Lake Selmac Campground, Josephine County, Southern Oregon
LOCATION
Lake Selmac Campground is located on the shore of Lake Selmac (surprise!) 30 minutes east of Grants Pass, Oregon.
ABOUT THE SITES
- Lake Selmac Campground offers 93 total sites. This includes sites spread out over five distinct loops at different points along the lake, as well as a small horse camp.
- Several yurts are available for rent in the Osprey and Mallard loops.
- The campsite fee is $20 to $25 per night for tent sites, $25 to $30 for partial hook-up sites, and $30 to $35 for full hook-ups. Yurts cost $50 to $55 per night. The higher rates are in place during the summer season, from mid-May to mid-September.
- The campground is open year round, but has limited services from November through March.
- Most sites in the Osprey loop were large and nicely shaded (very welcome when the temperature climbs during Southern Oregon summers). I didn’t visit the other loops, but since the lake is surrounded by trees, it’s a good bet that you’ll find shade everywhere.
- We stayed at site #17. It’s one of three sites grouped closely together, which means there is less privacy than at most others. Fortunately, there is still plenty of open space. The restroom is just up the hill, and the lake is a few minutes’ walk away. There is a partial view of the lake from the campsite.
FUN STUFF
- The Osprey Loop has a small swing set for kids. There are also horseshoe pits and basketball hoops available.
- Head out onto Lake Selmac. I note in “The Verdict” that Lake Selmac wasn’t, in our experience, the best choice for swimming. There are, however, numerous boat launches along the lake, and it’s possible to fish from one of several docks or from your boat. Nearby Lake Selmac Resort (also called Smoke on the Water — it’s a private, marijuana-friendly campground) rents boats.
- Try a trail. There are trails connecting the Eagle, Mallard, and Teal loops, and some additional trails on the north side of the Osprey loop. These are short, wooded trails that offer a pleasant walk through the forest.
- Play a game of disc golf. While not located right at the campground, the Lake Selmac Disc Golf Course is only a mile or two away.
CURRENT INFO & RESERVATIONS
- General information about this campground is available on the Josephine County website.
- For reservations, visit the Josephine County Parks reservations website.
- Lake Selmac doesn’t see the kinds of crowds that flock to national parks and many of the most popular state parks. We had no trouble getting reservations a couple of months in advance for a summer weekend. Still, I recommend reserving ahead of time for summer stays, especially weekends.
WE STAYED HERE
- August, 2020, 2 nights
AMENITIES
- Flush toilets
- Drinkable water
- Free showers! Shower facilities are located in the Osprey, Teal, and Mallard loops.
- Firewood may be available for purchase from the camp host — a generous bundle was only $6 in 2020. Camp host sites are located in the Osprey, Teal, and Mallard loops.
- A mix of dry, partial, or full hook-up sites
- Picnic tables and fire rings at all sites
NEARBY & NOTABLE
- Oregon Caves National Monument is about an hour southeast of Lake Selmac. While there are a couple of campgrounds closer to Oregon Caves, they don’t take reservations and have only vault toilets. If you prefer a campground with a few more amenities, Lake Selmac is one of the few in the area. Cave tours at Oregon Caves were suspended in 2020 due to the coronavirus, but will hopefully be offered again in 2021. In addition to cave tours, Oregon Caves National Monument also offers beautiful day hikes.
- The Illinois River is a summer wonderland of swimming holes to explore! We spent a full, fabulous day visiting different swimming holes, crossing the swinging bridge, and taking the Eight Dollar Mountain boardwalk trail to view the cobra lilies.
- Rogue River jet boat rides are a popular activity. We didn’t have the chance to take one during our visit, but hopefully will another time. Many excursions leave from Grants Pass, just a half hour from Lake Selmac Campground. Hellgate Jetboat Excursions is a well-known tour operator.
- Hike through the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. The serpentine soil of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness provides a unique environment where many endemic plants, including numerous wildflowers, thrive. Backpackers can head deep into the wilderness, but day hikes offer a good look into this hidden region of Southern Oregon.
THE VERDICT
Lake Selmac is a good choice if you want to visit Oregon Caves, but prefer a campground with flush toilets and showers over vault toilets, and don’t want to stay at an RV park. Plus, it accepts reservations, which provides peace of mind if you’re arriving late in the day or on a weekend. It’s also a great home base for exploring the beautiful Illinois River, with wonderful opportunities for swimming and hiking.
The campground itself is lovely, with many large, well-kept sites. Restrooms were clean, and we appreciated the free showers in individual private shower rooms. The kids loved having plenty of open space to run around, and the swings were a hit with T. During our visit, a large group was staying in the sites next door, but fortunately their fire pit was far enough away that we didn’t even notice them after we went to bed. Of course, they helped by being considerate and keeping the noise level down. We stayed in the Osprey loop, and most of the sites are quite spacious. All are pleasantly shady, a real boon during a Southern Oregon summer.
