Deschutes National Forest Spring Campground, near Crescent, Oregon, is a spacious spot that welcomes families and those seeking a bit of peace in nature. With plenty of room between sites, you won’t feel cramped, making it a great choice for a more private camping experience.

This campground offers clean facilities, including pit toilets and water spigots, which campers appreciate. Many visitors rave about the stunning views of Crescent Lake, especially from the lakeside sites, where you can soak in the scenery and enjoy activities like swimming and fishing. As one happy camper noted, “The gorgeous views from our lakeside tent site were a pleasant surprise.”

While the campground is larger, meaning you might encounter more people, it still has a friendly vibe. Some reviewers mentioned that the middle loops are best for larger rigs, and while privacy can be a bit of a challenge, the overall atmosphere is lively and fun. If you’re looking for a place to unwind and enjoy the outdoors, this campground has you covered. 

Just a short drive away, you’ll find a small town with a general store for any supplies you might need. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Deschutes National Forest Spring Campground is a solid pick for your next outdoor adventure.

## Overview

 Nestled in Deschutes National Forest, Spring Campground offers visitors some of the most stunning scenery in central Oregon and easy access to an abundance of recreational activities in the Cascade region. A favorite among visitors, the sites in this campground are widely-spaced and scattered among a mixed conifer forest, giving it an open and sunny character. The campground looks out to the stunning water of Crescent Lake, and several tent-only sites are on the lake front.
## Recreation

 In addition to being a prime location for boating, fishing, swimming, hiking and biking in summer and early fall, Spring Campground offers excellent skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter months. Crescent Lake Snowpark offers skiers and snowmobilers a base camp for winter excursions. Summit Lake Trail, 9 miles one- way, follows the road leading from Crescent Lake to Summit Lake, offering excellent views across Crescent Lake and highlighting Diamond Peak. Anglers enjoy fishing from boats or the shoreline. Fish species found in the lake include kokanee salmon, mackinaw, rainbow trout, brown trout and mountain whitefish. Summer months offer the best fishing opportunities.
## Natural Features

 Cresent Lake, nestled in a naturally glaciated basin behind a moraine dam, lies east of the towering Cascade Mountain Range. Its brilliant blue-green water, sandy beaches and water temperature are exceptional for a high-elevation lake. Fantastic nearby peaks, lava flows and old-growth forests provide visitors with breathtaking landscapes, showcasing ecosystems typical of central Oregon. Wildlife found in the area include deer, porcupine, native fish and migratory birds. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Visitors can explore wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, lakes and reservoirs and approximately 1,600 miles of trails that comprise nearly 2.5 million acres the Deschutes National Forest and the adjacent Ochoco National Forest. Lava Lands Visitor Center in nearby Bend, Oregon, and the Newberry National Volcanic Monument draw visitors to the region as well. Visitors may also enjoy traveling the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, known as Oregon's Highway in the Sky. The 66-mile drive through the Cascade Mountain range weaves through snow-capped peaks and alpine lakes, highlighting the beauty of central Oregon.
## 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.

Deschutes National Forest Spring Campground

The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Crescent. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Crescent. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Crescent and user-submitted reviews.

Crescent

The Best Camping Near Crescent, Oregon

We stopped here for a quick overnight on a road trip (Labor Day weekend) and were pleasantly surprised by the gorgeous views from our lakeside tent site (spot #70) of Crescent Lake and Diamond Peak. Not all sites have views, but the forest setting is very nice. The camp host was friendly and the facilities (pit toilets) were clean. There are water spigots and grates for washing dishes.

Beautiful lakefront sites

About 72 sites mean this is a larger CG. Which means more people. More noisy generators. The facilities are great, plenty of staff. The lake side sites are all 5star, the rest of them offer little to no privacy or shade. But still fun. 

The pumice beach of crescent lake make it all worthwhile. Swimming, and all that other lake stuff are ready to roll. 

Nice beach, big CG

This is the bigger of the two non-group camps on Crescent. Spring is more arid (lodgepole pine) and thus dusty. Many sites are short and uneven for bigger rigs. The middle loops are best if you have a longer trailer. Do not plan on privacy here. Sites are wide open and people pay zero respect to your space. They will walk right through your site to get to the water. This is noise, and packed. Especially now that Covid has made instant campers out of everyone. 

Boat ramp is rough, dock is out of the water most of the year. Wind hits hard in the afternoons. Plan on snow until mid June 

Family/Sun/Fun

We stayed at site 32 but honestly all the sites were great. Lots of space at each site with plenty of room between sites so you don't feel like you are on top of each other. 

  

Bathrooms were clean and camp host was friendly. The Lake was beautiful and we walked around it enjoying the view. 

  

There is no cell phone reception at the campground but there is a small town 20 minutes away that has service and a little general store that you can buy firewood and other supplies. 

  

Great site, a lot less people than the sites around it. Perfect for families or those looks to have a more private experience.

Photos of Deschutes National Forest Spring Campground

Real photos from real campers