Deadman Creek Dispersed

So many things I liked about this site:
* secluded
* right by a creek (so you can filter water!!)
* trees for shade
* plenty of room for dog to run around
* clean!!
* Wi-Fi
* flat!

Concerns:
* The road after the campground can get pretty rough. Not sure I would want to do this with a big rig or with snow / ice on the road

Bonus:
* There are numerous sites to stop and camp at AFTER the campground and before you get here. I checked out one (There is a small steep road to get down right to the water at the back of the site. It was pretty tight to turn around to get back up … ). All the other sites are big / flat enough to handle a big rig.

* Also there is a rest stop 1 mile south on 395 if you need water or dumpster.

* it was not far off 395

* it was easy to hop back on the 395 to go north or south depending on what I was doing that day. Stayed here for 2 nights. Only had one person drive by (probably to see if the site was open) the entire time I stayed.

There are a bunch of small side roads along Deadman Creek Road beyond (to the west of) Upper Deadman Campground. I didn't spend the night in any of these spots but drove up to scout them out for future trips.

Just beyond Upper Deadman Campground you'll pass an obsidian dome on your left (Lower Deadman Dome). This section of road has many rocks jutting out of the roadbed. They're small enough that it's not a clearance issue but I'd be concerned about tire damage if I had a heavy rig on thinner street tires.

The roadbed is well graded for its entire length beyond the dome and ends at a large turnaround loop so from that standpoint I wouldn't have any concerns bringing a low-clearance 2wd vehicle with a small trailer in here. Width and height are a concern: Beyond road 27E101 (see below) there are a few spots where trees lean out over the road leaving maybe 8' clearance and the road gets narrower so passing with large rigs could be difficult and turning around with a trailer if you can't make it through would be nearly impossible. If you have a larger rig you'll want to turn around at 27E101.

Deadman Creek Road is also known by the USFS as 2S05. Past the campground you'll see many short spurs or loops that branch off to the left with the same road number followed by a letter (e.g. 2S05Q) and these are where you'll find potential camping spots. Here are my notes on each of these side roads:

2S05Q: This is right beside the dome and there is a small fire ring here. Maybe enough room for a small trailer but you'd be taking up most of the parking area and somebody may actually want to hike the dome. The road does continue down a hill where there may be more possible sites but it was blocked by a downed tree when I was there so I didn't investigate further.

27E101: You'll come to a spot where the road splits to go around both sides of a clump of trees with a "Restoration Area" sign. 27E101 (Dry Creek Road) is on your left and goes to a very large parking area by the creek. This lot is the only spot suitable for large rigs to park or turn around. The USFS map shows 27E101 continuing to other places and also shows other rougher roads in this area but I didn't scout any of them.

Deadman Creek Road gets narrower with more overhanging trees beyond this point, if you have a large rig don't go past the Smokey Bear sign on Deadman Creek Road, use the loop around the trees or the 27E101 lot to turn around.

2S05S: This is a short loop that splits off of and rejoins. Each end has a spot suitable for a small truck or van. The eastern end is easier to get into, the western end is rougher, narrower, and steeper (4wd may be required). I get the feeling I'm the first person in a long time to actually drive the loop instead of just going in on one of the ends, the center section of the road is barely there.

2S05U: This is a good little spot for a van/truck or a small trailer.

2S05V: This spot has fire rings and picnic tables. It's a great spot except the drive in and out involves some tight maneuvering through trees. As much as I'd love to bring my trailer (19') in here I think it's just too tight.

2S05X: This is the end of the road. You'll see the big turnaround loop and a trailhead but there's also a short spur if you keep bearing left before going through the loop. This takes you to a spot with a fire ring and picnic tables. It would be a great van/truck parking area or maybe a small trailer but turning a trailer around could be difficult as there are rocks and logs placed to limit where vehicles can go.

I went through on a Sunday in early August and the only other vehicle I saw was a camper in the big lot at 27E101. There weren't even any hikers parked at the end of the road. Something makes me think these spots would be nice and quiet.