Cinder Hill Campground, near La Pine, Oregon, is a solid choice for those looking to enjoy the beauty of East Lake and the surrounding [Deschutes National Forest](https://thedyrt.com/camping/oregon/near/deschutes-national-forest). With a variety of sites, some right on the water, it’s a great spot for fishing, kayaking, and soaking up the sun on the beach.

The campground offers basic amenities like drinking water and pit toilets, and while there are no electric hookups, the natural setting more than makes up for it. Many visitors appreciate the close proximity to the East Lake Resort for food and supplies, and the hiking trails that start right from the campground provide plenty of opportunities to explore the area. One camper noted, “The lake is wonderful! The water was crystal clear and a comfortable temperature for a post-hike swim.”

While some sites are more spacious and private than others, you can find a good spot if you take your time. The campground can get busy, especially during peak season, but the stunning views and access to outdoor activities keep campers coming back. Just be prepared for some bugs and bring your own firewood for those cozy campfire evenings. Whether you're here for a quick getaway or a longer stay, Cinder Hill Campground has a lot to offer for a memorable outdoor experience.

## Overview

 Cinder Hill Campground sits at the edge of beautiful East Lake in the caldera of Newberry Volcano. The area is part of the Newberry National Monument in Deschutes National Forest. The area is popular for its geological significance and multitude of recreational activities, making it an ideal individual and family camping excursion. [For more information about the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=66159][1] 
## Recreation

 Visitors can take advantage of boating, kayaking, swimming and fishing on East Lake. A boat ramp is located in the campground, and the lake has a 10 mph speed limit. For anglers, the lake provides the perfect setting to fish from boat or the shoreline. It supports rainbow trout, brown trout and Kokanee salmon. In September, the outlet of adjacent Paulina Lake may be choked with Kokanee moving to spawn in Paulina Creek. The Crater Rim Trail, considered one of the finest high country trails in the area, boasts vast stretches of forest, deserts and mountains. The trail has many access points and connectors to other trails.
## Natural Features

 East Lake is located within the collapsed crater, or caldera of Newberry Volcano. Nearly five miles in diameter, the caldera encircles the basins of East Lake and Paulina Lake. East Lake covers 1,044 acres and is 180 feet at its deepest point. Paulina Creek flows from the lake and has chiseled a narrow gorge through the caldera's west wall creating a remarkable twin waterfall. Thermal vents and hot springs along the lake's northeast edge help create a highly productive ecosystem. The surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams and diverse forests support a variety of wildlife, including black bear, bighorn sheep, deer, native fish and migratory birds. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Big Obsidian Flow Trail offers a 1-mile interpretive trail that climbs up and onto this impressive lava flow of obsidian (black volcanic glass) and pumice. The Big Obsidian Flow is 1300 years old, the youngest lava flow in Oregon. 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 educational programs and exhibits. Lava River Cave, also located in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, is nearly a mile long. The northwest section of the cave is the longest continuous lava tube in Oregon. A nearby resort, operating under a special use permit from the Deschutes National Forest offers visitors lodging, last minute essentials and boat rentals. 
## Contact Info

 For facility specific information, please call (541) 323-1746.
## 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. 

[1]: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=66159

Cinder Hill Campground

Searching for the best camping near La Pine, OR? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—La Pine is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near La Pine and user-submitted reviews.

La Pine

The Best Camping Near La Pine, Oregon

Dang, Paulina and East Lakes are beautiful. Walk out to the lake on a clear, dark night for the most beautiful view of the stars you've ever seen. We loved our time here. Some great hikes start from this area, and the lake is great for water activities. Make sure to check out the hot springs along the shore of Paulina Lake. Oh, and it IS pronounced Paul-I-Nuh. I'd heard that and Paul-eeh-nuh. And turns out the first is correct. 

