Reservations possible?
No
RV Hookups
No
Potable water
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Tucked away on the east side of Mount Hood and on the eastern slope of Bonney Butte, Bonney Meadows Forest Camp is a quintessential, remote Forest Service campground. Both the campground and the butte are named for Augustus Bonney, a shepherd in the area who let his sheep graze in the subalpine meadow toward the end of the 19th century.

Protected by nearly 4 miles of rough, four-wheel drive road, the campground's relatively secluded location ensures its classic charm won't be spoiled with excessive traffic. The campground boasts eight campsites that will most likely be free of trailers because of the rough road. A mid-week visit may mean that your campsite will be free of neighbors as well.

Consider camping in the early fall to take advantage of the seasonal fall migration of raptors (birds of prey) that fly through the area in late September and early October. Bonney Butte stands at the convergence of several ridges that the birds follow as they migrate, and this geography frequently leads to largest known concentrations of migratory raptors in Oregon.  Further, the hike to Boulder Lake, one of the most pristine and delightful lakes on Mount Hood's eastern side, is only 3 miles from the trailhead at the campground. 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer
Fall

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Access to nearby hiking. No crowds. Remote.

Cons

Rough, four-wheel drive access road.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Managed by

Mount Hood National Forest

Features

Vault toilet

Location

Nearby Adventures

Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area, Oregon
Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area, Oregon
Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area, Oregon

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area, Oregon
Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area, Oregon

Comments

08/19/2016
Great remote campground. We went with a group in Aug 2016 and it was perfect for us to spread out - have the kids in tents far away from the fire and late silliness.

The meadow was so fun for kids, dogs and adults. The hikes from there are great.

The road is no joke. Our friends had a Highlander and a Vanagon that just made it.
08/15/2016
This was a great place to adventure but you definitely need AWD and good ground clearance! I took my 04 Subaru Forester which had just the right amount of ground clearance, I sure wouldn't have wanted to drive any lower of a vehicle up there. We did see a Civic and couple of other cars, so it can be done but you definitely risk damaging the undercarriage. We assumed one of the 8 spots would be available a hot August weekend, but upon arrival Friday evening, all the sites were full. Thankfully, we found a little spot about a block past the campground entrance, so were able to camp close enough. Super disappointed it's such a popular place though. Really fun to go up to the viewpoint and, it's a migratory route for birds of prey. The Boulder Lake trail was really fun, water was warm enough to dip in and the trail was well maintained. Highly recommended, but don't expect there to be hardly any people.
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