Ochoco National Forest — Walton Lake Road Dispersed Camping
Scattered dispersed pull-offs along USFS Road 22 and its spurs approaching Walton Lake in the Ochoco National Forest give you honest Oregon high-country camping without the developed campground fees. Ponderosa pine canopy, decent shade, and the kind of quiet you only get when you’re genuinely off the main drag. Sites are informal — you’re reading the terrain and picking a flat spot, not pulling into a numbered pad. Light traffic outside of deer season.
Access via US-26 east of Prineville, then south on USFS 22 — gravel all the way, manageable for any high-clearance rig. Dispersed rules apply: camp 200 feet from water, pack it out, 14-day limit. Fire restrictions hit hard in late summer — check the Ochoco NF website before you light anything. No water on-site; tank up in Prineville.
High-desert ponderosa dispersed in the Ochocos
Place Details
| Type | Dispersed Camping |
|---|---|
| Elevation (ft) | 5200 ft |
| Nearest town | Prineville, OR |
| Miles from pavement | 18 mi |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD |
| Access road surface | Gravel |
| Cell service | None |
| Cost (USD/night, 0 = free) | Free |
| Reservation required | No |
| Stay limit (nights) | 14 nights |
| Best season | May-October |
| Land manager | USFS |
| Permit required | No |
| Coordinates | Open directions |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |