U.S. Forest Service · Deschutes National Forest · Oregon

Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground

Cultus Lake is one of the few lakes along the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway that allows high sped motorized water craft. Cultus Lake West Campground offers opportunities for waterskiing, windsurfing, swimming, sailing and jet skiing, as well as, access to trails leading into the Three Sisters Wilderness.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov6 sitesPets okFires okTents only

More like this: reservable in Oregon · tent only in Oregon · pets allowed in Oregon

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Big Cove CampgroundBig CoveBig Cove CampgroundBig Cove Campground
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov
3fires
active
Junction Rx (prescribed burn) · 21 mi away
2 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Boat-in6
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

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

SiteShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
001PartialLakefront6 / –YesStandard
002Partial6 / –YesStandard
003PartialLakefront6 / –YesStandard
004Partial6 / –YesStandard
005PartialLakefront6 / –YesStandard
006Partial6 / –YesStandard

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

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground is one of three boat-in or hike-in only campgrounds on the north side of Cultus Lake. The campground is in a very rustic setting next to the water with six sites available.

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.
ForestDeschutes National Forest
BookingReservations can be made online through Recreation.gov or by calling toll free 1-877-444-6777 (International 606-515-6777 or TDD 877-833-6777).
FeesSingle Campsite Rate: $32/night. Premium Campsite Rate: $34/night. One vehicle included with reservation – Each Additional Vehicle: $10.00. NOTE: Holders of a Golden Age and Golden Access Passports and Senior and Access Passes are entitled to the following discounts on expanded amenity recreation…
RulesMaximum site spur length is 40 feet. The water system will be turned on in the month of May depending on weather conditions and will be turned off no later than September 30, or upon the campground closing, whichever is earlier, to prevent potential damage from cold temperatures.

Deschutes National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 2.97 inches of precipitation, 17.9 inches of snowFebruary: 2.04 inches of precipitation, 14.9 inches of snowMarch: 1.72 inches of precipitation, 8.4 inches of snowApril: 1.25 inches of precipitation, 2.0 inches of snowMay: 1.32 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowJune: 0.90 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.45 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.59 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.61 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.45 inches of precipitation, 0.8 inches of snowNovember: 2.60 inches of precipitation, 8.9 inches of snowDecember: 3.62 inches of precipitation, 20.7 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 30.4°F averageFebruary: 32.5°F averageMarch: 36.9°F averageApril: 41.8°F averageMay: 49.8°F averageJune: 56.5°F averageJuly: 64.9°F averageAugust: 64.0°F averageSeptember: 56.9°F averageOctober: 46.5°F averageNovember: 36.2°F averageDecember: 29.5°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 in25 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Wickiup Dam, 14 miles from the campground at 4,358 feet, station USC00359316 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 20 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 74 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Bend, OR: Travel 46 miles southwest on Cascade Lakes Hwy (46), then west on Forest Road 4635 for 2 miles. There is a large paved parking area with a dock and two boat ramps which is adjacent to the Cultus Lake Campground.

Coordinates43.8470° N, 121.8656° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Junction Rx

    21 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Rx Cold Springs

    42 mi from the campground · 158 acres

  • Prescribed
    Camas Ts Rx

    46 mi from the campground

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

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearREI ↗30.7 mi
RV sales & serviceBlue Compass RV Bend ↗32.7 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗34.7 mi

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

Explore

Video

Big Lake Campground, Oregon #pnw

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.6 mi
    North Shore
    2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.8 mi
    Winopee Lake ↗
    6.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.1 mi
    Teddy Lake
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 1.7 mi
    Winopee Tie
    2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.1 mi
    Deer Lake
    2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.5 mi
    Corral Swamp
    2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads within three miles

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 Willamette National Forest, which overlaps Deschutes 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

Cultus Lake is a natural glacier-formed Lake. This is a recreational lake and is popular for water skiing, sailing, jet skiing, and boating.

Guidebooks for Oregon

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

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

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground?

Sites at Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made online through Recreation.gov or by calling toll free 1-877-444-6777 (International 606-515-6777 or TDD 877-833-6777). Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground?

Single Campsite Rate: $32/night. Premium Campsite Rate: $34/night. One vehicle included with reservation – Each Additional Vehicle: $10.00.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground have?

6 sites, including 6 boat-in sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground?

Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Maximum site spur length is 40 feet.

Source: Fire nearby

What if Cultus Lake Boat In - Big Cove Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Cultus Lake Boat In - Little Cove Campground (0.9 mi), Cultus Lake Boat In - West Campground (1.4 mi), and West Cultus Boat-In Campground (1.4 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby