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There is something about camping in the fall that feels a little different.
The mornings are crisp. The air smells like the forest. The pace slows down. And after a busy summer, there is something pretty nice about waking up, making a cup of coffee and realizing you do not have anywhere else you need to be.
In Clackamas County, camping does not have to end when summer does. Several county parks offer opportunities to get outside in the fall, whether you want to spend the night beside the river, settle into a hammock, or pull up in your van for a quiet getaway.
Stay awhile at Barton Park
Located along the Clackamas River, Barton Park is one of the county's most popular destinations for getting outside. It offers hiking, fishing, boating and a variety of camping options, including something you do not find at every campground: dedicated hammock sites.
The hammock sites at Barton give campers a chance to sleep outdoors in a little different way. Six sites feature hammocks beneath a converted picnic shelter, giving you a covered place to relax while still enjoying the open air.
Barton is also one of the county's best options for extending the camping season. The East Loop remains open through Oct. 31, with self-contained RV camping available through Nov. 15.
So, if your idea of fall camping involves watching the river, settling into a hammock with a book or enjoying a quiet evening outside, Barton might be the place for you.
Bring your van to Metzler
If traditional tent camping is not quite your style, Metzler Park offers another way to spend the night outside.
Metzler has designated sites for van and rooftop tent camping, along with standard, partial hookup, and primitive campsites. Located along Clear Creek south of Estacada, the park feels tucked away among towering Douglas fir and western red cedar trees.
While Metzler's campground closes Sept. 30, fall is still a great time to come back for a day trip.
Starting Oct. 1, all 18 holes of the Metzler Park Disc Golf Course are open for play. The back nine closes during the summer camping season but reopens in the fall. That makes October a great time to combine a visit to the park with a round of disc golf and a hike on the park's 2.5 miles of trails.
Make it a fall getaway
Feyrer Park is another option for campers looking to spend the night near the river, with 10 newly built walk-in campsites on the south side of the park, plus 20 RV and tent sites to the North. Its camping season runs through Sept. 30, making late September a great time to squeeze in one more camping trip before the season ends.
And you do not necessarily have to spend the night to enjoy the parks. General day-use areas at Barton, Eagle Fern, Feyrer, and Metzler are open year-round, giving you plenty of opportunities for a fall hike, picnic, or afternoon outside.
Whether you are looking for a quiet night in a hammock, a place to park the van or one last tent camping trip before the season changes, Clackamas County Parks offer plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors a little longer.
The best part? You do not have to go far to feel like you have gotten away.
Check camping dates, availability and park amenities before you go, and find your next fall adventure at Clackamas County Parks.