Nestled among a quiet grove of oak trees, your camping oasis awaits. Kick back in the hammock after a long day hiking or saunter up Turkey Tail Ridge for a sunset view - bring some wine and a picnic blanket! Hiding in the rolling hills above Lyle, WA, in the Columbia River Gorge, this site is minutes away from trailheads, hikes, swimming, boating and fishing opps, wineries, and world-class views. A mere 25 minutes to Hood River, White Salmon, and The Dalles, you'll love this central location.
The space
**** Dear Airbnb community - we look forward to welcoming campers back after recovering from the 2025 Burdoin Wild Fire this past summer. While our "Outlook / Nest" was severely damaged by the wildfire, the rest of the campsite is recovering well. We open May 22nd, 2026 and the camp season will run through October 31, 2026. We look forward to welcoming y'all back! ****
Welcome to WaterOak, your eco-friendly camp site in the Columbia River Gorge!
Simple yet serene, your site offers the convenience of:
* A composting poogoda
* A common area with a fire pit, hammock, picnic table and 'book nook'
* Games and a community bulletin board
* A compost bin
* Access to two hiking trails leading to views of Mt. Hood, and
* Three small 1-2 person tent sites
In the morning, arise to the pleasant sounds of nature - if you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the wild turkeys or deer. In the evening, relax under the twinkle of fairy lights and the night stars.
Please be aware that cell reception can be quite fuzzy out here, and poison oak abounds to the southwest side of the camp. Please stay clear of 'Dante's Grotto' and bring plenty of bug spray! Please carry out all your trash and recycling - food waste can go in the compost bin located across the path from the poogoda. Also: there is no water at the campsite. If you need to refill your water jugs, let us know! We are happy to reup you as needed.
Burn ban runs June 1 to October 15, 2026! PLEASE do not make a fire - we live in a high fire danger zone. Our property sustained massive damage in a 2025 wild fire, so we have a zero tolerance policy if burn ban is violated. Propane cooking stoves are allowed by the county, however.
There are 3 newly added tent sites tucked under the pine and oak trees. They are suitable for 1-2 person size small tents or sleeper hammocks. Each site averages roughly 10 feet in diameter. They are not totally level yet, but you're welcome to use them - bring extra padding and thank you for your patience as we slowly chip away leveling out the hard dirt.
Welcome to the area ... we hope you enjoy the beauty of the Columbia River Gorge as much as we do.
This space has been well loved by family, friends, neighbors, and guests over the years. Each year it continues to evolve and we welcome feedback and ideas to improve the site. It's not perfect, but it's a labor of love that is well-loved. We look forward to your stay!
Guest access
We live on a private, dead-end gravel road with two other homes nestled into this valley. Our home is the second home on the driveway. The big red dome - you can't miss it! As you drive past the first home, please go slowly to keep the dust and noise level to a minimum for our neighbors! As you approach our home, the property provides ample parking opportunities. Coming with a large group? Please drive no more than TWO cars back to the site - the remaining vehicles can park in front of or behind our shop.
**Please note** We live off of a backcountry road, and unfortunately, you can hear some intermittent road noise as cars travel through the valley. Bring ear plugs if you’re a light sleeper - logging trucks come through early morning and evening commute times. Thankfully, the site is tucked away from road and out of view!
Other things to note
We are a young couple actively restoring this property while working hard to ensure we have minimal impact on the land. Thus, we upcycled or recycled everything we could for this campsite. Fun fact! The poogoda was built from upcycled wood of an old dog fence by the dome home!
Feel free to wander the land, being mindful to stay within the property fence line. If you're bringing canine companions, please keep them within sight at all times, as we have two cats on the property ... and, our neighbors own farm animals and other doggies.
Also consider bringing stakes or something to tie up your dogs if you're worried about them getting into poison oak. It's abundant to the south of the property. We're on a prescribed residential burn wait-list but don't know when it will be our turn to get a burn.
We will continue to develop the site over time, so if you have any ideas, let us know! Looking for hiking recommendations? We're happy to refer our fave nearby spots.
We look forward to welcoming you!
