In this article…
We spent our first 4th of July boondocking at McCubbins Gulch Campground on Mt. Hood in Oregon. IT. WAS. AWESOME.
McCubbins Gulch Fast Facts
- š Location: McCubbins Gulch Campground, Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon
- āŗ Camping Type: Free dispersed camping / boondocking
- š² Best For: Solitude, OHV/ATV trails, and unexpected wildlife viewing
- šŗļø Next Destination: Redmond, Washington / Huntley, Illinois
Pandemic RV Travel and Boondocking Restrictions
It was the height of the pandemic in 2020, and we found ourselves stuck in the Pacific Northwest, a staggering 3,000 miles away from our home in Florida. As we pushed farther north and summer wore on, finding a place to stay became increasingly difficult. Campgrounds were tightening restrictions, often reserving sites strictly for first responders and essential workers.
Every time I called to make a reservation, the clerk would demand to know what someone with Florida plates was doing all the way out in Oregon and Washington. They acted like we had just decided to take a casual 3,000-mile vacation during a global health crisis for shits and giggles! In reality, we were already on the West Coast, literally living on the road when the pandemic broke out. If you want to know the backstory of how we ended up in the Pacific Northwest just as the world was shutting down, check out our journey in The Road to the Valley of the Moon: A Front-Row Seat to History.
Stress on the Road: From Crater Lake to an Urgent Cross-Country Route
We had been traveling with another couple and their daughter for a little while, but the compounding stress of the situation finally caught up to me. By the time we hit Crater Lake RV Park, I completely lost my mind. It was a total breakdownājust pure, stress-induced crazy behavior. But thatās a story for another day. Suffice it to say, by the time the holiday weekend rolled around, we were back on our own.
To add to the pressure, we needed to get urgent work done on the camper. Our one-year dealership service warranty was almost up, and we had an appointment lined up at a dealership in Huntley, Illinois, for the following month in August. Traveling out West was getting too complicated, so we planned to head toward Chicagoland, stay at Paul Wolff Campground in Illinois, and get our basic maintenance done. We only had a tight ten days to make the massive journey across the country, meaning we were going to have to absolutely bust ass to get there. As if that wasn’t stressful enough, we eventually hit Montana and had a major tire blowoutābut that, too, is another story.
Finding Peace at McCubbins Gulch Campground (Mt. Hood, Oregon)
With no official campsites available after we left Spring Drive RV Campground, we scouted the maps and found a boondocking spot near McCubbins Gulch. It was absolutely beautiful. I remember my husband and I sitting together, just talking about the incredible landscape around usāthe ancient volcanoes that shaped the Pacific Northwest, the dramatic lava flows, and the beautiful, crystal-clear streams cutting through the dense pine forest.
The area was surrounded by walking paths, picnic areas, and trails where people love to go ATVing. Best of all, it offered the ultimate perk: total solitude. I love being nowhere near other human beings when we camp, and this delivered.
The Free-Range Cattle Parade at Our Campsite
While we were hanging out on the holiday, we noticed a fleet of trailers pull in, heavily loaded down with cattle. A little while later, we saw the same trucks drive away completely empty. We didn’t think much of it at the time and headed inside our fifth-wheel to get some rest. As it turns out, we were sitting right on the edge of the Warm Springs Reservation tribal lands, where livestock growers have been leasing the high prairies to free-range graze their animals for over 140 years, dating all the way back to the sheep herders of the 1880s.
We didn’t know the history yet, so the surprise caught us completely off guard when the quiet forest was suddenly filled with the clanging of bells.
We peeked outside, and our entire rig was completely surrounded by cattle of all shapes and sizes. Some had massive, sweeping longhorns, while others had no horns at all. A lot of them were just babies. It was one of the coolest things Iāve ever seen. They casually finished their walkthrough, paused to look at us, looked at the camper, and calmly maneuvered right around our generator before moving on.
An Emergency RV Dog Bath
Once the herd cleared out, the man let the dogs out. Boy, was that a bad idea.
Jack is just the grossest dog on the planetāor maybe he’s just being a dog. He immediately locked eyes on the biggest, juiciest, smelliest cow patty left behind by our visitors and wallowed right in it. He was a complete, green, stinking mess.
Luckily, it was our very last night in the gulch, and I had managed to secure us a spot for the next day at Hood Park in Burbank, Washington, right before we had to start hammering down the highway east. Because we were leaving, we had just enough fresh water left in our tanks to suds him up and wash him down.
Despite the pandemic chaos, the breakdown at Crater Lake, and the emergency dog bath, it stands out as probably my best RVing experience everāor at least a close second to our very first boondocking experience right outside of Prospect, Oregon. There is nothing quite like the peace of the wilderness, even when it comes with a side of free-range cows.
š¬ What About You?
Have you ever had an unexpected wildlife encounter while boondocking? Or a pet that just couldn’t resist rolling in something gross? Let me know your craziest RV stories in the comments below!
