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Facilities

Established Camping

Crane Prairie Campground

Closed For the Season

This campground is closed for the season from October 24, 2024 through May 14, 2025.

Crane Prairie Campground, near Bend, Oregon, is a fantastic spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors with a beautiful lake backdrop. The campground offers spacious sites, many of which are right by the water, making it a prime location for fishing and relaxing by the shore.

Visitors rave about the stunning views and the clean, well-maintained facilities. The camp host is known for being helpful, guiding campers to quieter spots, especially in the blue loop, which is popular for its proximity to the lake. As one camper noted, “The blue loop is right on the lake, with beautiful views.”

For fishing enthusiasts, this campground is a dream come true. The lake is teeming with wild fish, and many campers have made it their fishing headquarters. The lodge nearby rents out watercraft and has a well-stocked store for any supplies you might need.

While the campground is a great escape from the hustle and bustle, be prepared for some pesky mosquitoes and ants, especially if you venture into the surrounding areas. But with its friendly atmosphere and ample opportunities for outdoor activities, Crane Prairie Campground is a solid choice for your next camping adventure.

Description

National Forest

Deschutes National Forest

Overview

Crane Prairie Campground is located on the east shore of its namesake reservoir on Deschutes National Forest just off the scenic Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. Crane Prairie Reservoir offers a variety of recreation opportunities, including fishing, boating and swimming with glimpses of South Sister and Mt. Bachelor on the horizon.

Recreation

Crane Prairie Reservoir is a prime location for boating and fishing. Fisheries in close proximity to the site also add to its popularity among anglers. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife manages populations of rainbow trout, mountain whitefish, brook trout and largemouth bass. Fish cleaning stations and a boat ramp are within the campground. Hiking and hunting are popular activities in the surrounding area.

Natural Features

Crane Prairie Reservoir hosts a number of waterfowl, including Sandhill cranes, Canada geese, bald eagles and osprey The adjacent forest is home to black-backed woodpecker, Williamson's sapsucker and mountain chickadee. Deer, squirrel, beaver and an occasional black bear also find habitat in the surrounding forest.

Nearby Attractions

Nearby Osprey Point is a unique interpretive area for visitors to learn about local fauna and observe osprey nesting platforms erected after natural snags toppled from age. Crane Prairie Campground offers easy access to the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway which weaves through multiple high lakes with views of South Sister, Broken Top and Mt. Bachelor. Newberry National Volcanic Monument offers a glimpse into Central Oregon's rich geologic history. Travel 25 miles to Lava Lands Visitor Center to explore exhibits at the interpretive center, attend a ranger talk, take in scenic views from the top of Lava Butte and travel one-mile underground through Lava River Cave. Travel 40 miles to Newberry Caldera to visit Paulina and East Lake, Paulina Peak and Paulina Falls.

Fee Info

Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

Reservation Info

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).

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Location

Crane Prairie Campground is located in Oregon

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Highway 58, turn east onto Crescent Road at the sign for Davis Lake and Wickiup Reservoir, midway between mileposts 72 and 73. In 3.3 miles, turn left on Forest Road 46. Drive north for 18 miles and turn east on Forest Road 42 at the sign for Twin Lakes and Crane Prairie. Drive east on Forest Road 42 for 3.8 miles, then turn north on Forest Road 4270. From Bend, go west on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, which becomes Forest Road 46. Follow this road to its intersection with Forest Road 42, about 52 miles from Bend. Turn onto Forest Road 42 at the sign for Twin Lakes and Crane Prairie. Drive east on Forest Road 42 for 3.8 miles, then turn north on Forest Road 4270. From Highway 97 between Bend and Klamath Falls, turn west to the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, 12 miles north of La Pine. After one mile, turn south on South Century Drive, which becomes Forest Road 42. Follow it for just over 17 miles to Forest Road 4270 and turn north at the sign for Crane Prairie.

Address

63095 DESCHUTES MARKET ROAD
Bend, OR 97701

Coordinates

43.7963889 N
121.7608333 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations


Reviews

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12 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 5, 2023

Pretty, quiet

Changed plans at the last minute to come here; great choice! The camp host was great, and helped us find a nice, quiet spot. The blue loop is right on the lake, with beautiful views. The mosquitos are abundant, so plan accordingly. Vault toilets and a few water pumps are available. Overall a great visit, would definitely return!

Site35
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by jennie , July 5, 2023
  • next site (37) is down the hill.
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  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by jennie , July 5, 2023
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Oct. 24, 2021

A great campground for fishermen.

We stayed at Crane Prairie Resort for 4 months in 2021. I fly fished most every day. The fish are mostly wild; about 5 percent are hatchery. Fishing is among the best in the West. Crane Prairie Resort is my favorite place to stay while fishing this lake. Other reviews describe how nice the campground is and how great the owners are. But I wanted to emphasize that if you have a fishing boat you can't find a better place to make your fishing headquarters.

Site34
Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Aug. 26, 2020

Great campground to get away

Only spent one night at Crane Prairie, and that was a Sunday night. The campground was clean and well maintained and the sites were large. The lake seemed nice, though we didn't have a chance to get on the water.

Crane Prairie is about a 30 minute drive from Bend, so far enough to feel like you are getting away. 

The store is right by the boat launch, is well stocked and had friendly staff.

It did appear that there were a lot of no shows, which was too bad, as many prime spots by the water were booked. The plus was that we had quite a bit of privacy.

I'd be happy to stay here again.

