Oregon Public Broadcasting

Record snowfall this past winter means many National Forest campgrounds in Oregon will remain closed Memorial Day weekend.  But campers do have other options, as Pete Springer reports.

The snow level on Mt. Hood and other national forests in Oregon is around 3000 feet right now. 

That’s far lower than normal for this time of year meaning many forest campgrounds remain closed.

Oregon parks and recreation spokesman Chris Havel says one way to beat the snow is to use state parks rather than national forests.

Oregon state parks are at lower elevations. Havel says it’s possible to get a camping spot even on a holiday weekend.

Chris Havel: “Cancellations do happen, and some people, believe it or not, some people are sort of put off by the weather sometimes and, so, so it does happen, you always do have options it’s just that when you’re this late in the game, you just have to be real light on your feet and you know check around and see what you can find.”

Havel says if you can't find an open camping spot this weekend, state parks will almost certainly have more space available when it's not Memorial Day Weekend.