North Arm Campground (Timothy Lake, Or)
Mt. Hood National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Estacada, OR, OR
Price: From $24 per night
Price range: $24–$28 per night
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (73 reviews)
Season: May through October
The North Arm Campground sits on the shores of Timothy Lake, in the shadow of Oregon’s Mt. The surrounding forest setting offers spectacular views, wetlands, trails for exploration, and abundant fishing. This campground is smaller and more secluded than the others on the south side of the lake.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Camp Host, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/north-arm-campground-timothy-lake-or to be notified when sites open up.
North Arm Campground offers a smaller, more secluded lakeside setting on Timothy Lake with spectacular Mt. Hood views, abundant fishing opportunities, and access to wetlands and trails for exploration. The campground is well-maintained with a camp host on-site and highly rated by campers (4.3/5 stars) for cleanliness and natural beauty.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear present in area; also Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Douglas' Squirrel, Osprey, Varied Thrush, Barrow's Goldeneye, and Canada Jay.
Insider tips for North Arm Campground (Timothy Lake, Or): Book early as this is a popular federal campground Two route options available—use the RV-suitable route via Highway 26 and Skyline Road from Government Camp Choose tent sites if you don't need hookups; RV sites available but most have no hookups so verify self-containment capability
Skip North Arm Campground (Timothy Lake, Or) if: You require full RV hookups—most sites have none. You plan to visit outside May-October seasonal window. You prefer larger campgrounds with more amenities.
Best time to visit North Arm Campground (Timothy Lake, Or): May-October — Campground operates seasonally during this period only.
Nearby campgrounds: Little Crater Lake (Estacada, OR), Oak Fork Campground (Timothy Lake, Or) (TIMOTHY LAKE, OR), Gone Creek Campground (Timothy Lake, Or) (Timothy Lake, OR), Pine Point Campground (Timothy Lake, Or) (Timothy Lake, OR).
Cell Phone Coverage at North Arm Campground (Timothy Lake, Or)
Cell signal at North Arm Campground (Timothy Lake, Or) (Estacada, OR): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
The North Arm Campground sits on the shores of Timothy Lake, in the shadow of Oregon’s Mt. The surrounding forest setting offers spectacular views, wetlands, trails for exploration, and abundant fishing. This campground is smaller and more secluded than the others on the south side of the lake.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a popular federal campground
Two route options available
use the RV-suitable route via Highway 26 and Skyline Road from Government Camp
Choose tent sites if you don't need hookups; RV sites available but most have no hookups so verify self-containment capability
Campground operates seasonally during this period only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
Recommended Route: From Government Camp, travel east on Highway 26 for approximately 11 miles to Skyline Road / FS Road 42. Turn right on Skyline Road, and continue south for just over 8 miles. Turn right on FS Road 57, and travel west for approximately 3 ½ miles, crossing the dam at Timothy Lake. Take the 2nd right onto FS Road 5810. North Arm is approximately 5 miles from here. Keep right at all intersections—the road becomes FS Road 5890. The campground is on the right.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Mt. Hood National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Mt. Hood National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does North Arm Campground (Timothy Lake, Or) cost per night?+
What season is North Arm Campground (Timothy Lake, Or) open?+
Does North Arm Campground (Timothy Lake, Or) have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at North Arm Campground (Timothy Lake, Or)?+
How do I make reservations at North Arm Campground (Timothy Lake, Or)?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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