Lost Creek Campground is a hidden gem just outside of Zigzag, Oregon in the Mount Hood National Forest. There are two distinct areas to the campground. Loop A features 14 traditional car camping sites. The road is paved, eliminating unnecessary dust and noise. All sites are level and wooded in old growth Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock. There is little brush around, yet sits are private and roomy. Tables are old school Forest Service gargantuan. Fire pits and bar-b-q stands are included. Piped water is available at a central pump. Vault toilets are new and sparkling clean. Loop B features five walk in cites, accessible by a smooth and wide gravel path, which will easily accommodate a hand truck or cart. These sites are extremely private and quiet.
Lost Creek also has a well maintained nature trail along Lost Creek. It is reasonably long, well signed, and paved with boardwalks and viewing platforms. Lost Creek is one of the few camp grounds where the camp host is truly an asset. Larry takes great pride in the facility and it shows. Check ins are efficient and the camp ground and facilities are immaculate. He can show a short cut trail to the Ramona Falls Trail-head, eliminating the need for a shuttle.
All in all, Lost Creek is one of the finest camp grounds in Oregon. It is scenic, quiet, and has those indefinable charm special places exude. Sites may be reserved. Highly recommended.
Bonuses: Nearby trail-heads for Burnt Lake and Zig Zag Mountain, Ramona Falls, and Top Spur.
Reservations required. There are four walk-in sites that are well worth the small effort.
My experience was very different than the glowing review on your website. We arrived at the campground and checked in with the host – not Larry as described in your review but a girl, who shouted out from her RV ‘WHAT DO YOU WANT’. Hmmm not a great first impression. She was not at all friendly, seemed in a very bad mood and basically gave us little or no information in response to our questions. She clearly is not a good representation for Mt Hood National Forest. She did give one good tip, buy the campfire wood down the road, its better quality. Other than that, she was most unwelcoming. So I guess Larry mentioned in the review has moved on. The yurt we stayed in was filty. Looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in months – is this the campsite hosts job? If so, this lady clearly is not meeting her responsibilities . I almost left but decided, its only one night we can handle this. The campsite brochure describes a beautiful creek and beaver pond, well, the pond is tiny and nothing special, the creek the same. I will say, the camp ground itself is very nice, spacious sites, however, when one books a yurt with Oregon State Park they always include heat and electricity and shower and bath facilities. The yurts at this Mt Hood site (not a state park run camp) have no lighting or heat,no showers and a pitted toilet. Quite a difference for the same amount of money. Mount Hood and its environs is quite beautiful but I would not stay at this park again, its not a gem, its nice for a day hike but don’t waste your money. Oh, and if you camp, beware the bees, they were so aggressive we ended up eating in our yurt.
Wow, sorry to hear you had such a poor experience at this campground. The description was actually submitted by someone else so I cannot really comment on it. Thank you for your review I am sure it will help others!!!
Hi:
I wish I would have seen this before I made a yurt reservation. I have looked all over the internet and there is not a single picture of the inside of a yurt at Lost Creek campground. There isn’t a description of what it offers inside (heat, etc..) like you can find on the State Parks website.
Can anyone direct me where I can find out if this compares to a State Park yurt? If it doesn’t have bathrooms or showers nearby and if it’s gross and dirty, I want to cancel my reservation. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks!
Danna
I am also concerned about what I will find inside the yurt that I rented for a week. Will I be as sorry as Treasa?
Anyone find anything out about the place? Sure would like to hear some “glowing” reviews.
Thanks
Rose
Did any of you end up going to the yurt? I have 3 nights reserved and I’m quite nervous.
So what’s up with this campground?
I have reservations for early August for a week. Shall I cancel and lose a night fee instead of spending a week living in a filthy yurt?
Anyone get back to report the conditions? I will be sure to do so when I return. Will take photos too.
I have been going on an annual campground here for at least 5 years in a row. We stay in the walk-in sites. We love it! It’s always clean, quiet, it’s a sweet little place with a lovely creek going through it. It’s a really easy drive from the Ramona Falls Hike, which is outstanding. I actually totally suggest staying here! It wouldn’t let me click the stars, so I could only pick one! I would give it 4 out of 5, just because there isn’t a lot of recreational choices really close by. Otherwise, we love it.
I stayed in a yome at Lost Creek in August, 2014. The site was clean, and the staff was very friendly. I saw him drive through the campground every couple hours to monitor it, and he cleaned the bathrooms at least 2 times a day. The one recommendation I would have for anyone staying is to bring their own water. As it had a very bad after taste, and when boiled or left over night it turned brown. As far as beds in the yome, they are bunk beds that have a double on the bottom and a twin on top. I’m a little over 6 feet tall, and didn’t fit well at all on the beds. however, their is a lot of room for an air mattress or two in the yomes.
Wonderful place and very accessible. The nicest host. Can’t imagine a nicer time.
I am not sure what all the bad reviews are about. We just stayed there last night in a ‘Yome’ (Yurt) and it was super clean, beds were comfy, and the camp host was awesome. I would recommend this site to anyone who wants to get away and have a relaxing time. Trails were close by and fun for all. Great campsite! 5 stars!
I went camping with a small travel trailer and a tent in late summer of 2015 and found this campground to, indeed, be a hidden gem. The sites were spacious with lovely big trees, the camp host was friendly and helpful, and though the bathroom facilities consisted of only vault toilets, they were kept incredibly clean. The creek running by the campground is beautiful and full of great spots for kids to play in. I’m going back soon and will try staying in one of the yurts.
I highly recommend the family friendly yurts (and campground) at Lost Creek for the people who are used to camping. These rustic yurts are more like luxury tent camping and not like staying in an upscale cabin. There are only pit toilets (clean and well stocked with toilet paper) and a water pump at this campground. I’m used to tent camping and didn’t mind the small amount of dirt on the yurt floor. We wore shoes. We didn’t have any issues with bugs in the yurt. Be sure to bring headlamps/flashlights as there is no electricity or heater in the yurts, as well as your own sleeping bag and pillow.
The yurts sleep 6 but there is plenty of extra floor room. There are 2 bunks (single bed on the tops and a double bed on the bottoms). The top beds were encased with heavy plastic. Nice for cleanliness but a bit noisy when the sleepers up top roll over.
If you’re used to clean big cabins with lots of amenities, these yurts are not for you. If you’re used to camping, especially tent camping, you’ll have a blast!
Can u fish ? Swim ?my phone is lagging can’t see what im typing