memaloose state park

We stayed here over the 4th of July weekend. 100 degrees, amazing breeze, great views of the river. We loved the campsite and it's proximity to Hood River. Strange access, as you have to pass the park on the way East, and then turn around... Our big complaint, our campsite had a HUGE Poison Oak on the outskirts of the site. Our dog got into it, and only afterwards did my husband notice that it was Poison Oak. We alerted the Ranger, to confirm that it was Poison Oak - sure enough it was. We were appalled that they were so nonchalant about it - stating that because it's a native species they didn't take it out. They are very lucky that our dog got into it and not a small child. In my opinion, if something so dangerous is directly next to a site, they should remove it. At the VERY least put up a sign. If you have small children, or dogs - watch out for Poison Oak in this park!

We stayed here for two nights as part of our summer vacation and loved this place. Our site (B29) backed right on to the river and was plenty large enough for our fifth wheel and truck. The sites are fairly well spaced and the large trees make for a nice park atmosphere. They need to do some watering of the grass as it's looking pretty dry here. The train track is adjacent to the camping area but we didn't mind the occasional train that passed by and there seemed to be none at night. The campground was completely full both nights that we were there with many people coming through checking for sites just in case one came available. We would definitely stay here again.

On our trip to the Oregon coast we needed a place in the middle to crash for a night. We decided to try Memaloose State Park. It was right off of the freeway just east of Portland, Oregon. I didn't take any pictures of this park, nor did we explore much but I'll make a few brief comments about our experience.The GoodThis is a great place to pull over if you need to crash for a night. It's clean, spacious and has full amenities (showers, etc.). There are big mature trees and grass. Also a play structure for kiddos. The campsites were level and paved with plenty of spaces for tents and long RV pads. We didn't have a reservation and were able to have our pick of 10+ spots on a Thursday night. We had one interaction with the camp hosts and they were very, very nice. The dump station was convenient and easy to use.The BadThe lady at the check in booth was very rude. A lot of the grass was dried out but they were doing their best to water it. This isn't a place to camp, only to stay for a night while you are traveling through. It is VERY loud here and not a peaceful quiet camping experience. I can't imagine wanting to stay more than 1 night unless you sleep like the dead. The campground is bordered by the interstate on one side and a train track on the other. The trains went through all night long. At approximately 330am one of them started blowing their horn multiple times just as they were beside the park. There is no vehicle or other crossing there and no reason for them to do that other than they were being jerks. This isn't the parks fault, they are making good use of a difficult piece of property that would otherwise go unused.The UglyBecause of the loud interstate traffic and train whistles/rumbles, our children would not sleep. A little over 2 hours of crying and just being angry. Not a great first night of camping for the kids.Overall I give this campground a C+. If it were in a different (quiet) location it would be great! The river is beautiful and the trees were big. Again, if you just need a place to sleep en route, this would be a good choice!

We have been going to Memaloose State Park for over 10 years and this year was a real disapointment and Oregon Parks should be ashamed for the way they have let this park go down hill. We spend 10 days there and for 4 of those days the showers had no Hot Water. The Rangers only comment was the equipment is 30 years old what do you you expect. Addtionally what once was a lush green park is now brown as the pump for the irigation is broke and they do not know if or when it will be repaired maybe in a couple of years, Shame on Oregon Parks for allowing this once great park to be so run down and badly managed,

This is a good campground if you need hookups and if you can get a site on the river where its away from freeway. Very clean, safe.

We got a camp site on the northern side by the river. Our site had a great view, and we were able to set up our tents in the field, which gave us some extra space. And then there were the trains. Trains rumbled by 24/7, and definitely loud enough to keep you up at night. I'm not sure if it was just our site, but we were swarmed by yellow jackets anytime we attempted to cook anything. So bring a bug enclosure for the table if you have one. It's in a convenient location, but you are better off at a different campground if you're looking for peace and quiet.

For one, Memaloose State Park is in Oregon. We stayed here for 3 nights recently and used it as a home base for trips around the Gorge and Portland Areas. It served fine for that. It is right next to the freeway and right on the river, both of which have their pros and cons. There are usable hookups and the sites are clean and well maintained. There could be a bit better supervision of the sites however, the group next to us had 18 people and 4 cars crammed into one site. That seemed to be a bit excessive. If you are looking for a rustic, wilderness experience, this isn't it. If you are looking for a functional, state park campsite near Hood River, you are in luck.

