Lower Crooked River - BLM

Along the Chimney Rock segment of Central Oregon's Crooked Wild and Scenic River, Chimney Rock campground offers a relaxing woodland setting amongst Western Juniper trees and beneath massive Columbia River rock formations. Fly-fishing and hiking on the nearby Chimney Rock trail offer day-long recreational fun. Enjoy plenty of easy river access along the adjacent Crooked River Back Country Byway, State Highway 27. ## Know Before You Go: * Chimney Rock Campground is open year-round and is equipped with 16 campsites and vault toilets. No reservations are accepted; site is first-come, first-served only. * Water is available in the campground and an accessible fishing platform is located near the campground entrance. * When recreating on public lands, practice Leave-No-Trace Principles. * Don't Move Firewood: Please protect Pacific Northwest forests by preventing the spread of invasive species. Firewood can carry insects and diseases that can threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by obtaining and burning your firewood near your camping destination. ## Point of Interest: Check out the campground's namesake butte located prominently above highway 27 opposite the campground. Access to the trailhead is across the highway at the [Chimney Rock Trailhead](https://www.blm.gov/visit/chimney-rock-trail). For a different view, visitors can ride the 18-mile Crooked River Canyon Scenic Bikeway from Prineville to Big Bend Campground. Designated in 2018, this moderate route takes riders from picturesque farms to towering cliffs.

Chimney Rock Campground

This sprawling 4.4-acre campground offers year-round camping and Crooked Wild and Scenic River access along the Lower Crooked Back Country Byway. Campground facilities include fourteen campsites, some with riverside shading beneath large Ponderosa pine trees. ## Know Before You Go: * Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are accepted. * Potable water is available year-round at the nearby Chimney Rock Campground, one mile north on State HIghway 27. * Cell phone service is not available in the campground. * Watch for bicyclists: the section of State Highway 27 between Prineville and Bowman Dam is designated as the Crooked River Canyon Scenic Bikeway. ## Point of Interest: Situated on a bench above the Chimney Rock section of the Crooked River, Cobble Rock Campground is a popular basecamp for fly fishing enthusiasts.

Cobble Rock Campground

Unlike most of the other campgrounds along the Crooked River, this 14.5-acre campground is set back some from the Lower Crooked Back Country Byway, providing some isolation. Campground facilities include fourteen mostly broad, spacious campsites, vault toilets and an accessible fishing pier. All but one of the campsites are at river level and accessed by a single-lane road. ## Know Before You Go: * Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are accepted. * Potable water is available year-round at the upriver Chimney Rock Campground, 0.8 miles north on State HIghway 27. * Cell phone service is not available in the campground. * Watch for bicyclists: the section of State Highway 27 between Prineville and Bowman Dam is designated as the Crooked River Canyon Scenic Bikeway. ## Point of Interest: The site takes its name from nearby rock outcrops composed of basaltic lava which form the steep, formidable cliff faces across the river from the campground.

Palisades Campground

With views of nearby Chimney Rock, this campground offers year-round camping and Crooked River access along the Lower Crooked Back Country Byway. Campground facilities include seven campsites with excellent access to the Crooked Wild and Scenic River. ## Know Before You Go: * Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are accepted. * Potable water is available year-round at the nearby Chimney Rock Campground, 1.3 miles north on State Highway 27. * Cell phone service is not available in the campground. * Watch for bicyclists: the section of State Highway 27 between Prineville and Bowman Dam is designated as the Crooked River Canyon Scenic Bikeway. ## Point of Interest: The campground takes its name from nearby rock outcrops composed of basaltic lava. As these formations cooled, a multi-sided joint pattern formed which seemingly resulted in the appearance of a pile of posts stacked vertically. The geologic phenomena is known as columnar basalt.

Post Pile Campground

Stillwater Campground offers ten large, partially-shaded campsites along a placid stretch of the Lower Crooked Wild and Scenic River. Some pull-through campsites as well as day-use parking are available in the recreation site. #### Know Before You Go: * Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis; no potable water is available. * Cell phone service is not available in the campground. * When recreating on public lands, practice [ Leave-No-Trace Principles.](https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles) * Watch for bicyclists: the section of road between Prineville and Bowman Dam is a state scenic bikeway #### Point of Interest: The Chimney Rock segment of the Crooked River is characterized by a mostly steady gradient in the wild and scenic segment. Stillwater Campground is situated along one of the quiet locations of flatwater alluding to its name.

Stillwater Campground

This cozy and compact campground offers year-round camping and Crooked Wild and Scenic River access along the Lower Crooked Back Country Byway. Campground facilities include 5 campsites, day-use parking with access to the Crooked Wild and Scenic River. ## Know Before You Go: * Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are accepted. * Potable water is available during the warmer spring and summer months at the nearby Big Bend Campground, 0.9 miles south on State HIghway 27. * Cell phone service is not available in the campground. * Watch for bicyclists: the section of State Highway 27 between Prineville and Bowman Dam is designated as the Crooked River Canyon Scenic Bikeway. ## Point of Interest: Hike the short riverside trail to the single, old growth Ponderosa pine tree, a relative rarity in the Crooked River canyon.

