WaterOak Campsite at the Garden of Eden

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 8

Popular amenities

Pet-friendly

Outdoor space

Explore the area

Lyle, WA

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area1 min walk
Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail27 min drive
Memaloose State Park33 min drive
Portland, OR (PDX-Portland Intl.)85 min drive

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Murphy Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet

Spaces

Garden

About this property

**Hey there VRBO community, thanks for another great season! We've officially shut down ye ole' campsite for the winter, but reservations are OPEN starting May 12. Spring is the best time to be here, when wildflowers are in full bloom. See you then!**

Nestled among a quiet grove of oak trees, your camping oasis awaits. Kick back in the hammock after a long day of hiking or saunter up Turkey Tail Ridge for a sunset view - bring some wine and a picnic blanket! Nestled 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 from Hood River, White Salmon, and The Dalles, you'll love this centrally-located spot.

Simple yet serene, your site offers the convenience of:
* A composting poogoda
* A common area with a fire pit, hammock and picnic table
* 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!

Burn ban runs June 1st to September 30th, 2023!! PLEASE no fires - we live in a high fire danger zone. Propane cooking stoves, however, are allowed by the county.

There are 3 newly added tent sites tucked under the pine and oak trees. They are suitable for 1-2 person size small tents. 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.

**Please note** We live off of a backcountry road, and unfortunately, you can hear some intermittent road noise as cars travel through the valley. Thankfully, the site is tucked away from road and out of view!

As we head into summer, evening temps can still get quite cool. Make sure to bring plenty of layers and extra blankets! It can get quite windy in the gorge and in the site, especially in the evenings. Please carry out all your trash and recycling - food waste can go in the compost bin located across the road from the poogoda. Keep in mind that there is no water at the campsite - if you need to refill your water jugs, let us know! We are happy to re-up you as needed.

We are a young couple actively restoring this property, and are working hard to ensure that we have minimal impact on this land. Thus, we upcycled or recycled everything we could for the campsite -- the poogoda was recently built from upcycled wood of an old dog fence by the house! 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 2 cats on the property ... and, our neighbors own animals and other doggies. 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 spots.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Property manager

Eve Elderwell

Premier Host

Languages

English, Spanish

Amenities

Pet-friendly

Outdoor space

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 18

Check out before 12:00 PM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: limit 2 total

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Potable drinking water is not available out at the camp. BYOWater jugs - we are happy to reup your water from our house. Just let us know!

Burn ban starts every year on June 15th! Please do not start a fire. Propane cooking stoves are allowed by the county.

Quiet hours are from 10pm-7am to respect surrounding neighbors. Silent disco, anyone??

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

About the area

Lyle

Located in Lyle, this campsite is in a rural area and in the mountains. White Salmon Glassworks and History Museum of Hood River County are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Mount Hood Railroad and Old St. Peter's Landmark. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Lyle, WA

What's nearby

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area - 1 min walk
Mount Hood Railroad - 23 min drive
Hood River Marina - 24 min drive
Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail - 27 min drive
Memaloose State Park - 33 min drive

Getting around

Bingen-White Salmon Station - 17 min drive
Portland International Airport (PDX) - 86 min drive

Restaurants

Cor Cellars - 4 min drive
Analemma Wines - 31 min drive
Syncline Winery - 7 min drive
Country Cafe - 7 min drive
Corner Pocket Bar & Grill - 7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is WaterOak Campsite at the Garden of Eden pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total).

How much does it cost to stay at WaterOak Campsite at the Garden of Eden?

As of 29 Apr 2024, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at WaterOak Campsite at the Garden of Eden on 30 Apr 2024 start from AU$41.15, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

What time is check-in at WaterOak Campsite at the Garden of Eden?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at WaterOak Campsite at the Garden of Eden?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is WaterOak Campsite at the Garden of Eden located?

Situated in the mountains, this campsite is within a 10-minute walk of Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Domaine Pouillon. Memaloose Winery is 3 mi (4.8 km) away.

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Brigette R.

9 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Thank You!

Wonderful camp site. Beautiful location with welcoming hosts and everything was very clean and comfortable with great camp ammenities. We enjoyed the beautiful Oak and Ponderosa forest and trails on the property. It was very peaceful and relaxing. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a place to stay in this area.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jiahui Y.

27 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely, fun and secluded spot for camping

Adam and Eve did a good job to make this west facing valley a wonderful garden for camping, spacious, private, fun, and safe with fences. They are lovely people, lent us pillows when I suddenly realized I forgot to bring them, life saving! We loved the hill top relaxing spot to view Mt. Hoot and sunsets, especially the trail is nicely lit so no problem coming down to the campground after sunsets. The camp site potty hut is so cute, full of surprises inside. My son loved reading the journals from prior guests. We said hi to the residents (a shy squirrel and a black lizard) living in the tree of life. ^_^ overall, it’s a memorable experience. Only two little tips: 1) the direction instruction is for people who are driving in from the west, if you drove in from the East and turn up to old highway 8, then you want to turn right after seeing the winery sign. 2) the camp ground is dirt ground, not grass, so I would bring a tarp as big as possible to cover the camp site to enjoy it better next time. The location is actually perfect for us from Seattle. Google directed us to use the Yakima route, which is scenic pretty much the whole route, especially the terrain and windmills are impressive. Coming back we used the Tacoma route that allowed us to stop by a motorcycle shopping hut in Vancouver. We would not have enjoyed the road-trip as much of not for this round loop.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lori O.

20 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location to Hike From

This is a wonderful camping spot to use as a central location to hike along the gorge and the wineries nearby were an added bonus! We loved all the fun touches and the wild turkeys and deer.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

John L.

30 May 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Camping Paradise

This spot was perfect for our little family. It was serene and we loved falling asleep to the sounds of the woods. After teaching the kiddo about poison oak it was a none issue for us. Absolutely love this camping spot and will return!

Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erik S.

22 May 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great camp spot

Camped with friends and family for a couple days here. The shady oak trees kept it cool on hot afternoons and the peaceful cricket noises at night made sleeping easy. There was plenty of parking and multiple places that were level enough to pitch a tent.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

About the host

Hosted by Eve Elderwell

Howdy! In October 2020 we purchased a 1970's Buckminster Fuller geodome home on a 10-acre homestead in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. While we still have a long way to go, we are driven by a dream to restore this land and home back to it's beautiful former condition. We welcome all guests and visitors with open arms, warm hospitality, and fam vibes! When not working on home or land restauration projects, we can be found exploring the beauty of the Gorge or pursuing various hobbies.

Why they chose this property

We are new stewards and first-time homeowners of this serene, 10.5 acre homestead. 'Modern' human development on this land first began in old logging days in the early 1900s and old logging access road still runs through the center of our property. When we purchased this land in 2020, we knew we were investing in a real 'fixer-upper'.

The original Buckminster Fuller geodome home was built back in the 1970s, and the outbuildings and garden spaces were later added on as the property changed hands over the decades. By the time we landed here, however, the home was in severe state of neglect. As we continue to care for and restore this home and land, we aim to use environmentally sustainable practices to minimize our impact on the land while upcycling, recycling, and re-using anything we can in the process!

Follow our progress on Instagram at: @dome.sweet.home!

What makes this property unique

*** Please note: At this time, this space is not able to accommodate RVs or large travel trailers! Tent campers and car/truck campers welcome! :)

NEWLY ADDED: We just built three small tent sites. They measure roughly 10 feet in diameter and are suitable for 1-2 person tents or sleeping hammocks. While not perfectly level yet, they are suitable for use. Bring extra padding if needed - thank you for your patience while we keep leveling the sites!