Pretty crowded on 4th of July, but beautiful

My wife and I went camping here with some friends in the summer of 2017\. The site we stayed at (number unknown) was clean and there was easy access to a water pump and bathrooms (actual plumbing). The East lake and Paulina lake area have some good trails to hike and ride horses on that are well-used and matched the maps that we downloaded. If you hike them, bring lots of water since it's a dry area and there are not a lot of streams to refill and filter water from. Also bring plenty of sunscreen since the forest canopy is not very thick.

The lake is wonderful! The water was crystal clear and a comfortable temperature for a post-hike swim. Be sure to wear sandals on the beach since it is made up of coarse volcanic rock. You can walk barefoot, but you sure as heck won't be recreating any Top Gun volleyball scenes. If you're using inflatable furniture on the beach, I recommend putting down a tarp to protect from any sharp edges.

Great lake, great trails!

Gets cold at night but perfect during the day.

Quiet, great location, lots of things to do daily.

Beautiful campground location on the shores of East Lake. Many campsites available along the shoreline with gorgeous views. Other spots are less exciting but still close to walk down to the busy and popular beach.  

  

Flush toilets. Boat launch available. If you aren’t along the shoreline, many of the spots are not that secluded. As it is the end of the road, you're more often able to find available camp sites, though you are further from Paulina Lake lodge, the visitor center, and other park amenities.

Beautiful campground location on the shores of East Lake

Beautiful campground. No utilities. Lake and sky gorgeous. Boats max 10 mph so everyone can enjoy. 

Beautiful 

Really nice big Campground with bathrooms and water.  

We were at campsite 59 which was full of ants (the camp host said that one was one of the worst and the people before us who had severe allergies had to leave).  Also in front of a mini trail to the lake so lots of people walking through our site.  Also had to walk all of our stuff in as the parking lot is right there but a bit down (Which I prefer but people with ADA issues may want to be aware). Overall more of an RV park but a nice place.

Massive Campground right on the lake

Nice campground on East Lake. Stayed here for a night in August, and it was very pleasant.  Having the East Lake resort and store close by is a nice amenity, as we were able to pop over to pick up some food and essentials. Of course there are a bazillion hikes and things to do in the area, so all around this is a well rounded camping option.

Great central Oregon option

At the end of the road, after passing several other campgrounds, RV parks and cabins, you'll come to Cinder Hill campground. Quite a few spots, so if you've tried to get something at East Lake campground or another nearby and it's booked up, this may be your best bet.  

  

In general, a nice campground with lake access and a beach and bathrooms. The main thing to know about this one in particular is that there are some really nice spots and some that are way less nice. As you're approaching the campground, for example, there's quite a few very tiny spots that are right on the road with no privacy at all. Others closer to the lake are huge with semi-direct access to the beach. Some are super deep with lots of room but no easy access to water, others are on weird slopes but with great views.

  

Overall, if you can, take your time and you may find a really nice spot. Or at a minimum, a place to lay your head if others are booked.

End of the road with a nice little beach

A lot of people really love this campground and I had high hopes, but I was disappointed.  This campground is right on East Lake at Newberry National Volcanic Monument.  It's fairly long and narrow with quite a few sites, some right on the water.  No sites have utilities and the bathrooms were old, fairly dirty pit toilets (except one which had two flush toilets).  

  

The first issue I had with this campground was that the sites are fairly closely packed.  You can see in the photos below that there was little privacy.  The second issue I had was the bathrooms were old, rundown and quite smelly.  The worse issue though was the bugs.  They were horrible.  I'm willing to concede they probably are not all year, but our 4 days were not good.

  

**Pros:**

\* Lake access with fishing, kayaking, etc...

\* Close to the East Lake Resort if you want a bite to eat out

\* Hiking trails leave right from the campground

  

**Cons:**

\* Bathrooms

\* Insects (at least seasonally)

\* Little to no privacy

  

**OK:**

\* The lake was not pristine, it looks like its been invaded by non native grasses and algae

Photos of Cinder Hill Campground

Real photos from real campers