BLM opens two campgrounds in time for Memorial Day Weekend
Event Description
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — Just in time for Memorial Day adventures, the Bureau of Land Management’s Lakeview District is opening the Gerber and Topsy campgrounds for the season.
“We are pleased to have these campgrounds open in time for the Memorial Day weekend,” said Steven Jensen, Klamath Falls Outdoor Recreation Planner. “This will be the first year of camping at Topsy Campground after the removal of J.C. Boyle Dam, and we are excited for visitors to experience the new scenery. This year’s snowmelt has raised the Gerber Reservoir to nearly full pool, which should provide great fishing and watersports opportunities.”
Located on the rugged shoreline of the newly restored Klamath River, the Topsy Campground provides a quiet location for relaxing camping, picnicking, fishing, and river boating. The area is set in an open ponderosa pine forest with nearby views of Mount McLoughlin, an icon of the southern Oregon Cascade Mountains. The campground’s gates will open at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 24. Topsy has 13 campsites and features drinking water, a vault restroom, a dump station, camp hosts, trash cans, and day-use parking.
The Gerber Recreation Area is situated on a vast plateau in the high desert about an hour’s drive east of Klamath Falls. Mountain ridges and scattered ponderosa pine forests add variety and texture to the area. Gerber offers camping, fishing, horseback riding, and mountain biking, along with access to 100,000 acres of backcountry suitable for exploring, hunting, wildlife viewing, and scenic off-highway vehicle driving. While the Gerber Recreation Area is open all year, fees will begin on Thursday, May 22. Amenities include drinking water, vault restrooms, a dump station, camp hosts, two boat ramps, a fish cleaning station at North Gerber, trash cans, and day-use parking. Additionally, there are nine miles of hiking trails connecting the campgrounds.
Both campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served. Camping fees are $7 a night, or $4 for senior/military/access cardholders, and $2 for day-use parking. There is a 14-day stay limit. Dogs are permitted on a six-foot leash. Camp hosts are on-site at these locations.
In fiscal year 2023, recreational activities on BLM-administered lands in Oregon and Washington generated more than $698 million in total economic output. This contribution reflects the significant role that outdoor recreation plays in supporting local economies throughout the Pacific Northwest.
For more information, contact the Klamath Falls Field Office at 541-883-6916 or blm_or_kf_mail@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.