The other campground loops are spread out along the shore of Lake Selmac. Since the lake is relatively small, they’re not too far apart from one another, but aren’t exactly close, either. The Eagle, Mallard, and Teal loops are connected by trails, but to reach them from the Osprey loop, you have to walk along the road or drive.
This brings me to my only real complaint about Lake Selmac Campground — Lake Selmac. Sadly, the lake did not live up to our hopes. The shoreline was muddy and, in some places, plastered with goose droppings. The water, while pleasantly warm, was murky and weedy. Maybe you don’t mind pond weeds, but I confess they give me the heebie-jeebies. I don’t think I’m alone in this, as we never saw anyone else attempt to swim here despite the lovely weather. Oregon is a state blessed with many stunning, clear blue lakes, and I’m afraid Lake Selmac just isn’t one of them. It’s quite pretty from a distance, but a disappointment up close.
But really, if you want a nice place to camp and explore the region and don’t care about the water quality of the lake, then Lake Selmac Campground is a terrific choice. The campground is appealing, and this region of Oregon is under-explored. Who knows? Since we were unable to visit Oregon Caves in 2020, there’s a good chance we’ll be back, and stay at Lake Selmac Campground once more.
Our Experience
I stumbled across Lake Selmac Campground when researching places to stay near Oregon Caves. Originally, I intended to stay at the campground within the National Monument site, but the fact that it didn’t take reservations concerned me. We were set to arrive on a Friday, and the campground was small. What if we didn’t arrive in time to snag a spot? My other concern was that Oregon Caves had officially cancelled all 2020 cave tours due to the coronavirus pandemic. If we couldn’t tour the cave, was this where we wanted to be? Or were there other places we might rather explore?
So it was that I found Lake Selmac Campground and decided to make a reservation. When the day came, it was a relief to take our time driving up from the Redwoods, enjoying time at Enderts Beach and a leisurely lunch at SeaQuake Brewing in Crescent City. The temperature climbed as we left the Redwoods behind, and shady Lake Selmac Campground was a welcome sight.
Not so welcome was the fact that our site seriously lacked privacy on one side. I’d expected something like this when I booked, as the sites in this section appeared to be quite close. Despite this, I chose the site because it was one of the few still available with an electrical hook-up. We often camp at dry sites, but on a long trip, it’s nice to charge up the battery when the opportunity presents itself. Plus, there appeared to be plenty of open space on the other sides of the campsite, offering ample room for us to spread out and the kids to play. How bad could it be?
As it turned out, not bad at all. Our neighbors were friendly, and even lent us their propane when ours ran out. As I surmised, the kids had plenty of room to run without getting in our neighbors’ way. But what really captured the kids’ attention was the lake. My older son, J, couldn’t wait to get down to the lake to for some “paddle boarding” using the kayak floor inserts from our sadly leaking inflatable kayaks. Eager to give it a try myself, I pumped up both of the kayak floors, enlisted the kids to help carry a few paddles, and together we headed for the lake.
Now this was the real challenge! As we neared the lakeshore, we were dismayed to see mud… lots of mud. Also present were Canada geese, the bane of waterfronts throughout the Northwest. Avoiding the mud, we walked onto the concrete dock, looking for a place to launch. Unfortunately, the water had a good layer of pond scum floating lazily on the surface. None of us were enthused about getting in.
“We can go to the next dock further down the lake,” I assured my disappointed boys. It was a more treacherous walk than anticipated. The wind picked up, making it difficult for me to securely carry both “paddle boards”. I was also concerned for T, who lagged behind as we walked along the narrow shoulder of the road.
When we finally reached the dock, T refused to get in the water. Not to be deterred, J and I gave it a try, while T sat at the edge of the dock and begged me to come ashore. J and I hated to give up so soon, but we had to admit it was a bust. While the kayak floor was sturdy enough to hold J’s weight, it sagged dreadfully under mine. Let’s face it — these were no paddle boards! We also quickly discovered the lake was rife with weeds, making swimming singularly unpleasant.
Fortunately, all’s well that ends well, and the rest of our stay at Lake Selmac Campground went, well, swimmingly! We relaxed around a campfire fueled by the generous bundle of wood purchased from our camp host, who even delivered it to our site. The next day was spent exploring the Illinois River, where everyone could to swim to their heart’s content in clear, emerald green water. And from a distance, we quite enjoyed the view of Lake Selmac. Our two week trip was coming to a close, and our stay at Lake Selmac Campground was the perfect ending.