SiteBlue Loop, site 80
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Ron S., August 26, 2020
  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Ron S., August 26, 2020
Reviewed Aug. 23, 2020

Perfect setting on a gorgeous, fishable lake

Crane Prairie is a popular spot in Central Oregon off the Cascade Lakes Highway west of 4 season resort town of Bend, OR.

The spots are all a little different and many are downright huge. Of course, people like to camp lakeside but those are actually not the best for privacy.

We prefer the blue loop sites 120 and up. And the even number ones on the ridge like 138 are supreme because they back up to open wilderness and can accommodate several tents and RV.

The lake is accessible from many points and small beaches. The resort lodge rents watercraft, sells ice and food and propane. Super nice folks as well.

The place is clean, and friendly. You see kids riding bikes and walking in groups all over the huge space with adults watching out for everyone.

Can't go wrong with Crane Prairie. One quirk brought me pause this last year. People were having a hard time with the camp host getting into spots where no shows weren't arriving. They claimed they don't give away those spots the next day, which is the Forest Service typical rules. It was a PITA for some people and too many were denied a spot in a sparsely populated weekend. That was sad.

  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Debb , August 23, 2020
  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Debb , August 23, 2020
  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Debb , August 23, 2020
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Aug. 16, 2020

Bugs

Looked like a good campground, the reviews said cell service and were generally positive. We arrived late, setup camp, and were immediately covered head to toe with gnats. Unbearable. We decided to split and try out ff on another campground we knew. It worked out and we moved. Will never return. Also, theres very limited cell service so the other reviews are not accurate for verizon or tmobile.

Reviewed Jul. 13, 2020

Ants

We had a beautiful tent spot right up next to the lake but had to leave because the ants were insane. It was like the ground was moving. There were ant hills two feet tall. We ended up going to elk lake and had a wonderful time.

Reviewed Jul. 30, 2019

Beautiful setting

We pulled in late on Friday at about 6:00pm only to find there was only 1 spot open. We stayed at site 33. The Orange loop we were in was super quiet, for being a completely full campground I was shocked how peaceful it was.

  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Sheena C., July 30, 2019
  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Sheena C., July 30, 2019
  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Sheena C., July 30, 2019
Reviewed Jul. 5, 2019

Tent camped overnight

My wife I have been trying to go camping once a week this summer and it's been awesome. This was one of our stops! We went to the tent camp sites, I believe we picked spot 14 and were first blown away by the view. You're right on the water and overlooking the entire lake. We set up camp and the only big bummer for us the whole trip was there wasn't really a spot that we could find to avoid the huge number of ants! They didn't really bother us and our stuff but they were everywhere.

Also I'm a huge fisherman so Crane Prairie was also picked for the fishing AND the camping. But this is a very large lake so unless you have a boat the shore fishing is a challenge. I was able to pull a few off the point we were camping at but it's just so sad seeing a whole lake you cant fish because you don't have a boat.

We still had a blast, the bathrooms were conveniently located close to the tent camping but not to close. The spots were plenty far apart that if we had had company or would have been no bother.

All in all we would love to come back but the lost of other camping spots is so long its gunna be a while.

  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Grant B., July 5, 2019
  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Grant B., July 5, 2019
Reviewed Aug. 19, 2018

beautiful views! dispersed camping

beautiful views of the cascade mountains, gorgeous reservoir. free camping. dispersed, first come first serve. no amenities. LEAVE NO TRACE!!!!

road is a bit rough but I made it in with a Honda Accord though I wouldn’t recommend for low clearance vehicles.

fire rings available during burn seasons. plenty of fire wood. please do not burn during no burn/dry seasons. the forest is very dry!

bring plenty of water during the summer it’s very hot and dry. you can probably drink the reservoir water if you bring a good filter.

  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Karma S., August 19, 2018
  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Karma S., August 19, 2018
  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Karma S., August 19, 2018
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Jun. 1, 2018

RV Camping

We stayed here for the first time in 2017 and coming back in 2018.

RV camping was fun and quiet and the staff was very friendly. Fishing was not too bad also.

nice places to fish and walk.

SiteRV site
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jul. 23, 2017

Great for Big Groups, or Small Family Getaways

I've stayed at this campground several times and always have a great experience. Single spots along the water usually have direct access - some spots have nice beaches, some are more marshy. There's lots of space between most campsites, so you get some privacy from other campers.

The yellow loop is great for big groups, with 15 spots separated from the rest of the campground. There's a small private beach beside the boat ramp, and a bigger, more sandy beach near the day use area.

There are lots of trees for hanging hammocks and giving shade in the afternoon. The reservoir is great for kayaks & paddleboards & floating & swimming. And if you keep your eyes on the sky, you just might see a bald eagle - we see him every time we go, so now we call him Earl.

If you forget anything or just need an ice cream, there's a cute little resort store that's only a short walk from anywhere in the campground.

SiteGroup Loop Yellow, & #23
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Rhiannon S., July 23, 2017
  • Review photo of Crane Prairie Campground by Rhiannon S., July 23, 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at Crane Prairie Campground?

    Camping at Crane Prairie Campground can cost between $29.00 and $378.00 depending on the site.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Crane Prairie Campground?

    Crane Prairie Campground allows vehicles up to 90 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Crane Prairie Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Crane Prairie Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Crane Prairie Campground?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Crane Prairie Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Crane Prairie Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Crane Prairie Campground?

    There are 132 campsites at Crane Prairie Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts