Are you planning a trip to Alder Springs with your horse? We've got you covered. Equestrian camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. Search nearby equestrian campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Escape to your home away from home at Bend/Sisters Garden RV Resort near Sisters, Oregon. Experience our luxury resort that features camping cabins and fully furnished cottages in addition to RV sites. Equipped with numerous amenities and outdoor recreation activities, our resort is the perfect destination for families and lovers of the great outdoors. In addition to the activities noted in our attractions section you may also enjoy the many other Events & Activities taking place around our resort.
$43 - $78 / night
Clackamas Lake Campground is a great camping destination, especially when nearby Timothy Lake sites are full. The lake is small and shallow. The facility is located in the Clackamas Lake Historic District in Mt. Hood National Forest. It provides access to fishing, swimming and leisurely boating, as well as a number of trails and historic points along the way.
Clackamas Lake is a great place for fishing, swimming and non-motorized boating. Anglers can expect a catch of cutthroat, brook, rainbow or German brown trout. A variety of wildlife make its home in the area as well. Nearby Timothy Lake provides opportunities for picnicking and water-related recreation, including use of power boats. The Clackamas Lake Ranger Station Historic District is less than a mile from the campground. It is a series of structures and cabins built to house Forest Service workers in the early 1900s. Rustic architecture and the historic nature of the buildings and the surrounding area, draws thousands of tourists each year. It is a must-see while staying at the campground. Hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding are also popular activities. The 2.2-mile Miller Trail begins in the campground and connects to the Pacific Crest Trail, which extends more than 2,650 miles, from Canada to Mexico. Additional trails, to scenic Little Crater Lake and to the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, are also available in the area.
The campground is nestled in a heavily wooded forest of pine trees, with partial views of Oregon's highest peak. A lush, green understory provides some privacy between campsites. The campground is near the shores of 3-acre Clackamas Lake, and just three miles from larger Timothy Lake. It is situated at an elevation of about 3,400 feet.
The campground is less than 40 miles from Mt. Hood, where a historic lookout provides scenic views of the snow-capped mountain. Hiking and year-round skiing is available.
For facility specific information, please call (503) 622-3191.
$25 - $27 / night
This campground provides 49 single campsites.__ There are both reservable and FCFS sites.__ The original campsites within Big Lake are in two loops, (sites #1-14 and #15-20) which have eight or so sites with frontage on the lake shore.__ In 1992 additional campsites were opened (sites #21-49) on a long straight stretch from the boat launch towards Big Lake West.__ These sites have larger and wider parking spurs, and most sites use stairs to access the table, fire rings and tent pad below the parking spur.__ Sites can accommodate trailers up to 35 feet in length, depending on site.__ Drinking water is provided by a water system, built in 1993, which serves the entire Big Lake complex by filtering water drawn from the lake and distributing it to the campgrounds.__ There are three single vault toilets, and two double vault toilets in the campground.__ The extra vehicle parking area consists of a boat launch, picnic area, and parking for approximately 15 vehicles and boat trailers.__ All of these day use facilities are located in the middle of the campground, between the original loops and the "expansion" campsites.______ Scan and Pay is offered at this campground; you may also pay by cash or check for FCFS campsites. There are no refunds, modifications, cancellations, or other fee changes allowed with Scan and Pay payments. This system is the same as putting cash into a fee tube and cannot be refunded. Please download the Rec.Gov app prior to arriving at the campground as there may be no cellular service or very limited service at the campground.____ Reservations may be made up to 6 months in advance of arrival date by reserving online at RECREATION.GOV or by calling 877-444-6777.
Water skiing, sailing and swimming are among the favorite activities at the lake. The Patjens Lakes Trail offers excellent hiking opportunities. The trail follows the western side of Big Lake, heads south into the Mt. Washington Wilderness, passes alongside the scenic Patjens Lakes, and then loops back to the campground.
Water skiing, sailing and swimming are among the favorite activities at the lake. The Patjens Lakes Trail offers excellent hiking opportunities. The trail follows the western side of Big Lake, heads south into the Mt. Washington Wilderness, passes alongside the scenic Patjens Lakes, and then loops back to the campground.
