mdi-tent Reserve

Emigrant Springs
State Heritage Area

Near Pendleton, Oregon, United States
mdi-tent Reserve

Park Overview

Near the summit of the Blue Mountains, Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area preserves a site where people, including travelers on the Oregon Trail, have replenished water supplies since time immemorial. Now visitors find a refreshing place to camp in a mature forest between Pendleton and La Grande.

Year-round Camping

Some campsites and all cabins are open year-round. Note that park roads are often snow-covered or icy in winter. Book reservations up to 6 months in advance at oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com. Reservations are required Oct. 1 - June 1 for the duplex totem cabin and six rustic cabins. 

  • 16 full hookup sites
  • Five sites open year-round (water available only at restroom/shower building in winter)
  • 1 electrical site with water (closed in winter)
  • 32 tent sites with water nearby (closed in winter)
  • Hot showers and flush toilets
  • Horse camp with seven sites (closed in winter)
  • Six rustic log cabins open year round (four pet-friendly)
  • Duplex cabin (Totem)
  • Group tent camp (closed in winter)
  • Universal Access: Tent site A19 is accessible to campers with disabilities.

Year-round Cabin Comforts

Reservations required Oct.1 - June 1.

Emigrant Springs’ duplex totem cabin and six rustic log cabins offer a cozy overnight camping experience. The totem cabin has two separate units that sleep five each. The rustic cabins also sleep up to five. Cabins are equipped with a small refrigerator, table with chairs, lights and heating. Outside you’ll find a propane stove and oven. Visit our Cabins and Yurts page for details.

Up to two pets (cats and/or dogs only) are allowed in the pet-friendly cabins for an additional fee. See our Pets in Parks FAQ for more information.

Groups Welcome

The group tent camping area accommodates up to 25 guests and can be reserved spring to fall up to six months in advance via oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com.

Visit with your Horse

The horse camp north of the day-use area has seven campsites with corrals. Each corral accommodates two horses. The camp is also a trailhead for an equestrian trail that meanders behind the park. 

Nearby Attractions

Oregon Trail wagon ruts can be seen at Deadman’s Pass Rest Area seven miles northwest of Emigrant Springs, on I-84, and at the U.S. Forest Service Oregon Trail Interpretive Park. Continue your exploration at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City.

Pendleton is the home of the famous Pendleton Round-Up. Other local attractions include the Pendleton Underground Tours, the Pendleton Woolen Mills, and the nearby Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, a museum focused on the tribes that inhabited this area.

Explore hundreds of miles of trails in two national forests: Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman.

mdi-white-balance-sunny Open for day use year round mdi-tent Open for camping year round mdi-cellphone Call for reservations: 800-452-5687
Call for info: 800-551-6949
Call park: 541-983-2277
Current Conditions Directions Feedback

Amenities & Features

Questions

mdi-help-circle-outline General

How do I rent a cabin at Emigrant Springs?

Call 800-452-5687 or book online at oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com. Reservations are accepted same day and up to six months in advance. 

How do I rent the Community Building?

Call 800-452-5687 or book online at oregon state parks.reserveamerica.com. Call the park office at (541) 983-2277 for an application for a special use permit.  Reservations are made up to 6 months in advance.  Full payment is due with your return application.  The Community Building rental is $150 per day and the rental period is from 9:00 AM to 8:00 AM the next morning (23 hours). There is bench seating & tables for 150 - 200 people. The Community Building must be left in the condition you found it, or a minimum cleaning fee of $100 may be charged.    There is an additional $8 reservation fee for each booking. 

Can I sleep inside the Community Building

Not currently. There are no overhead fire sprinklers, which is a requirement for a community sleeping area. There is a campground down the hill from community building with cabins, full hook up sites and tent sites. No camping or overnight RVs at the community building unless pre-approved by the park manager.

Does the park have programs for school groups?

Yes. Call the park office at 541-983-2277 to schedule an interpretive program on Environmental Education event.

What's the difference between a Rustic cabin and a Totem cabin?

The Rustic cabins are larger and have a few amenities that the Totem cabins don't have:  Rustic cabins sleep 5, have a table & chairs and a mini-fridge inside with a propane cook top and stove out on the porch.  The Totem cabins are a duplex that sleep 3 and has a double bed with a single bunk on top.  Both types of cabins have picnic tables and a fire pit outside. 

Is the park open year-round?

The park is open year-round for camping and day-use. Roads may be icy or snow-packed Oct - April.

All cabins, five full hookup sites, and one restrrom/shower building are open year-round. Tent campsites, the horse camp, and the group tent camp all close for the winter.  

Are showers available to non-campers?

Showers are available for non-campers for a $2 fee. 

For more questions, review our statewide FAQ

History

The heart of the park is a spring that has drawn people to it since time immemorial, long before Oregon's resettlement.

In 1812, trappers and traders of the Astor Expedition crossed the Blue Mountains on their way to Fort Astoria, thus establishing the route later used by wagon trains following the Oregon Trail. By the mid-1800’s, the watering hole was a key landmark for travelers to rest and refill their water barrels.

In the 1880s, the trail was replaced by the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company (now Union Pacific) railroad, which reaches the mountain summit of Meacham a few miles to the south of the park. During the construction of I-84 in the 1950s, one could still find artifacts on the Oregon Trail in the gulch south of the park.

The state acquired the land from private owners between 1925 and 1970. Extensive day-use developments were made in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. In the early 1950s, overnight camp facilities were added.

Brochures and Maps

mdi-file-pdf-box Emigrants Springs campground brochure and map

Photos

Events

Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area

Next happening
Jul 18, 2024
mdi-clock 6:00 PM
3 other sessions