Established Camping
Little Lava Lake
About
National Forest
Deschutes National Forest
Overview
Little Lava Lake Campground is located along the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway in the Central Oregon Cascades.
Recreation
Little Lava Lake Campground provides recreation opportunities for fishing, paddling, swimming and hiking. For anglers, the 130-acre Little Lava Lake offers a quiet alternative to its larger neighbor to the north, Lava Lake. Reaching a maximum depth of 20 feet, the lake supports planted Rainbow trout, some Brook trout, and self-sustaining populations of Whitefish and Tui Chub. Bait, lures, flies, still fishing and trolling are all acceptable angling methods.
Facilities
Little Lava Lake Campground provides recreation opportunities for fishing, paddling, swimming and hiking. For anglers, the 130-acre Little Lava Lake offers a quiet alternative to its larger neighbor to the north, Lava Lake. Reaching a maximum depth of 20 feet, the lake supports planted Rainbow trout, some Brook trout, and self-sustaining populations of Whitefish and Tui Chub. Bait, lures, flies, still fishing and trolling are all acceptable angling methods.
Natural Features
Little Lava Lake is located on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountain Range at an elevation of 4,740 feet. The small lake is surrounded by mature pine forests with bull rushes and lava outcroppings lining its shores.__
Nearby Attractions
Visitors can explore wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, lakes and reservoirs and approximately 1,600 miles of trails within the Deschutes National Forest.Lava Lands Visitor Center in nearby Bend, Oregon, and the unique geological landscape of Newberry National Volcanic Monument draw visitors to the region as well.Visitors will also enjoy traveling the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway which climbs into the Cascades over a 66-mile drive through snow-capped peaks and alongside alpine lakes.A nearby resort on Lava Lake offers lodging and a limited selection of groceries.
Charges & Cancellations
Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
Location
Little Lava Lake is located in Oregon
Directions
From Bend, travel 38.4 miles southwest on Cascade Lakes Hwy (46), then 0.7 miles east on Forest Road 4600 500, and then 0.4 miles east on Forest Road 4600 520.
Address
63095 DESCHUTES MARKET ROAD
Bend, OR 97701
Coordinates
43.9101167 N
121.7616972 W
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonGood
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
ScoutDreamy Setting
Two nights in a truck camper on #8 spot and it was fairly level and well spaced from others. Short dirt road to get there was rough but no overhead branches or too narrow passes. My time there was mainly spent paddleboarding and it was excellent. Most of the time having the lake to myself. A few steps onto the road from site and I could see when the water was calm. Before sunsets were the best with mirror like reflections and great views. The water was cloudy green algae like and never saw a fish jump so I passed on the fishing or swimming.
This campground was much more peaceful and much less congested than the main Lava Lake campground or the private campground next to it.
Scoutturned into family tradition
started camping at little lava lake when I was a kid with the family every summer and still do as an adult with my own family. place is absolutely gorgeous, there's hiking trails, fishing, and great people there's a lodge market at lava lake not to far away pet friendly and bathrooms tent camping or rv
ScoutNice Campground but River absent. Site#8 was awful.
Made reservation early and still seemed that it wasn't the one I picked. River wasn't flowing from Lake due to drought. Site#8 was at the fork in the road and dust was near unbearable, no shade till evening. I've camped here for 10 years and it's not the same since Forest Service has taken over.
GuideSmall
This is a very small campground. The lake is beautiful though...when you drive in, you have to turn around in the boat launch area and go the single lane back out...fyi
TravelerFun, out of the way, and with killer views
This was a really fun, small, out of the way campground. Pretty basic amenities (vault toilets, beaten up boat ramp) and generously sized and well-spaced campsites. The lake is gorgeous and the views of Bachelor, Broken Top and South Sister are excellent.
GuideNice
A few sites with Lake or River views. Quieter than Lava Lake.
GuidePerfect low key family lake
We bring our beginner kayakers and SUP paddlers here to get use to navigating. You can see the entire lake from every location. There’s a cute beaver family on the far side and the hike around the lake it’s amazing.
TravelerAwsome hidden cg
This is a great small cg on little lava with a great connecting hike over to big lava where there is a camp store at the rv park very quiet and if you are lucky enough to get a site near the water it is filled with wild life
ScoutRight on the water and quiet
Clean, plenty of space and quiet. Little hidden spot on Cascade lakes highway.
TravelerSmall beauty
No electric and no water at sites. Drinking water faucet available.(one was broke when we were there) Propane, gas, showers, laundry, and store at Lava lake resort. (a short distance-you can walk a trail to resort if you choose to.) Slow cell service in area. Great Lake for kayaking! Views of the South Sister, Broken Top, and Mt Bachler. 12
- (7) View All
ScoutOur summer launch pad
Nice shady camp sites right along the headwaters of the Deschutes river. Walking distance to the lake and plenty of fishing holes all around. Little lava lake is a no wake lake, so it is perfect for Kayaking, SUP, and the like.