Deschutes National Forest
 

Recreation

Todd Lake - Deschutes National ForestLocated on the eastern slopes of the Cascades in Central Oregon, the Deschutes National Forest offers year-round recreation opportunities. Home to more than 1.6 million acres, the Forest spans a variety of landscapes and ecosystems. The Forest gains more than 9,000 feet in eleveation from its lowest point at Lake Billy Chinook (1,950 ft) to its highest atop South Sister's summit (10.358 ft).

With more than 80 campgrounds across the Deschutes National Forest, visitors enjoy campsites featuring a wide-variety of picturesque backdrops. Camping opportunities range from rustic, walk-in sites to sites accomodating full-size RV's and trailers.

Five wildernesses fall within the Deschutes National Forest boundary--Diamond Peak Wilderness, Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, Mt. Thielsen Wilderness, Mt. Washington Wilderness and Three Sisters Wilderness. Each wilderness offers visitors a unique experience; from sweeping summit views to alpine lakes, these areas provide the perfeect backdrop for a day hike or backpacking trip.

Three scenic byways wind through the Forest--Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway and the Outback Scenic Byway. The Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway heads west out of Bend, winds up past Mt. Bachelor before depositing visitors at the base of South Sister and Broken Top, as well as prodviding access to dozens of lakes. The McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway leaves Sisters, before climbing two passes and carveing through 82 miles of wide-open lava fields interspersed among desnse forest canopy. The Outback Scenic Byway stretches through the southeastern portion of Central Oregon, covering 171 miles of geologic wonder.

Deschutes National Forest Interactive Visitor Map

Recreation Conditions Report

 Area Name Status Area Conditions
Allen Springs Campground Open to Visitor
Allingham Campground Open to Visitor
Big Cove Boat In Campgrounds Open to Visitor
Big River Campground/Big River Group Open to Visitor
Blue Bay Campground Open to Visitor
Bull Bend Campground Open to Visitor
Camp Sherman Campground Open to Visitor
Candle Creek Campground Open to Visitor
China Hat Campground Open to Visitor
Cinder Hill Campground Open to Visitor
Cold Springs Campground Open to Visitor
Contorta Flat Campground Open to Visitor
Contorta Point Group Campground Open to Visitor
Cow Meadow Campground Open to Visitor
Crane Prairie Campground Open to Visitor
Crane Prairie Resort   
Crescent Creek Campground Open to Visitor
Crescent Lake Campground Open to Visitor
Crescent Ranger District Office   
Cultus Corral Horse Camp Open to Visitor
Cultus Lake Campground Open to Visitor
Cultus Lake Resort Open to Visitor
Devils Lake Campground Closed to Visitor
Driftwood Campground Open to Visitor
East Davis Lake Campground Open to Visitor
East Lake Campground Open to Visitor
East Lake Resort   
Elk Lake Campground Open to Visitor
Elk Lake Guard Station Closed to Visitor
Fall River Campground Open to Visitor
Fall River Guard Station Open to Visitor
Gorge Campground Open to Visitor
Graham Corral Horse Camp Open to Visitor
Gull Point Campground Open to Visitor
Indian Ford Campground Open to Visitor
Jack Creek Campground Closed to Visitor
Lava Camp Lake Campground   
Lava Lake Campground Open to Visitor
Link Creek Campground Open to Visitor Link Creek Yurts open year-round.
Little Cove Boat-In Campgrounds Open to Visitor
Little Crater Campground Open to Visitor
Little Cultus Campground Open to Visitor
Little Fawn Campground Open to Visitor
Little Fawn Group Campground Open to Visitor
Little Lava Lake Campground Open to Visitor
Lower Bridge Campground Open to Visitor
Lower Canyon Creek Campground Open to Visitor
Mallard Marsh Campground Open to Visitor
McKay Crossing Campground Open to Visitor
Monty Campground Open to Visitor
Newberry Group Campground Open to Visitor
North Davis Creek Campground Open to Visitor
North Twin Lake Campground Open to Visitor
Ogden Group Campground Open to Visitor
Paulina Lake Campground Open to Visitor
Paulina Lake Lodge   
Perry South Campground Open to Visitor
Pine Mountain Campground Open to Visitor
Pine Rest Campground Open to Visitor
Pioneer Ford Campground Open to Visitor
Point Campground Open to Visitor
Prairie Campground Open to Visitor
Princess Creek Campground Open to Visitor
Pringle Falls Campground Open to Visitor
Quinn Meadow Horse Camp Open to Visitor
Quinn River Campground Open to Visitor
Reservoir Campground Open to Visitor
Riverside Campground Open to Visitor
Rock Creek Campground Open to Visitor
Scout Lake Campground Open to Visitor
Sheep Bridge Campground Open to Visitor
Sheep Springs Horse Camp Open to Visitor
Simax Group Campground Open to Visitor
Sisters Cow Camp Horse Camp Open to Visitor
Smiling River Campground Open to Visitor
Soda Creek Campground Closed to Visitor
South Campground Open to Visitor
South Shore Campground Open to Visitor
South Twin Lake Campground Open to Visitor
Spring Campground Open to Visitor
Sunset Cove Campground Open to Visitor
Swamp Wells Horse Camp Open to Visitor
Three Creek Lake Campground Open to Visitor
Three Creek Meadow Campground & Horsecamp Open to Visitor
Trapper Creek Campground Open to Visitor
West South Twin Campground Open to Visitor
Whispering Pine Horse Camp Open to Visitor
Whitefish Horse Camp Open to Visitor
Windy Group Campground Open to Visitor
Wyeth Campground Open to Visitor

