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

Little Crater Campground

Situated on the edge of the beautiful Paulina Lake, Little Crater Campground is conveniently located within Newberry National Monument. Visitors to this area are taken aback by the incredible views this area has to offer, highlighting volcanic landscapes intermixed with diverse forests, typical of central Oregon. Popular for both its geological significance and multitude of recreational activities, Little Crater Campground is ideal for individual and family camping excursions. If you are visiting Oregon with the aim of getting the best camping experience, this might be it.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov50 sites40 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in Oregon · big rigs in Oregon · pets allowed in Oregon

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Little Crater CampsiteLittle Crater CampsiteLITTLE CRATER CAMPGROUNDLITTLE CRATER CAMPGROUND
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov
1fire
active
Junction Rx (prescribed burn) · 21 mi away
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups47
Host/management3
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

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

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

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessibleRating
001Pull-through40GravelPartial8 / 1YesPreferred
002Pull-through20GravelPartialLakefront8 / 1YesPrime
003Pull-through32GravelPartial8 / 1YesPreferred
004Pull-through40GravelPartial8 / 1YesPreferred
005Pull-through40GravelPartialLakefront8 / 1YesPreferred
006Pull-through40GravelPartialLakefront8 / 1YesPrime
007Pull-through40PavedPartial8 / 1YesYesPreferred
008Pull-through40GravelPartial8 / 1YesPrime
009Pull-through40GravelPartial8 / 1YesStandard
010Pull-through40GravelPartialLakefront8 / 1YesPrime

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length40 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySites 007, 029, 030, 031 are listed accessible

There are 49 sites located on a fairly thin ledge right on the lake and all the campground sites are a very short walk to the water. The sites are ample sized and most are good for tents, trailers or RVs. Picnic areas, boating, shoreline trails, and stunning views of the lake, along with the conveniences of drinking water and vault toilets, give visitors the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while still having some of the conveniences of home.

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 at Recreation.gov or by calling toll free 1-877-444-6777 (International 606-515-6777 or TDD 877-833-6777).
FeesSingle Campsite Rate: $27/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 fees: - A 50 percent discount on…
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 Little Crater Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 2.86 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.91 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.54 inches of precipitationApril: 1.16 inches of precipitationMay: 1.71 inches of precipitationJune: 1.09 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.52 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.55 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.75 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.44 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.43 inches of precipitationDecember: 3.16 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 29.7°F averageFebruary: 32.1°F averageMarch: 37.0°F averageApril: 40.6°F averageMay: 48.8°F averageJune: 54.6°F averageJuly: 62.5°F averageAugust: 61.6°F averageSeptember: 54.9°F averageOctober: 44.9°F averageNovember: 35.1°F averageDecember: 28.3°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Sunriver, 15 miles from the campground at 4,180 feet, station USC00358246 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 19 inches a year.

Getting there

From Bend, travel 23.5 miles south on Hwy 97, then 14.5 miles east on County Road 21( Paulina Lake Road), and 0.5 miles north on Forest Road 2100 570. From LaPine travel 6.8 miles north on Hwy 97, then 14.5 miles east on County Road 21( Paulina Lake Road), and 0.5 miles north on Forest Road 2100 570.

Coordinates43.7122° N, 121.2433° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Junction Rx

    21 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 ↗2.7 mi
Outdoor gearREI ↗23.4 mi
RV sales & serviceBlue Compass RV Bend ↗23.7 mi

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

Explore

Video

Little Crater Campground, Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Oregon Campsite Photos

Worth a stop

Lava Lands Visitor Center in nearby Bend, Oregon, is a great starting point for visitors to learn about the diverse landscape and history of the area through interpretive programs and exhibits. Visitors can explore the Lava River Cave, also located in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. At 5,211 feet (1,588 m) in length, the northwest section of the cave is the longest continuous lava tube in Oregon.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.2 mi
    Little Crater Tie
    0.7 mi trail · hiking
  • 0.2 mi
    Little Crater Loop
    1.5 mi trail · hiking
  • 0.3 mi
    Silica
    0.5 mi trail · hiking
  • 0.4 mi
    Newberry #6
    0.9 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 0.4 mi
    Newberry #5
    1.8 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 0.5 mi
    Obsidian Flow
    0.5 mi trail · hiking

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 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

Paulina Lake is located within the collapsed calder of Newberry Volcano. Nearly five miles in diameter, this caldera encircles the basins of Paulina Lake and its twin, East Lake. Neither lake receives water from an inlet or stream - instead both rely on rain, snowmelt and hot springs for water. Paulina Creek flows from the lake and has chiseled a narrow gorge through the caldera's west wall creating a remarkable twin waterfall. Thermal vents and hot springs along the lake's northeast edge help create a highly productive ecosystem. The surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams and diverse forests support a variety of wildlife, including porcupine, bighorn sheep, deer, bats native fish, migratory birds and even the occasional black bear.

Recreation

The unique location of Little Crater Campground offers visitors opportunities to hike shoreline trails and alpine vistas. Visitors can also take advantage of time on the lake, boating, kayaking, swimming and fishing. For anglers, this lake offers fantastic fishing opportunities. Spanning a surface area of 1,531 acres, the lake supports rainbow trout, brown trout and Kokanee salmon. In September, the outlet of Paulina Lake may be choked with Kokanee moving to spawn in Paulina Creek.

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 Little Crater Campground?

Sites at Little Crater Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made online at 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 Little Crater Campground?

Single Campsite Rate: $27/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 fees: - A 50 percent discount on…

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Little Crater Campground?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Little Crater Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Little Crater Campground have?

50 sites, including 47 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Little Crater Campground?

The longest site here provides 40 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 Little Crater Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Little Crater Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Little Crater Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Maximum site spur length is 40 feet.

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at Little Crater Campground?

Sites 007, 029, 030, and 031 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Little Crater Campground?

The unique location of Little Crater Campground offers visitors opportunities to hike shoreline trails and alpine vistas. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Little Crater Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Newberry Group Camp Site (0.8 mi), Chief Paulina Horse Camp (0.8 mi), and Paulina Lake Campground (1.6 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby