U.S. Forest Service · Mt. Hood National Forest · Oregon

Lazy Bend

Campground closed due to the 2020 Riverside Wildfire Lazy Bend Campground sits next to the Wild and Scenic Clackamas River, close to the city of Estacada. The adjacent river provides countless opportunities for rafting, kayaking, fishing and swimming. The lush, green campground is comfortable for individuals and families who want to escape into nature in Oregon's Mt. Hood National Forest.

Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

More like this: first-come in Oregon · reservable in Oregon · pets allowed in Oregon

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
LAZY BENDLAZY BENDLAZY BEND
Photos via Recreation.gov

Site mix

Tent-only15
Standard, no hookups6
Host/management1
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 23 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

21 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
001StandardBack-in23PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
002StandardBack-in23PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
003StandardBack-in23PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
004Tent onlyBack-inPavedPartialLakefront6 / 1Yes
005Tent onlyBack-in23PavedPartialLakefront6 / 1Yes
006Tent onlyBack-inPavedPartialLakefront6 / 1Yes
007Tent onlyBack-in52PavedPartialLakefront6 / 2Yes
008Tent onlyBack-in25PavedPartialLakefront6 / 1Yes
009StandardBack-in23PavedPartialLakefront6 / 2Yes
010StandardBack-in23PavedPartialLakefront6 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length23 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
Tent padsYes

The campground offers single-family sites, most of which are designated for tent camping only. A few RV sites are available within the campground, though large RVs are not recommended and no hookups are available. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
ForestMt. Hood National Forest

Mt. Hood National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Lazy Bend40°50°60°70°January: 7.52 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowFebruary: 5.93 inches of precipitation, 0.4 inches of snowMarch: 6.88 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowApril: 5.45 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 3.87 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 2.58 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.64 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.76 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 2.15 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 5.51 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 8.10 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowDecember: 8.38 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 42.1°F averageFebruary: 44.2°F averageMarch: 47.5°F averageApril: 51.5°F averageMay: 57.4°F averageJune: 62.0°F averageJuly: 68.0°F averageAugust: 68.3°F averageSeptember: 63.5°F averageOctober: 54.7°F averageNovember: 46.7°F averageDecember: 41.5°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 in10 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Estacada 2 SE, 8 miles from the campground at 514 feet, station USC00352693 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 58 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 1 inch a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Estacada, travel east on Highway 224 for just over 10 miles to the campground.

Coordinates45.1905° N, 122.2073° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Podunk Admin Rx - West

    3 mi from the campground

  • Wildfire
    The Narrows

    6 mi from the campground · 305 acres · 98% contained

  • Prescribed
    Timber Lake/Ripplebrook Admin Rx - West

    10 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Fawn Stew Piles Rx - West

    10 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗9.9 mi
Outdoor gearOutdoor gear ↗15.9 mi
RV sales & serviceAdventure Trading RV ↗20.4 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Lazy Bend Campground, Estacada OR. Walk-in site walkthrough.

Worth a stop

North Fork Reservoir is just over 5 miles northeast of the campground. Boating and other water-related recreation opportunities are available there. The campground is 10 miles from Estacada, which offers a variety of dining and shopping options, groceries and fuel.

  • 0.8 mi
    Ladee 801
    3.4 mi trail
  • 1 mi
    Ladee 801A Connector
    under 0.1 mi trail
  • 1 mi
    Ladee 803
    1.3 mi trail
  • 1.3 mi
    Ladee 801A
    1 mi trail
  • 1.4 mi
    Ladee 802
    2.5 mi trail
  • 1.5 mi
    Ladee 800
    1.1 mi trail

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Mt. Hood National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground is the forest's westernmost campground, situated at an elevation of 800 feet. It lies between the river and the adjacent highway, nestled among a dense stand of trees. Huckleberry bushes can be found throughout the region. The forest provides habitat for the federally protected bald eagle and northern spotted owl, as well as an occasional peregrine falcon. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the area.

Recreation

Fishing is very popular on the Clackamas River. Anglers can expect a catch of winter steelhead, spring Chinook and late summer Coho salmon, as well as other species of freshwater fish. The Clackamas bends and drops through the scenic Cascade Range and offers famous whitewater rafting opportunities. The Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival is held annually in May and attracts rafters from all over the country. A hiking trail follows the river north and south and begins at nearby Fish Creek Campground. A boat ramp is also available there. Scenic driving is available on the West Cascades Scenic Byway, which follows the river.

Guidebooks for Oregon

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Lazy Bend?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Lazy Bend?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Lazy Bend open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Lazy Bend have?

22 sites, including 15 tent-only sites and 6 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Lazy Bend?

The longest site here provides 23 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Lazy Bend?

Yes, pets are allowed at Lazy Bend. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Lazy Bend?

Fishing is very popular on the Clackamas River. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Lazy Bend is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Carter Bridge Campground (2.9 mi, first-come), Lockaby (3.3 mi), and Armstrong (3.3 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby