Timothy Lake

Oregon campgrounds with many activities and breathtaking scenery in the forests of Mount Hood.

Visiting Timothy Lake

At Timothy Lake, you can enjoy camping, hiking, fishing, picnicking, paddling, mountain biking and horseback riding – all with a spectacular view of Mt. Hood. Around the 1,500-acre lake, seven campgrounds provide over 200 campsites, and there are several picnic areas along the shore. PGE manages this site in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.

Timothy Lake is fished for rainbow trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout, and kokanee. It's also one of the best crawdad (crayfish) spots in the state. Motorized boats are allowed at a 10 mph speed limit, and canoes, kayaks, sailboats and other non-motorized watercraft are welcome. 

Day use requires a $10 daily vehicle parking permit or a valid annual Northwest Forest Pass or federal Interagency Annual Pass. 

Campground locations and reservation info

Campgrounds, group camps, cabins, even campsites you can hike, bike, or boat to — Timothy Lake has it all! (Except electricity. And hook-ups. Ironic, we know.)

Directions: Follow Highway 26 east from Portland. After you pass Government Camp, watch for the Timothy Lake turnoff at the Skyline Road junction. Follow signs for Timothy Lake and continue on to the campsite of your choice.

Make a reservation: Click on a campground below for the link to make a reservation or call 877-444-6777. Campsite reservations open up to 6 months in advance on a rolling basis. Select campsites open on a shorter, 2-week window. All sites at these campgrounds are reservable except Meditation Point.

At the southeastern corner of the lake, near Oak Fork, Gone Creek has barrier-free sites, as well as parking, restrooms, water and a boat ramp for registered guests. Mt. Hood is visible from the shoreline. Gone Creek is open the Friday before Memorial Day through the second weekend in September.

Learn more or make a reservation

Hoodview campground is on the southern tip of Timothy Lake, with parking, restrooms and water. Sites nearest Forest Road 57 may catch some road noise. True to its name, campers can catch a view of Mt. Hood on clear days. Hoodview is open the Friday before Memorial Day through the last weekend in September.

Learn more or make a reservation

Meditation Point is not reservable. This first-come, first-served hike-to, bike-to, boat-to campground is about a mile hike from the trailhead and features seven primitive, private sites next to the lake. There is a $10 campsite fee for this campground, as well as a $10 fee to park in a nearby day-use area. Meditation Point is open from the Friday before Memorial Day through the second weekend in September.

Learn more

This smaller, more private campground is on the northern end of the lake, a short hike from Little Crater Lake. On the cusp of the wetlands where Cooper Creek and Crater Creek flow into Timothy Lake, this serene, scenic campground has your best wildlife viewing. North Arm is open the Friday before Memorial Day through the second weekend in September.

Learn more or make a reservation

Oak Fork is near the Gone Creek Campground at the southeast corner of the lake. There are barrier-free sites and cabins (pets only permitted at those designated) as well as a day use boat launch — making this campground busier than some others. Oak Fork Campground is open the Friday before Memorial Day through the second weekend in September.

Learn more or make a reservation

Pine Point is next to the Pine Point day-use area. It has a handful of double-occupancy sites so it can be a little noisier than other campgrounds. Pine Point is open the Friday before Memorial Day through the last weekend in September.

Pine Point Group Camp contains two loops which can be reserved together or separately. Each loop has six individual campsites with picnic tables, fire rings and can accommodate an RV or trailer and two tents. Each group site also has a vault toilet, parking area, water spigot and common picnic area with a large charcoal grill.

Learn more or make a reservation

Stone Creek is our newest campground, opening the summer of 2023. Nestled in a cove between Hoodview and Gone Creek, this campground includes a day-use area with a non-motorized boat launch, trail access, picnicking and a view of Mt. Hood. Campsites are set back from the water with more privacy between sites than other campgrounds. There are separate tent and RV loops to limit the sound of generators. Stone Creek’s season runs through the second weekend in September.

Learn more or make a reservation

Timothy Lake campgrounds at a glance

Timothy Lake campgrounds open on the Friday before Memorial Day. Each campground has a different closing date — see details below. Enjoy barrier-free campsites, boat launches and some hike-to sites.

Campground

Gone Creek – standard, non-electric/double

Fee*

$26/$52

Sites

49

Campground

Hoodview – standard, non-electric

Fee*

$26

Sites

45

Campground

Oak Fork – standard, non-electric/cabin

Fee*

$26/$70

Sites

50

Campground

Meditation Point – boat/bike/hike-to

Fee*

$10

Sites

7

Campground

North Arm – standard, non-electric

Fee*

$26

Sites

19

Campground

Pine Point – standard, non-electric/double

Fee*

$26/$52

Sites

25

Campground

Pine Point group/both loops

Fee*

$156 per loop/$312

Sites

12 (6 per loop)

Campground

Stone Creek – standard, non-electric/double

Fee*

$26/$52

Sites

43

* Holiday weekend rates are an additional $2 per night

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Want more solitude?

There are nearly 40 designated dispersed campsites around Timothy Lake. These first-come, first-served sites can be accessed by foot, bike or boat. These unimproved backcountry sites are free; however, rules and requirements apply.*

* Permits are required from self-service registration stations between Memorial Day weekend and the second weekend of September. A valid parking permit is also required. Camping is only permitted in designated sites and campers are subject to Forest Service rules.

For more information

Use our contact form or call the PGE Parks Information Line at 503-464-8515.

Thinking ahead

We’re committed to keeping our parks safe, clean, sustainable and welcoming – but we need your help.

Before you go

  • Make a plan: Check for road closures, construction, fire bans, swimming restrictions or other conditions that may hamper your visit.

  • …and a plan B: Make a backup plan in case of crowds. Try visiting on weekdays or at off-peak times to beat the masses!

  • EV adventuring? While our parks do not have charging stations (yet!), check here for nearby locations PGE that do.

During your visit

  • Stop campfires from becoming wildfires! Keep campfires small, make sure your tent and anything that can burn is a safe distance from your fire, keep water nearby and never leave a fire unattended.

  • Keep it clear: Park only in designated areas. Do not double-park or block entrances.

  • Leave no trace: Help us protect these natural areas by staying on-trail, packing out your trash, and admiring wildlife from a distance.