Poison Butte Campground

Centered around a single, sentinel Ponderosa Pine tree, this small campground features six campsites and a group use area. Across the Crooked River, the photogenic Rocky Canyon and it’s vertical rimrock cliffs offer photographers a variety of ever-changing light and depth perspectives. ## Know Before You Go: * Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are accepted. * Potable water is available year-round at Chimney Rock Campground, 1.7 miles miles west (upriver) on State HIghway 27. * Cell phone service is not available in the campground. * Watch for bicyclists: the section of State Highway 27 between Prineville and Bowman Dam is designated as the Crooked River Canyon Scenic Bikeway. ## Point of Interest: Since 2008, reintroduction of Steelhead trout has been underway in the Deschutes River Basin, which includes the wild and scenic Chimney Rock segment of the Crooked River. The success of this reintroduction is in part dependent on stresses placed on this fish. Anglers should keep them in the water and release them immediately; the harvesting of Steelhead in the Crooked River is unlawful.

Lone Pine Campground

Located south of Prineville, Oregon, this campground offers year-round camping and Crooked Wild and Scenic River access along the Lower Crooked Back Country Byway. Cooperatively managed in partnership with the Bureau of Reclamation and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, this campground's facilities include 13 campsites, one group use area and a day-use area with access to the Crooked Wild and Scenic River. ## Know Before You Go: * Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are accepted. * Potable water is available during the warmer spring and summer months. * Cell phone service is not available in the campground. * Watch for bicyclists: the section of State Highway 27 between Prineville and Bowman Dam is designated as the Crooked River Canyon Scenic Bikeway. ## Point of Interest: Looming 240 feet above the campground, the mighty Arthur R. Bowman Dam retains the waters of the 3,030-acre Prineville Reservoir, a popular spot for fishing and other water-based activities. At 1.6 miles away from Big Bend Campground, the boat ramp at Powderhouse Cove provides the nearest reservoir access.

Big Bend Campground

Located south of Prineville, Oregon, this six-site campground offers year-round camping and Crooked River access along the Lower Crooked Back Country Byway. Castle Rock looms above its namesake campground on the Chimney Rock section of the Crooked WIld and Scenic River. An ADA-accessible vault toilet is onsite.

Know Before You Go:


 Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis; no potable water available.

 Cell phone service is not available in the campground.

 Watch for bicyclists: the section of State Highway 27 between Prineville and Bowman dam is a state scenic bikeway

Point of Interest:

 Castle Rock Campground is the first in a series of twelve Bureau of Land Management recreation sites along the Crooked Wild and Scenic River, south of Prineville, Oregon. Eight additional campgrounds, two day-use areas and a trailhead offer ample access to camping, fishing, hiking and photography.

ADA Access: "Vault toilet is accessible."



Castle Rock Campground

Located partway along the Crooked River’s 125-mile journey from the Ochoco Mountains to its confluence with the Deschutes River, the Prineville Reservoir is a vast blue pool filling a colorful canyon of volcanic rock, sagebrush and juniper. The reservoir was created in the 1960s with the construction of the Bowman Dam. The state park was established shortly after to provide campers, anglers and water lovers an opportunity to enjoy the natural area—and a chance to beat Central Oregon’s summer heat. The park lies adjacent to the Prineville Reservoir Wildlife Area, which preserves the habitat of a wide variety of mammals, waterfowl, songbirds and raptors. 

Prineville Reservoir State Park is located just 15 miles south of the town of Prineville, and 50 miles east of Bend. The park’s Main Campground features 67 sites, including full- and partial-hookup RV sites and primitive tent sites. The Jasper Point Campground features 28 partial-hookup sites. Both locations provide drinking water, flush and vault toilets, hot showers, and recycling stations; a dump station is located at the Jasper Point site. There are also a few camping cabins for rent. The park hosts interpretive programs at an outdoor amphitheater, and onsite amenities include sports courts, hiking trails, a dog park, and a fishing pier. The park host sells ice and firewood. Dogs are welcome, but must remain leashed. Seasonal campsites are $21–$33/night; cabins are $89–$99/night; reservations recommended.

For enjoying some on-the-water fun time, boaters can launch watercraft from the ramp at the day-use area, which has plenty of parking for vehicles and trailers. Nearby, sunbathers and swimmers can enjoy some beach time at the designated swim area. Picnic tables are available for packing lunches and refreshments to enjoy by the water. For paddling around the shoreline, kayaks and SUPs can be put in from either the boat launch or the beach. Anglers can cast for trout, catfish, bass and black crappie, then take their catches back and prep them for dinner at the park’s fish cleaning station. Another boat ramp, beach and parking area is located west of the state park at Powder House Cove, near the Bowman Dam.

Prineville Reservoir Campground

Our go to spot for camping all year long!! Amazing views!!

Best place for lots of people to camp and get together!

We stumbled upon this little gem in august right before the eclipse. It was nice and quiet here. The campsites were spread out really good. I imagine the eclipse here was absolutely incredible. I didn't notice a bathroom although there may have been one. This is carry in carry out no amenities.

The best thing about this place is the waterfall, rapids, and cliff jumping. its not a far drive or an awesome hike from the campsite. Steelhead falls is the name of the water falls and cliff jumping spot. Theres shade at the sites, trees for hammocks, and all around beautiful.

Cheers!

Lower Crooked River - BLM

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2022 Explorer Giveaway

Best place for lots of people to camp and get together!

This place rules..the waterfalls and cliff jumping though.

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