The major activities in the Big Lake area revolve around motorized use.__ Boats frequent the lake and off highway vehicles (OHVs) us the adjacent Santiam Pass Motorized Recreation Area.__ Other attractions include Mt. Washington Wilderness and associated access trails, historic Santiam__Wagon Road, McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass National Scenic Byway, Pacific Crest Trail, and Sand Mountain Lookout. Water skiing, sailing and swimming are among the favorite activities at the lake. The Patjens Lakes Trail offers excellent hiking opportunities. The trail follows the western side of Big Lake, heads south into the Mt. Washington Wilderness, passes alongside the scenic Patjens Lakes, and then loops back to the campground.
For facility specific information, please call (541) 967-3917.
$28 / night
$6 / night
Located on beautiful Badger Creek, at the foot of the Badger Creek Wilderness, this popular campground appeals to those who enjoy fishing, hiking, or horseback riding. This quiet campground is located along Badger Creek at one of the portals to the Badger Creek Wildnerness. Visitors who camp at this campground can access the eastern end of the Badger Creek Trail.
$16 / night
Sheep Springs Horse Campground sits in the spectacular Metolius River Basin area in Deschutes National Forest. In close proximity to snow-capped peaks, high elevation lakes, scenic rivers and several wilderness areas, this campground offers a variety of scenery and recreational opportunities for visitors.
A favorite among horse enthusiasts, the campground provides visitors access to a variety of trails. Lakes, lava flows and thick forests provide the backdrop for horseback riding and hiking. The Metolius-Windigo Trail, which offers a trailhead at the campground, is a long-distance trail open to horseback riders, hikers and bicyclists. More than 100 miles long, this trail begins near the Metolius River headwaters and runs south to Windigo Pass near Crescent Lake. Because of its lower elevation, this trail remains snow-free for longer than other nearby trails.
Located at an elevation of approximately 3,200 feet, campsites are interspersed among a towering canopy of old-growth Ponderosa pine and a variety of spruce and fir. The Metolius River flows nearby, making its headwaters at Metolius Springs at the base of nearby Black Butte, a 3,076-foot cinder cone. The clear, cold river flows north from the springs through diverse coniferous forest and a landscape of volcanic activity. The surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams and diverse forests support an abundance of wildlife, including mule deer, coyote, and cougar. Migratory birds and native fish also call the area home.
Visitors can explore wilderness areas, rivers, lakes, 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, is a great starting point for visitors to learn about the diverse landscape and history of the area through interpretive programs and exhibits. Visitors can explore the Lava River Cave, also located in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. At 5,211 feet in length, the northwest section of the cave is the longest continuous lava tube in Oregon. The nearby town of Camp Sherman has basic supplies and restaurants available.
Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
$25 - $27 / night
Many people enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Dispersed camping means there are no toilets, no picnic tables, no trash cans, no treated water, and no fire grates. If you are dispersed camping in the winter, recognize that the Forest Service does not plow or maintain Forest Roads in the winter, so plan your trip accordingly.
Typically, dispersed camping is NOT allowed in the vicinity of developed recreation areas such as campgrounds, boat ramps, picnic areas or trailheads. There are extra responsibilities and skills that are necessary for dispersed camping. It's your responsibility to know these before you try this new experience.
Picking a Campsite If you are going to an area where others have camped before, pick a site that's been used before. Plants, soil and wildlife are impacted by new campsites, so using existing ones will minimize your impact on the forest. If there is no existing campsite, then follow these Leave No Trace guidelines:
Camp on bare soil if possible, to avoid damaging or killing plants and grass. Do NOT camp within 200 feet of any water source, plants near water are especially fragile. Don't camp in the middle of a clearing or meadow. Make your campsite less visible so that other visitors will see a "wild" setting. Don't try to level or dig trenches in the ground at your campsite. Select a campsite with good natural drainage. Visit the Leave No Trace website for more information.
