U.S. Forest Service · Mt. Hood National Forest · OR

North Arm Campground (Timothy Lake, OR)

North Arm of Timothy LakePhoto · PGE Parks
Not publishedStatus
ReservableAccess
20Sites
45 ftMax rig

The place

The North Arm Campground sits on the shores of Timothy Lake, in the shadow of Oregon's Mt. Hood. The surrounding forest setting offers spectacular views, wetlands, trails for exploration, and abundant fishing. This campground is smaller and more secluded than the others on the south side of the lake. DRIVING NOTE: There are two routes to North Arm Campground—one is rugged and one is suitable for RVs and trailers. Recommended Route: From Sandy, Oregon, travel east on Highway 26 for approximately 40 miles to Skyline Road / FS Road 42. Turn right on Skyline Road, and continue south for about 9 miles. Keep reading

Turn right on FS Road 57, and travel west for approximately 3 ½ miles, crossing the dam at Timothy Lake. Take the 2nd right onto FS Road 5810. North Arm is approximately 5 ½ miles from here. Keep right at all intersections—the road becomes FS Road 5890. The campground is on the right. Recreation Proximity to Timothy Lake allows campers to enjoy a variety of water-related recreation, including boating and sailing, as well as swimming, windsurfing and fishing. Anglers can expect a catch of kokanee salmon and a variety of trout, as well as crayfish. This area has wonderful canoeing and kayaking opportunities. A variety of trails are located in the area. The Timothy Lake Trail is popular for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The 12 miles of relatively level terrain loops trekkers around the lake, providing scenic views of the area. It connects to the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, a lengthy hike that extends across three states, from the borders of Canada and Mexico. Portions of that trail also lead southwest to Clackamas Lake Campground and a historic site. The Little Crater Lake is only a short hike away. Little Crater Lake is a geologic oddity, possibly formed by artesian water forcing its way through soft, volcanic rock. The beautiful, turquoise water is a wonder to see. The surrounding meadow is a great place for observing birds and other wildlife. The region is ripe for huckleberry picking as well. Facilities The campground offers 14 campsites for tent and RV camping. There are four hike-to campsites available as well. Each site is equipped with a table and a fire ring. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. A campground host is also available onsite. The nearest gas station/convenience store is about 14 miles away, west on Hwy. 26. The nearest grocery store is in Government Camp, about 19 miles away, west on Hwy. 26. Natural Features The campground is situated on the northeastern shore of the roughly 1,400-acre lake, at an elevation of 3,400 feet. Timothy Lake was created in 1956 as a storage reservoir for the Oak Grove Hydroelectric Project. It is one of the larger lakes in the Mt. Hood National Forest. The campground is nestled in a dense mix conifer forest close to the shoreline. Most sites have a thick understory to provide privacy between sites. The wetlands nearby provide an opportunity to observe many species of wildlife. Nearby Attractions The Clackamas Lake Ranger Station Historic District is less than 10 miles from the campground. It was built to house Forest Service workers in the early 1900s. The rustic architecture and historic nature of the buildings and the surrounding area draws thousands of tourists each year. Contact Info Between 05/26/2023 and 09/09/2023 this location is staffed. Please call (503) 834-2215 to speak with local staff. From 11/22/2022 to 05/25/2023 this location is unstaffed. Please call (503) 464-8515 for general information. Charges & Cancellations A service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees. For full details see the Recreation.Gov, Rules & Reservation Policies.

The sites · 20

LoopSiteTypeMax rigElectricADA
HIKE TO005standard nonelectric
HIKE TO006standard nonelectric
HIKE TO007standard nonelectric
HIKE TO008standard nonelectric
HIKE TO020standard nonelectric18 ft
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND001standard nonelectric35 ft
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND002standard nonelectric30 ft
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND003standard nonelectric35 ft
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND004standard nonelectric
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND009standard nonelectricyes
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND010management
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND011standard nonelectric30 ft
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND012standard nonelectric35 ft
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND013standard nonelectric30 ft
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND014standard nonelectric40 ft
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND015standard nonelectric30 ftyes
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND016standard nonelectric45 ft
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND017standard nonelectric
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND018standard nonelectric40 ft
NORTH ARM (TIMOTHY LAKE) CAMPGROUND019standard nonelectric30 ft

Booking

183 daysBooking window before arrival

Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.

Book on recreation.gov

Fees

Payment in-full will be charged to your credit card upon completion of the reservation. A non-refundable online reservation fee may be charged for some facilities.

Your representative

This campground sits in OR-05. This member’s public-lands record →

SRC · U.S. Census TIGER · MTJP Scorecard