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Nature
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Water
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Activities
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Facilities

Established Camping

Little Lava Lake

Little Lava Lake, near Bend, Oregon, is a charming spot for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle. This campground offers a peaceful atmosphere with well-spaced sites, making it a great choice for families and friends wanting to unwind in nature.

The lake is a highlight here, perfect for paddleboarding and kayaking, with stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Visitors have enjoyed the tranquility, often finding themselves with the water to themselves, especially during sunset when the reflections are simply breathtaking. As one camper noted, “Before sunsets were the best with mirror-like reflections and great views.”

While the amenities are basic, with vault toilets and no electric hookups, the campground is pet-friendly and allows campfires, which adds to the cozy vibe. Many campers appreciate the clean environment and the chance to connect with wildlife, making it a great spot for nature lovers.

If you're up for some adventure, there are hiking trails nearby, and a short drive will take you to a lodge market for any supplies you might need. Just keep in mind that the campground is small, so it’s wise to arrive early to snag a good spot. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Little Lava Lake is a solid choice for a laid-back camping experience.

Description

National Forest

Deschutes National Forest

Overview

Little Lava Lake Campground is located along the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway in the Central Oregon Cascades.

Recreation

Little Lava Lake Campground provides recreation opportunities for fishing, paddling, swimming and hiking. For anglers, the 130-acre Little Lava Lake offers a quiet alternative to its larger neighbor to the north, Lava Lake. Reaching a maximum depth of 20 feet, the lake supports planted Rainbow trout, some Brook trout, and self-sustaining populations of Whitefish and Tui Chub. Bait, lures, flies, still fishing and trolling are all acceptable angling methods.

Natural Features

Little Lava Lake is located on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountain Range at an elevation of 4,740 feet. The small lake is surrounded by mature pine forests with bull rushes and lava outcroppings lining its shores.

Nearby Attractions

Visitors can explore wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, lakes and reservoirs and approximately 1,600 miles of trails within the Deschutes National Forest.Lava Lands Visitor Center in nearby Bend, Oregon, and the unique geological landscape of Newberry National Volcanic Monument draw visitors to the region as well.Visitors will also enjoy traveling the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway which climbs into the Cascades over a 66-mile drive through snow-capped peaks and alongside alpine lakes.A nearby resort on Lava Lake offers lodging and a limited selection of groceries.

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.

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Location

Little Lava Lake is located in Oregon

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Bend, travel 38.4 miles southwest on Cascade Lakes Hwy (46), then 0.7 miles east on Forest Road 4600 500, and then 0.4 miles east on Forest Road 4600 520.

Address

63095 DESCHUTES MARKET ROAD
Bend, OR 97701

Coordinates

43.9101167 N
121.7616972 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

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

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

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

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

Reviews

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28%
46%
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4.0

out of 5

11 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 27, 2022

Dreamy Setting

Two nights in a truck camper on #8 spot and it was fairly level and well spaced from others. Short dirt road to get there was rough but no overhead branches or too narrow passes. My time there was mainly spent paddleboarding and it was excellent. Most of the time having the lake to myself. A few steps onto the road from site and I could see when the water was calm. Before sunsets were the best with mirror like reflections and great views. The water was cloudy green algae like and never saw a fish jump so I passed on the fishing or swimming.

This campground was much more peaceful and much less congested than the main Lava Lake campground or the private campground next to it.

Reviewed Apr. 28, 2021

turned into family tradition

started camping at little lava lake when I was a kid with the family every summer and still do as an adult with my own family. place is absolutely gorgeous, there's hiking trails, fishing, and great people there's a lodge market at lava lake not to far away pet friendly and bathrooms tent camping or rv

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Aug. 25, 2020

Nice Campground but River absent. Site#8 was awful.

Made reservation early and still seemed that it wasn't the one I picked.  River wasn't flowing from Lake due to drought.  Site#8 was at the fork in the road and dust was near unbearable,  no shade till evening. I've camped here for 10 years and it's not the same since Forest Service has taken over.

Reviewed Jul. 31, 2020

Small

This is a very small campground. The lake is beautiful though...when you drive in, you have to turn around in the boat launch area and go the single lane back out...fyi

Reviewed Jul. 6, 2020

Fun, out of the way, and with killer views

This was a really fun, small, out of the way campground. Pretty basic amenities (vault toilets, beaten up boat ramp) and generously sized and well-spaced campsites. The lake is gorgeous and the views of Bachelor, Broken Top and South Sister are excellent.

Site14
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Little Lava Lake by Jarod C., July 6, 2020
Reviewed Nov. 5, 2019

Nice

A few sites with Lake or River views. Quieter than Lava Lake.

Reviewed Aug. 23, 2019

Perfect low key family lake

We bring our beginner kayakers and SUP paddlers here to get use to navigating. You can see the entire lake from every location. There’s a cute beaver family on the far side and the hike around the lake it’s amazing.

Reviewed Aug. 11, 2019

Awsome hidden cg

This is a great small cg on little lava with a great connecting hike over to big lava where there is a camp store at the rv park very quiet and if you are lucky enough to get a site near the water it is filled with wild life

Reviewed May. 30, 2019

Small beauty

No electric and no water at sites. Drinking water faucet available.(one was broke when we were there) Propane, gas, showers, laundry, and store at Lava lake resort. (a short distance-you can walk a trail to resort if you choose to.) Slow cell service in area. Great Lake for kayaking! Views of the South Sister, Broken Top, and Mt Bachler. 12

  • Review photo of Little Lava Lake by Brandie W., May 30, 2019
  • Review photo of Little Lava Lake by Brandie W., May 30, 2019
  • Review photo of Little Lava Lake by Brandie W., May 30, 2019
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Jun. 15, 2017

Our summer launch pad

Nice shady camp sites right along the headwaters of the Deschutes river. Walking distance to the lake and plenty of fishing holes all around. Little lava lake is a no wake lake, so it is perfect for Kayaking, SUP, and the like.

Site9 but the loop by the river is the best.
Month of VisitAugust

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at Little Lava Lake?

    Camping at Little Lava Lake can cost between $27.00 and $58.00 depending on the site.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Little Lava Lake?

    Little Lava Lake allows vehicles up to 40 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Little Lava Lake?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Little Lava Lake, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Little Lava Lake have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Little Lava Lake does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Little Lava Lake?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is available.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Little Lava Lake?

    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 Little Lava Lake. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Little Lava Lake, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Little Lava Lake?

    There are 16 campsites at Little Lava Lake and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts