Best Tent Camping near Fort Rock, OR

Tent campsites near Fort Rock, Oregon range from established campgrounds to dispersed sites across high desert terrain. Green Mountain Campground offers primitive tent camping with views of Pleistocene lava fields, while Crack-In-The-Ground provides walk-in tent sites near its unique volcanic formation. Both locations serve as good basecamps for exploring the Fort Rock area's distinctive geology and desert landscapes within the Fremont National Forest and surrounding BLM lands.

Most primitive tent sites in the region have minimal amenities, with vault toilets available at established campgrounds like Green Mountain but absent at dispersed locations. Campers should bring adequate water supplies as drinking water is not available at most sites. The terrain consists primarily of high desert soil and volcanic rock, creating challenging ground conditions for tent stakes. A camper wrote that "the road up to the site is washboard, so be prepared for a bumpy drive" when accessing Green Mountain Campground. Many forest roads require high-clearance vehicles, particularly after rain or during spring snowmelt periods.

Tent camping experiences in this area offer exceptional night skies and geological features not found elsewhere. The higher elevation at Green Mountain Campground provides cooler temperatures than surrounding areas, with one visitor noting that "night sky was incredible as was the sunrise." Dispersed camping areas often experience temperature fluctuations typical of high desert environments, with cold nights even during summer months. Campers should be prepared for exposure to elements, as tree cover is limited primarily to juniper and pine stands. During peak summer weekends, established campgrounds may fill quickly, while dispersed areas typically offer more solitude. Winter camping is possible at lower elevations, though higher sites become inaccessible due to snow.

Best Tent Sites Near Fort Rock, Oregon (39)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Fort Rock, OR

429 Reviews of 39 Fort Rock Campgrounds


  • Robert D.
    Sep. 30, 2023

    East Lake Campground

    A great camping spot by the lake.

    Our first time here at East Lake Campground in the last week of September 2023 just 1 day before the park closed for the season. Because East Lake Campground is 6500 feet in elevation the nights were very cold, from 44 to 31 degrees but normally the days were in the morning windy and about 62*. The camp has 29 sites and NO hookups.

    There is flush toilets, NO showers, but had drinking water. East Lake also had 1 boat launch but the water was very low, some 40' down from the edge of the bank to the water. Great fishing and a great place for kayaks. Each site has a picnic table and fireplace. Most Sites on the lake side has pull-thru that were about 50' long. Some back-in sites were only 35'. Very quite campground and not too close to each others camp site. We camped at East Lake Campground in a Travel Trailer.

    Restrooms Flush toilets, faucet water. No hookups, No electric, No water hookup, No sewer hookup. You can fill your water tank FREE at the ($10) Dump Station so you don't have the weight in your rig. Dog-friendliness Lots of space to run and play.

  • Rick L.
    Feb. 13, 2018

    Odell Lake Lodge & Resort Campground

    Cold Spring and a Great Hike

    I've been to Odell twice but always seem to pick a weekend with weather that makes you want to stay in your sleeping bag!

    The campsites at Odell are a little on the smaller side and may not have the trees your looking for to hang a hammock. Not that you should if you're camping any time earlier than July!

    The southeast side of Odell can be subject to cold winds coming off the lake, so be sure to keep that rain fly up on your tent and a fleece handy. If you're feeling a little too chilly, the resort keeps a fire burning in the den.

    There are plenty of snowshoe trails around Odell as well as some hiking trails in the Diamond Peak wilderness that also connect to the PCT. The trail we took did give us a bit of elevation gain and later some nice views of the smaller peaks in the area.

    If you're planning to camp here, bring warm clothing and rain gear! It may be a bit chilly, but the nice hikes in the area make it all the more worth it to get up and get moving.

  • Karma S.
    Aug. 19, 2018

    Crane Prairie Campground

    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.

  • Pat S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2019

    Little Crater Campground

    Right on Paulina Lake

    This CG is right on Paulina lake in the middle of Newberry Crater. There are 50 sites along the shoreline. They all have the standard picnic table and fire ring. We had the first site on the left as you enter the CG. It had a great view of the lake and surrounding ridgeline and Paulina Peak. It also allows for a wonderful sunset.

    The campground is generally crowded. The sites are decent but you will have other campers relatively close, The CG is easily accessed by foot, car or boat. It does have a boat ramp. RV's / Campers can get into most sites. There are 5 Vault toilets, drinking water, no showers, no hook ups. each site is in close walking distance to the lake. The CG is accessible to various trails in the area including the Big Obsidian Flow trail. A bonus hike should be taken to the Paulina Lake hot springs on the north side of the lake. You can also get to the hot springs by boat.

  • Brandie W.
    May. 13, 2019

    North Davis Creek Campground

    Nice lake to kayak on

    Campground is a more rustic/primitive camping experience. It does accommodate small to mid -size rv but there is no hookups. Drinking water faucets, vault toilets, picnic tables, and firepits are the only available services. Quiet and flat lake for kayak,canoe, and fishing. Nice beach area for kids to play. Close to Crane Prairie Resort if you need supplies or showers.

  • A
    Mar. 22, 2021

    Dispersed Rock Quary

    Nice Site

    One of the few places near Bend that was actually open for disperse camping in the winter. We stayed in a nice sight just across from the quarry, right by the turn around area. It was great for tent camping. Just beware that this is higher elevation and colder than Bend. We were unexpectedly snowed on in March! Also beware that some people use the quarry as a shooting range in the mornings, about 8am (safe distance away), but it's a good alarm if you're not already awake!

  • William B.
    Sep. 7, 2022

    Reynolds Pond Recreation Site

    Disbursed camping

    Multiple pull-offs in the area. Fire rings present, but current fire ban in effect so campfires not allowed.

  • James J.
    Aug. 18, 2019

    Pine Mountain Campground

    Great campsite, but watch out for the ground squirrels.

    We stayed here for three days, two nights. We took our 4 cylinder Hyundai up here packed full, and the gravel road leading up to the campsite was well maintained.

    The campsite itself was clean and beautiful. There were very few people using this place, so for the most part we were almost totally alone. There is no garbage service; Plan on packing your garbage out. There was one restroom with a vault toilet. No water either, so bring plenty.

    The wildlife was beautiful. There were chickadees that kept flying up to us, and these really cute golden mantle ground squirrels. They are cute, but watch out! One will distract you pretending to be cute and friendly, but then there's another one or two getting into everything you leave within their reach. They will steal your food. When you catch them, they'll run away with their fat little faces full.

    They never really run far away either. They have tunnels and nests everywhere in the campground, so they'll hide and wait till you're not paying attention anymore. BAM, THEY'RE STEALING YOUR FOOD AGAIN!

    There was a sharp shinned hawk who kept coming by our camp. My wife thought it wanted our small dog, but I think maybe it was looking for those chickadees that kept coming around.

    The night sky was beautiful. Whether you're an astronomer, or just a casual star gazer, it's worth the drive down here. There's an observatory run by a local University here, and they offer tours to the public on weekends. You can call and inquire about how crowded the site is, weather, and other things.

    There were some noisy campers having a party who arrived on our second day. They were kinda loud, and they kept walking all over the campsite which kinda distracted from the whole experience, but for the most part we were alone. There were fire rings and picnic tables at all the spurs. Some of the spurs we kinda close to each other, but there was hardly anybody here, so that made up for it.

    We didn't get any cell service with Sprint here. That's fine with me though, I'd rather not use my phone.

    Overall, I loved this place and I will definitely go back.


Guide to Fort Rock

Dispersed camping opportunities near Fort Rock, Oregon extend beyond established campgrounds to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands throughout the region. The area sits at approximately 4,300 feet elevation with volcanic landscape features dominating the terrain. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing, while summer daytime temperatures often exceed 85°F with nighttime lows in the 40s.

