Escape To Nature At The Magical Camp Colton

By Guest Author: Matt Wastradowski

In some ways, Camp Colton is an oasis. A mirage. An illusion.

Heading out from Portland on a sunny afternoon, I'd driven for a half hour through wide-open meadows and past manicured farms, and I wondered where the camp could possibly hide out here.

Eventually, I found my answer — where Clackamas County farmland gave way to a thick patch of forest just east of the blink-and-you-miss-it community of Colton. There, in an 80-acre thicket of cedar, Douglas fir and maple, sits the long-running Camp Colton. Across the grounds are a sanctuary building, an old-school lodge, several cozy stays and natural beauty to spare.

Camp Colton has been welcoming visitors, in one form or another, for nearly a century. Its oldest buildings date back to 1936, but even the "new" structures are more than five decades old. Today, the adorably rustic Camp Colton routinely hosts weddings, family reunions, corporate retreats, workshops and even the occasional commercial shoot — but its overnight facilities are also open to individual overnight stays.

That's what brought me to the rural outpost on a recent August afternoon, where Camp Director Jarred Lundstrom spent more than an hour showing me around the verdant property. After we parted, I enjoyed an easy stroll on the grounds and spent a cozy night in one of its yurts. Keep reading for more about my stay at Camp Colton — along with what makes it so special, what kinds of overnight stays you’ll find, and how to enjoy outdoor opportunities beyond its borders.

Guests can stay in one of three fully furnished yurts, complete with skylights.

If you’re as enchanted as I was — and if you’re ready to spend a night or two at Camp Colton — you’ll enjoy a few options for doing so.

Before getting that far, though, it helps to know about the availability of Camp Colton’s many lodging choices. During our chat, Lundstrom explained that one-off overnight stays in yurts, cabins and campsites are available only when Camp Colton isn’t hosting a larger private event that typically occupies the entire camp. That means you’ll have the run of the place when you book your next stay. Summer is the busiest season so keep that in mind when planning your trip.

Ready to book? You have a few fun options to choose from. 

Camp Colton hosts four comfortable cabins that range from a modern tiny home to a spacious lodge that sleeps up to 12. Amenities vary from cabin to cabin but may include heated floors, full bathrooms, kitchens and plush bedding with Oregon-made blankets from Pendleton Woolen Mills.

For something a bit more rustic, consider a stay in one of three vinyl-sided, tent-like yurts, each of which is named for a different type of mushroom that grows in the Pacific Northwest; the Morel yurt, for instance, is along Bee Creek. I stayed in the Puffball yurt, which sits off the main road for added privacy; the ring of lights above my bed gave the yurt a cozy charm, and the cushioned seating area gave me space to stretch out and catch up on some reading. No matter the yurt, though, amenities include wood stoves, queen beds and a close proximity to the communal bathhouse. Each yurt is topped with a skylight that lets in a little fresh air — and affords views of the night skies above.

For something a little less rugged than a yurt, but cozier than a full cabin, Camp Colton hosts five private Blue Heron rooms within a larger, U-shaped cabin. The cabin is spartan and cozy, with bunks, twin beds, and queen beds available in different rooms, as well as easy access to two shared bathrooms attached to the building.

If you’d rather sleep under the stars, you can also book one of a handful of tent and RV campsites, the latter of which come with power and water hookups.

No matter where you stay, you’ll have access to the camp’s bathhouse, which includes two shower rooms, restroom facilities, a changing table for young families and a washer and dryer in case you need to do laundry.

A network of walking trails surround Camp Colton, including trails to waterfalls.

Perhaps the most popular attraction at Camp Colton is the on-site network of walking trails that head through more than 50 acres of forestland, alongside the creeks that run through the property and past the on-site pond. On our walk around the property, Lundstrom mentioned that the trails largely link up with each other, making it easy to find your way back to camp, and that the on-site maple trees turn vibrant hues of red, yellow and orange every autumn — making Camp Colton an idyllic place for an easy (and colorful) fall walk.

If you’re looking to warm up around the fire, your stay includes access to the on-site fire pit, which resides under a covered gazebo and comes stocked with firewood. And just across the road from the fire pit is a creek-fed pond — along with free loaner canoes available to anyone who’d like to paddle. Anglers can bring their fishing rod; the pond is stocked with rainbow trout.

Pro tip: Camp Colton hosts an open-camp day each month, during which visitors can take tours of the various buildings (which are typically closed to overnight guests who haven’t rented each space) and hang out around the fire pit. Lundstrom mentioned that some overnight guests try to time their stay around the monthly open-camp days so they can enjoy a taste of the full Camp Colton experience. Keep an eye out on the camp’s website to see if the next open-camp day might coincide with your visit. 

The crispy chicken sandwich is a must-try at the Historic Colton Café.

At some point, you’ll have to leave Camp Colton — maybe for outdoor recreation in Mt. Hood Territory but almost certainly for a bite to eat. Fortunately, plenty of both can be found within a short drive of camp.

Just a few hundred feet from the camp's entrance sits Historic Colton Café, which opened in 1950 and has been dishing classic diner fare ever since — with a menu that encompasses breakfast classics, burgers, sandwiches and hearty entrees; a few highlights include chicken-fried steak and homemade macaroni and cheese. I opted for a perfectly cooked crispy chicken sandwich, topped with fresh vegetables and served with a side of tater tots covered with Cajun spices.

Further west, Lundstrom recommended Legend's Bar & Grill at the Arrowhead Golf Club. There, the menu rotates seasonally to reflect what’s fresh — but typically covers pub-grub classics with a slightly elevated twist; steak bites are tossed in a chimichurri sauce, for instance, while the house macaroni and cheese is tossed with three cheeses and peppered bacon for a subtle kick. If possible, angle for a seat around the indoor fire pit to warm up on a cool day.

For outdoor recreation, Camp Colton sits just 15 minutes west of the Clackamas River and about 10 minutes east of the Molalla River — making it an ideal basecamp for enjoying the best of the area’s outdoor opportunities. Start planning your excursion by downloading the Molalla Recreation Map, which includes hikes, mountain bike trails and easy adventures along the Molalla River Corridor Recreation Area. We've also put together the Clackamas River Outdoor Recreation Map, which includes guided whitewater rafting trips, hiking, fishing, disc golf and more along the Clackamas Wild and Scenic River.