Spotlights

Newberry National Volcanic Monument - Deschutes NF

The Newberry Application

 

 

Click on the picture above to view the web application and come visit our Volcanic Wonders…Yours To Discover!

 

Aerial view of Newberry Caldera In November of 1990, Newberry National Volcanic Monument was created within the boundaries of Deschutes National Forest. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, this monument provides a unique opportunity to view the Lava Lands of central Oregon. Newberry National Volcanic National Monument includes 54,000+ acres of lakes, lava flows, and spectacular geologic features in central Oregon. The highest point within the Monument is the summit Paulina Peak (7,985 ft.), showcasing views of the Cascades, Newberry Caldera and across the High Desert.

Aerial view of Lava Butte. Although commonly referred to as Newberry Crater, the "crater" is in fact a caldera formed when the overlying rocks collapse when a magma chamber is emptied. The caldera stretches across 17 square miles in the heart of the volcano. The 1,200 square mile volcano (about the size of Rhode Island) remains very active to this day. Newberry is both seismically and geothermally active. Geologists believe the caldera sits over a shallow magma body only 2 to 5 kilometers deep. Visitors see numerous cinder cones and vents (over 400 throughout the area), miles of basalt flows, as well as rhyolite flows of obsidian.

For up-to-date facts on Newberry Volcano, click here.

Read the latest version of Volcanic Vistas.

Enjoy this video highlighting the accessibility of Lava Lands Visitor Center!

Cascade Lakes Welcome Station

Front of the Cascade Lakes Welcome Station Building

Located just past mile post seven on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, the Cascade Lakes Welcome Station serves as a gateway to some of the most popular trails, lakes and recreation areas on the Deschutes National Forest. The Welcome Station also offers parking and access to Phil’s and Wanoga mountain biking trails systems.

The Cascade Lakes Welcome Station provides visitors an opportunity to buy recreation passes, local maps, guidebooks and other educational materials. In addition to offering one-day recreation passes and the annual Northwest Forest Pass (good for all National Forests in Oregon and Washington), the Welcome Station also offers a number of interagency pass options.

Staffed with both Forest Service rangers and employees from Discover Your Forest, the Deschutes National Forest’s non-profit partner, the Welcome Station gives visitors the opportunity to ask questions, while learning about trail conditions and closures.

Visitors can plan their trips using a new, interactive touch screen map. They can learn more about our local wilderness areas and what they can do to help protect them while exploring the region on a giant floor map. Additional interpretive exhibits are planned and will be implemented in the coming seasons.

SUMMER 2017

PONDERosa: Nature Talks in the Trees
Beginning Thursday, July 6, the Deschutes National Forest’s Cascade Lakes Welcome Station will be hosting an eight week speaker series, “PONDERosa: Nature Talks in the Trees” at 10 a.m. every Thursday through August 24. Learn More