Legend
This is a beautiful RV park. Very well kept, friendly people, close to Bend area. Our site was #7. Pull through, FHU, had a small brick patio area with picnic table and fireplace. Camp store was well stocked. Laundry on site which was very reasonable. Site was level. As an RV park the sites are close together. We did a waterfall hike, went to Bend a couple times, went for dinner and drinks at the Barn in Sisters which is a food truck park. Sisters was a great small town.
TravelerGreat location and the amenities were those of a full service RV resort. Bathrooms & showers, pet area, trash service, fire pit rings, and more. Big pull through spots. Right off the road so there was a bit of road boise but still overall great.
Guide
Camp host was nice, easy access to sites. Showers/bathrooms clean but dated.
Guide
The Views surpass anything negative I could say. The location is ideal, we escaped the summer heat, at our site it was about 15 degrees cooler than Sisters temps. The Host who was a Forest Service Employee was wonderful, sites are fairly close together, I would bring a large sheet potentially next time to keep from looking straight into neighbors camps. The bugs were bad in the evening at the water, but not terrible during the day. Bring lots of big spray. The lake is serene, even with boater activity there was plenty of room for my kids to very safely swim. They do not sell firewood at the campground so if you are visiting when fires are allowed bring your own wood. We will for sure return!
Guide
Easy access and larger camp spots. We were there during a few events hosted by the Sisters Rodeo and got to listen to the events.
A lot of horse trailers come into the dispersed camping area to park and ride their horses, and I've seen a lot of larger bog rig horse trailers parked at the camp sites near the front. Every single one that came in was respectful and kind. A couple of the trainers even allowed my oldest onto their horses with permission after she asked.
There were a couple of long-time stay campers that kept to themselves. We didn't have any issues with leaving our campsite unattended, even with our cook stove, propane, and ground solar equipment out in the open.
Great for solar. Just if you don't have it set on top, you will have to move it throughout the day.
Verizon cell service is completely fine. No wifi, of course, but if you use a mobile hotspot like we do, you shouldn't have any issues.
We camped at 3 different spots. The first one was right as you pulled in, directly behind the rodeo gates. Large spot, 2 fire pits. Perfect for a group. The second was farther back. Only spent 1 night there cause there was a fire ant colony and we have kids. That just seemed like a bad idea for us. Spot itself was great, though. Another perfect spot for a group, minus the fire ants. The third spit was closer to the entrance, about half way in-between the other 2 we stayed at. This one had some broken glass that was buried as well as what looked like a diabetic syringe, also buried in the dirt. This was the only camp site that had any type of garbage at it. Every other one was cleaned from what we glanced at.
Rangers come through every few days to make sure everything is safe and taken care of. When it became "no fires allowed" a ranger went to every camp site with people and asked if he could leave the information papers about what would be allowed vs not allowed during the "no burn" time. He was very respectful and kept his distance. I was by myself with my 3 young kids when he stopped by, and he stayed at least 5 feet away from all of us unless I gave the okay to come closer. The Rangers also placed "no fire" flags at each of the empty campsites in the firepits in case someone came in afterward.
Overall, it was very peaceful and a great place to stay if you plan on going to the rodeo or an event held at Sisters Rodeo but are strapped on funds.
And of course, like all dispersed campsites, it's a "pack in pack out". No water, power, sewage, bathrooms, showers, or anything else available. You bring it in, and you take it out.
GuideThe lake is beautiful, although unfortunately not too shaded during the day due to the wild fires. I only spent a night here and it did the job. Bring bug spray, the bugs are outrageous. This is also not a quite campground. Neighbors are close and you can hear the people on the lake, but that’s to be expected.
Scout
This was a quiet little campground. The sites were big and very clean. It is close to Timothy lake which is where we wanted to go kayaking at. Took us 10 minutes to get there. Loved camping there. There is no lake it’s more of a wetlands area.
GuideAlthough all the sites were taken, we were given a spot near a cabin with fullhook-up facilities. Also the use of picknick bench and chairs for tat cabin. The cabin was blocked for rental. The campground was very well maintained.
Ranger
The site we stayed had had plenty of privacy and lake front access. The lake is very shallow so it was kid friendly.
