Elk Lake Campground

in Deschutes National Forest

The managing agency’s description mentions a closure. Read it below and confirm before you drive out.

The numbers that decide it

Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.

Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero.

Elk Lake Campground

Elk Lake Campground is an older style small hill side campground. It is on the north end of Elk Lake and offers opportunities for fishing and access to hiking and horseback riding trails. Swimming areas are closed to animals. Find a map of this campground here . There is a boat launch area within this campground. Parking is extremely limited at this boat launch.

Before you go

Season

Tentative Opening: May 30, 2025 – September 28, 2025

Reservations

Reservations accepted

Fees

Single Campsite Rate: $25/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 the fee for a single camping unit. This discount does not apply to use of a cabin, lookout, double camping unit, triple camping unit, group camping unit, extra vehicle fees, or any additional camping units and separately charged utility, water, hook-up or day use fees.

Hours

Visit Recreation.gov for current operating dates. This campground will be closing at noon on September 28, 2025, and the last night to reserve a campsite is September 27, 2025.

Restrictions

Maximum site spur length is 36 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.

Scenic drives that pass close

Make it a night on a better road

Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.