean and well-stocked, and that the trees have been cleared from the winter's storms. Newly cut tree rounds have been left behind for campers to split and/or burn.

The Lostine River was running high and fast, so you'll want to wait until later in the summer to dangle much more than your toes in it.

Each campground is slightly different than the next, so take your time to find your own "sweet spot." We decided against staying at Williamson because the parking pad for our van was about 15 feet higher off the river and the picnic table/fire ring a bit of a walk down through the forest towards the river. We prefer a site where both parking and eating is close together.

Fresh water is available at the Lostine Guard Station which is only a mile or two upriver. The spigot is like a fire hose and at right angles to the 2" hydrant. You might find it challenging to fill your containers.

The Forest Service has provided a helpful one-page printed guide to all the campgrounds and picnic areas along the "Lostine Corridor" so stop at the Lostine Overlook to pick one up on your way up the canyon. The Bowman/Francis Lake Trailhead is a few miles further upstream and has a huge parking area and stock loading facilities.

There's no cell phone reception in this valley, so either drive back to Lostine or hike up a few thousand feet until you get a signal! We saw only two other campers from Sunday through Tuesday of the first week of June, 2016.

Enjoyed just one overnight in dispersed camping. It gets busy on holiday weekends. But the situation of the campsites are idyllic on the river.

I hesitate to write a review here because I don't want this spot to get too popular! I found the setting quiet, remote, private, and idyllic. The hiking trails in the area are well worth researching and will delight hiking enthusiasts. On the other hand, Williamson isn't for everybody. The parking spots are generous enough for RVs, but all but a couple of sites require a wee jaunt from the main road to the fire rings and picnic tables, making most sites more tent-friendly. (We're tent campers who enjoy some solitude off the road, so it wasn't an issue for us). You are responsible for hauling out your own garbage. Finally, I'm sure that the ruthless, washboard roads on the way to the campground keep the Les Schwab Tire people in Enterprise quite busy.