Traveler
Me and my girlfriend rolled into this free public campsite around 10pm and easily found a spot to set up camp. It seemed pretty good and safe as there were multiple other people RV/Tent camping. But at about 1:30am in the morning someone near us starting screaming at a person to get away from his campsite and was clearly in a great deal of panic. We decided during that incident to pack up and leave in the middle of the night because we felt unsafe and was worried someone might lurk into our campsite like what happened to the other fella. Be cautious because it is public and unguarded.
Scout
We really like this spot because you can walk into town but far enough outside that it has a lot of privacy. The PRT trail system is close by, Three Creeks and the 3 Sister. We only ever see hikers and bikers.
Scout
I lived in Oregon for a couple years as a kid and my family got big into backpacking. One of our family favorites was Pamelia Lake. The trail is gentle and the basin the lake is in has great mountain ranges surrounding. As an adult it was only right that this was my first place to solo. I spent a little over 3 days hiking around the area. This is a great place that has many trails of varying difficulties nearby.
LegendI have written a review on Three Creek Lake Campground that tells all about the road. The road to this camp site is just as bad if not worse. Take it slow if you have a big rig or don’t have 4 wheel drive.
This camp was more spacious than the one across the lake, and yes you get to have fires (at designated spots only). No fee, no water, no trash, and no electricity.
The bathrooms on this side of the lake didn’t make me gag and are very well stocked.
We went on a hike on Driftwood Trail (which is NOT marked). It’s the only way you can get out to Little Three Creek Lake. It was well worth it and the trail is wide and easy to follow.
Fire rangers drive around about twice daily, and Forest rangers about 5 to 6 times daily.
This side of the lake definitely has a lot more options of hiking and fishing. The lake is deeper and easier to bank fish.
It was around the 15th of the month when we decided to leave because frost was setting in, or we would have stayed a bit longer. I love this place and would definitely come back, but with a vehicle equipped for the road.
Guide
Beautiful trees, clean bathrooms, solid paddocks, and great trail network. Even had Miss Rodeo Oregon staying there on a rare weekend off before the RoundUp.
We were in site 3 which is the least flat and difficult to access, but close to the water and our friends that had booked 2. To is next to the water and has easy access even with their 4 horse LQ and dually crew cab. 4 is nice and shady but a bit of a hill. If we came back, we’d pick 5 or 6 for shade trees, easy access, but 8 and 9 have morning sun which would be nice on cool mornings. One site, 10 I think, has metal panels for the paddock. Others are pretty solid wood paddocks but bring a chain just in case the one there is broken (or you have a 5 y.o. Gelding that will break it :)
Guide
11 sites with tables and fire rings. Additional sites specifically for horse trailers. No cell service. Multiple hiking trails from the campground. 3 Creek Lake is .75 mile away. No water available
GuideBeautiful spot to relax! I didnt hear or see a single person the entire night even though there were other people in the area!
There werent any firepits or anything that i could find but there was a bathroom nearby, as well as a beautiful creek!
GuideThe lake is calm, the campsites line the lake full of evergreens. Truly peaceful.
GuideArrived after the office closed and started to read late check in rules and available spaces. Helped to look up to see on the other side of the door envelopes with names, including ours. Access is easy for even large rigs. All sites are paved. Space between sites is reasonable. On site restrooms are very nicely presented. There is an on site pool and outdoor gathering place, a general store, propane vending, a dog walking path and large property behind the park to take pets with a reminder to clean up and pack it out. Garbage service is nice - place the bags by the road and maintenance staff will take it away.
You are a few miles from sisters and about 15 from the outskirts of Bend (the side that has the big box hardware and all purpose stores).
The RV park is quiet and comfortable. There are plenty of trees and green grass at each site. The way the park is laid out, it’s more of an RV neighborhood of travelers.
TravelerSite 11 is perfect for those who prefer to be near a spa-like bath house in an RV park. Heated floors, huge showers. Fantastic.
We were RV park virgins and this intro will set a high bar for our future travels!
