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Paulina Lake Campground

FSU.S. Forest Service — Oregon · Deschutes National Forest

AgencyFSU.S. Forest Service
AreaDeschutes National Forest
LocationOregon · Deschutes National Forest · 43.71194, -121.27611 · Map
Sites66 public sites counted from the federal listing — 66 standard nonelectric
Getting a siteReservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below.
HookupsElectric at 0 of 66 sites
Water hookups at 0 of 66 sites
Sewer hookups at 0 of 66 sites
Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 66 sites
Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way.
Max RV lengthLongest reported site fits 90 ft
Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 65 sites · 30 ft: 62 sites · 35 ft: 57 sites · 40 ft: 43 sites
Months openNot in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov.
FeesNot reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground.
Check-in / outIn 2:00 PM · Out 12:00 PM (most common in the listing)
PetsAllowed at 67 sites, as reported
Accessible sites2 marked accessible in the listing
AccessibilityN
Phone541-383-5300

Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →

This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-06-12.

From the official listing

Overview Paulina Lake Campground is located 6,350 ft. above sea level in the caldera of Newberry Volcano, on the edge of the beautiful Paulina Lake. Conveniently located within Newberry National Monument, visitors to this area are taken aback by the incredible views this has to offer, highlighting volcanic landscapes intermixed with diverse forests, typical of central Oregon.

Popular for both its geological significance and multitude of recreational activities, Paulina Lake Campground is ideal for individual and family camping excursions.

For more information about the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=66159  

Recreation The unique location of Paulina Lake Campground offers visitors opportunities to hike shoreline trails and alpine vistas.

Visitors can also take advantage of time on the lake, boating, kayaking and fishing.

For anglers, this lake offers fantastic fishing opportunities. Spanning a surface area of 1,531 acres, the lake supports rainbow trout, brown trout and Kokanee salmon.

In September, the outlet of Paulina Lake may be choked with Kokanee moving to spawn in Paulina Creek.

Facilities Paulina Lake campground has excellent sites for all forms of camping and plenty of large sites for RVs.

Picnic areas, boating, shoreline trails, and stunning views of the lake, along with the conveniences of drinking water and flush toilets, give visitors the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while still having many of the conveniences of home. Natural Features Paulina Lake is located within the collapsed crater, or "caldera" of Newberry Volcano. Nearly five miles in diameter, this caldera encircles the basins of Paulina Lake, and its twin, East Lake.

Neither lake receives water from an inlet stream, but instead, rely on rain, snowmelt and hot springs for water. Paulina Creek drains 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.

Wetlands, diverse forests, and rocky slopes near the campground provide a necessary habitat for shorebirds, porcupine, deer, bats and the occasional black bear. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (541) 323-1746. Nearby Attractions 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 (1,588 m) in length, the northwest section of the cave is the longest continuous lava tube in Oregon.

A rustic lodge near the campground, operating under a special use permit from the Deschutes National Forest, offers visitors lodging, last minute essentials and a cafe.

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.

Directions, from the listing

From Bend go south 23.5 miles on Hwy 97 to Road 21 (Paulina Lake Road). Take Road 21 east for about 12.9 miles.

From La Pine go north 5 miles on Hwy 97 to Road 21 (Paulina Lake Road). Take Road 21 east for about 12.9 miles.

Nearest federal campgrounds

FSU.S. Forest ServiceNewberry Group Camp Site
1 mi straight-line · Oregon
FSU.S. Forest ServiceChief Paulina Horse Camp
1 mi straight-line · Oregon
FSU.S. Forest ServiceLittle Crater Campground
2 mi straight-line · Oregon
FSU.S. Forest ServiceEast Lake Campground
3 mi straight-line · Oregon
FSU.S. Forest ServiceCinder Hill Campground
4 mi straight-line · Oregon

Trip Card — Paulina Lake Campground

Oregon · Deschutes National Forest

AgencyFS · U.S. Forest Service
LocationOregon · Deschutes National Forest
FeesNot reported in the federal data
Getting a siteReservable
HookupsNone reported
Max RVUp to 90 ft
Months openNot in federal data
Sites66 sites

Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233196 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.