What to do

Geological exploration: Visit Crack-In-The-Ground, a volcanic fissure extending 2 miles with temperatures approximately 30 degrees cooler than surface temperatures. Nicolaus N. mentioned, "Start your journey into the crack where it is nearly 30 degrees cooler. Quite nice on a 100 degree day!"

Stargazing: The remote location provides exceptional dark sky viewing conditions with minimal light pollution. Jacob D. from Dispersed Rock Quary noted, "We came here in January, so nobody else was here. It's big and open and was really quiet. Great views of the stars on a clear night."

Wildlife observation: Early morning and dusk offer opportunities to spot pronghorn antelope, mule deer, and various raptor species. The juniper woodlands surrounding camping areas provide habitat for numerous bird species.

What campers like

Temperature variation: The high desert elevation creates natural air conditioning in certain geological features. Craig S. from Green Mountain Campground shared, "This is an uber-basic free campground with a nice view of a large Pleistocene lava field to the north and easy access to Crack-in-the-Ground to the south."

Winter solitude: Off-season camping provides maximum isolation with few visitors. Angie from Dispersed Rock Quary cautioned, "One of the few places near Bend that was actually open for disperse camping in the winter... Just beware that this is higher elevation and colder than Bend. We were unexpectedly snowed on in March!"

Clean facilities: Despite remote locations, some established sites maintain well-kept amenities. Ron C. noted about Green Mountain Campground, "Outstanding view. Road to campground is good but rocky in places. Good clearance and 4x4 recommended but not required."

What you should know

Road conditions: Access roads to many sites require high-clearance vehicles or careful driving. Richard M. from Green Mountain Campground observed, "High camp with great views. Road from Christmas Valley is all washboard until Crack park, then it gets better."

Shooting activity: Several dispersed camping areas double as informal target shooting locations. Rhett B. from Dispersed Rock Quary warned, "Be aware, there's a place people go to shoot guns in this area. Plenty of areas to set up camp with an RV or tent, but obviously you won't run into any other amenities."

Limited campsite visibility: Some forest camps can be difficult to locate from main roads. Matthew from Upper Buck Creek advised, "This campground was tough to find, I drove by it several times, keep your eyes open."

Tips for camping with families

Pest preparation: Mosquitoes can be problematic depending on season and location. Matthew from Upper Buck Creek experienced this firsthand: "The campground is free which was nice, but the mosquitoes were terrible."

Temperature planning: Pack for significant temperature fluctuations, with 30-40 degree differences between day and night common. Sterling C. from Dispersed Rock Quary found it "a nice enough place to overnight" but noted very few amenities.

Activity scheduling: Morning hikes before temperatures rise offer the most comfortable exploration opportunities for the best tent camping near Fort Rock, Oregon. Paulina Lake Lodge Cabins provides alternative accommodation with Brian C. noting, "Cabins have running water, bathrooms, cozy fireplaces, comfy couches. Resort has a boat launch and small general store for supplies, food, and bait."

Tips from RVers

Level parking: Look for flat pullouts on Forest Service roads for overnight dispersed camping. A F. from Dispersed Rock Quary commented, "Great off site location. Brought my fifth wheel and it was great."

Resource planning: No hookups exist at most sites, requiring self-contained water and power supplies. Justin L. noted about Dispersed Rock Quary, "There is endless space and open skies for solar or starlink. It's also easy to reach and rig friendly, but not far from main highway for access."

Site selection: Larger rigs should seek wider dispersed areas rather than established forest camps. Charyl B. advised that Dispersed Rock Quary is "Best for RV's. You can find better tents spots further down the same road."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Fort Rock, OR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Fort Rock, OR is Green Mountain Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Fort Rock, OR?

TheDyrt.com has all 39 tent camping locations near Fort Rock, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.