GuideWe camped here with our UMCI Motorcycle Group, and had a great time. Good power sites, even though we were in our Motorcycle tent trailer. Open area sites, but also some with trees. Beautiful areas to explore close by. Saw our first lawnmower races in Wamic, so fun!
GuideBeautiful, well-maintained park. Sites have paved, flat pads that are surrounded by grass and spacious. A park-like setting with a large pond, dog runs, frisbee golf, etc. lots of big rigs, but enough smaller ones so we felt comfortable. Ask for site away from main road.
TravelerThis is a county fair grounds with lots of RV space for all sizes. Self register at the gate and find your spot. Nice rest room and showers. Borders a large cattle ranch so you may hear cattle mooing but that’s about it. Very peaceful!
ScoutWe stayed in Big Lake West last weekend. The site was huge extending all the way down to the lake but we discovered that all of the west sites are walk-in only so we parked our van on the side of the road in front of our campsite in the designated area. The vault toilets were relatively clean and there were ample water spigots and garbage cans.
The downside is that we had a constant stream of hikers, hunters, other campers, and their dogs wandering through our campsite all day on both of the days we had reserved the site. It seems that most people elect to forgo the day-use access to the lake and use the campsites instead.
We also had substantial fast-moving traffic (hunters, hikers and OHVs) who appeared to be exploring the area.
And lastly- the trash in our site was substantial. The sites are large and not heavily maintained, but it’s disappointing to see piles of cigarette butts, cans, plastic bottles, a camp rug, along with the normal micro-trash lying around.
If you are easy going and like to make new friends with the endless stream of people wandering through your site- this is a great location. If you are trying to disconnect and have a little space to call your own for the weekend, I would avoid or stick to the regular big lake sites.
GuideWe decided to hike to Pamelia lake as a labor day backpacking trip, and this trip did not disappoint! One of our friends was a beginner, so we decided to tailor the trip to his experience. This hike-in dispersed campsite was easy to get to, about 2.4 miles one-way from the parking lot. We setup our basecamp right by Pamelia lake and was able to do day hikes from there. We summited Grizzly Peak and saw beautiful views of Mount Jefferson.
Sites were very spacious, we could have easily fit 8 people at our site. Since the hike in was relatively easy, we felt comfortable bringing some camping luxuries like a backpacking chair and hammocks. Be sure to bring your own water filter! The best place to access water was about 0.4 miles away from our site; there is a main stream that feeds into Pamelia Lake. The ranger we spoke to advised us against getting water from the lake or the river we passed on the hike-in due to the algae bloom. We were easily able to access water the entire time we were there.
One big thing to note about this campsite is that permits are awarded via lottery. We were lucky enough to snag a permit the week before and we were very glad we did since we were asked to show proof of our permit twice during the 4 days we were staying there.
ScoutThis spot has been a family favorite for years. There is little to no cell service in the area which is actually nice. No motors on the lake and it is just a nice change of pace. It’s not overly cozy or glamorous so if that’s what you want this isn’t your spot.
Traveler
This campsite is amazing. We're pretty new to finding free and dispersed camping spots so it was a long shot to get here, but we lucked out and fell in love with this place.
Getting there is fairly easy. GPS for us didn't give us the right lake but we drove on until there was a sign for the campground. There's no chance of you missing it. The drive is also very beautiful.
The campground has a lot of spots. The first spot is the only one I'd considered "good" for an rv but I wouldn't bother trying. The first 5 or 6 spots and can pull your vehicle off the road and set up. There are a few hike in spots that we didn't check out but were well marked.
There are fire pits, picnic tables, bathrooms, and plenty of good spots to set up a hammock.
They also have a boat launch, but it didn't seem that great. I didn't see anyone use it to get boats or kayaks in the water-only people carrying their kayaks.
We loved it here and really lucked out on our spot.
TravelerCampsite marker said full but we drove in anyways and wete able to find one lucky open spot! Got a beautiful view of the lake and easy water refill/trash stop!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Alder Springs, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Alder Springs, OR is Jefferson County Fairgrounds RV Park with a 4.8-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Alder Springs, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 equestrian camping locations near Alder Springs, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