This is not a destination campground--it is a place to sleep. There is nothing particularly to do--no hiking trails, no river access. Unfortunately you may not get a good night's sleep. There is constant noise from the freeway on one side and frequent train noise on the other. There are better campgrounds not far away in the gorge.

Memaloose offers one thing...a nice view of the river. Beyond that, there isn't anything special about this place. Once you've arrived and are setup there really isn't anything to do but look at the water. No hiking, no fishing, no swimming, no nothing. The place is sandwiched between the railroad tracks and the highway. Just past the railroad tracks is the river. An inviting spot to explore and enjoy. Unfortunately, the UP has closed the gate and fenced off all access to the river so cross off any water fun. Other than walking the camp loops there isn't anywhere to explore. Another negative. Finally there is the noise. The freeway had lots of traffic until late into the night. Five or six train passed during the night and while they don't sound their horns they still make a ton of noise. Forget a restful nights sleep here. Throw in the near constant gorge winds and this place really isn't anything special. Maybe if you're passing through in your RV looking for a place to stop it would be ok. Otherwise, there is way better camping out there.

This is a beautiful camping area with a bike/walking path, playground, clean bathrooms with hot showers, friendly camp hosts, ice and wood are available if you forget. I love it and I come back every year!

One of our favorite RV parks, so restful here .. hosts and rangers are the BEST .. just use XM or a fan for 'white noise' and you'll not notice I-90 or trains so much (most RV parks have one or other of above noises). Sites are 'big rig' have water and are paved-level. Some have W/E/S. Sites are reservable ... we love the Oregon State Park System! Lots of berries and fruits for the pickin'. Trees provide some shade and some spots have a riverview.

Trains and I-84 traffic make this a noisy spot. That being said, it's a pretty good campground. There are plenty of good tent and RV sites. The campground is in between Hood River and the Dalles. This area is the Hood River Fruit Loop, a great area to visit in June and July. There are dozens of scenic hikes within an hour drive of Memaloose, some on the Oregon side, some on the Washington side. There are also a few winery tasting places near, as well.Take note of when it is hot in the Gorge, this can lead to high winds and make tent camping uncomfortable.

Memaloose is one of three state parks that offer camping along the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. (The others are Viento and Ainsworth.) The area certainly is scenic, but be warned: it's noisy too. Interstate 84 and the Union Pacific Railroad both parallel the river, and both have traffic around the clock. The brochure that Oregon State Parks publishes on the three parks (available online) warns that one camping loop at Viento is particularly noisy because it's located next to the railway line, which cuts through the park. With no mention of noise in the other parks, I thought we'd have a restful time at Memaloose, but unfortunately not. The campground is pretty enough -- grassy tent sites, shade trees, picnic tables, river views -- but with trucks thundering along the interstate above all night and trains rumbling on the rail line below, we didn't catch much sleep. To top off a disappointing stay, when I tracked down the solar showers in a distant washroom the next morning, they had only cold water. At $19 a night, this is not the best camping value out there. We have paid less in private campgrounds where we enjoyed total peace and quiet along with unlimited hot showers. Memaloose is 11 miles from The Dalles, the closest place to get gas, groceries or a meal. We couldn't find anywhere open downtown for breakfast at 8 am, but the gas station attendant directed us to Momma Janes, tucked behind a strip mall. Good food and good service -- definitely worth seeking out and obviously a favourite with the local crowd. If you're heading in the other direction leaving Memaloose, Hood River is full of interesting-looking cafes, restaurants, bars and boutiques. This community seems a lot more upmarket and tourist-oriented than The Dalles.If you can deal with the noise, there are some definite advantages to staying at Memaloose, not the least being its location. You're at a good starting point for touring the gorge from east to west. Multnomah is the best-known of the falls along the route, but there are many others, some easily visible from the roadside, others requiring a hike in. Wherever possible get off the interstate and onto Highway 30, the Historic Columbia River Highway. You'll be away from the trucks and other heavy traffic, and you'll see some lovely scenery and pretty little villages. We hit Mosier right at cherry season and enjoyed fruit from a roadside stand. Another interesting stop is the entry to the Mosier Twin Tunnels. Once part of the highway, they were blocked off and filled in when the interstate opened. Since then, however, they've been cleared and opened to pedestrian and bike traffic. And the Rowena Loops drive leads up to an impressive overview of the gorge.