How much does camping cost at Cinder Hill Campground?

Camping fees at Cinder Hill Campground range from $27-$29/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Book online to see exact pricing for your dates.

Is Cinder Hill Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Cinder Hill Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Cinder Hill Campground before I book?

Yes! Cinder Hill Campground has 8 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

What is the best time to visit Cinder Hill Campground?

Cinder Hill Campground is open June 12 to October 16. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Cinder Hill Campground?

Yes, Cinder Hill Campground has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

How many campsites does Cinder Hill Campground have?

Cinder Hill Campground has 106 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Cinder Hill Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Cinder Hill Campground. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Cinder Hill Campground?

Cinder Hill Campground offers: Restrooms, Showers, Potable Water, Pets Allowed. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Cinder Hill Campground?

Popular activities at Cinder Hill Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Biking, Boating. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Cinder Hill Campground

3.72

212 reviews

Summer Destination

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

6,430 ft

Price

$27 - $29/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

106 campsites

Season

Open: June 13, 2025....

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

RV FriendlyShowers

Book on Deschutes National Forest Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

6,430 ft

Price

$27 - $29/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

106 campsites

Season

Open: June 13, 2025....

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

RV FriendlyShowers

Book on Deschutes National Forest Official Website

Get Directions

Cinder Hill Campground

$27.00 - $29.00 / night

Campsite Fees

STANDARD NONELECTRIC: $27.00 (+$2.00 holiday); Standard Site: $27.00 (+$2.00 holiday). Plus Recreation.gov reservation transaction fee ($8 online /...

No paid fee categories listed.

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans

256,000+ sites monitored · Email, SMS, or in-app notifications

Learn more about alerts →

Share this campground

Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

541-383-5300

I manage this campground

Been here recently?

Campers like you keep our info accurate. Fix a detail in under 30 seconds.

Plan a trip to Cinder Hill Campground

Compare with similar sites, watch availability, and build a packing list — Camp Sage handles all of it.

Campground Map

Cinder Hill Campground

43.7369, -121.2003

Nearby places

Bend: 23 miles south

La Pine: 5 miles north.

Weather at Cinder Hill Campground

Best Time to Camp at Cinder Hill Campground

Best season: summer. Summer offers the best blend of warm, dry days and cool mountain evenings — expect daytime highs around 65–80°F and nighttime lows 35–50°F at 6,430 ft. This is peak boating, swimming, kayaking, and trout/kokanee fishing on East Lake, and the Rim Trail and volcanic features are fully accessible. Campground services are open (June 13–Sept 27) and while weekends can be busy, weekday visits feel uncrowded and perfect for stargazing and extended hikes. Peak months: July, August, September, June Avoid: October, November, December, January

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Open June–Sept; warm days, many activities (fishing, boating, hiking), but busy and algae issues late summer.

Planning Tips

Peak Season: June 12 to October 16. Book 2-3 months ahead.
Operating Season: Open: June 13, 2025. Peak season ends September 27, 2025. Closed thereafter with no bookings until June next year.

About Cinder Hill Campground

Cinder Hill Campground sits on the shore of East Lake in Deschutes National Forest at 6,430 feet elevation. Managed by the Forest Service, this large campground offers tent and RV sites with flush toilets, showers, and potable water during the summer season. Visitors fish for trout and kokanee, boat and kayak the lake, and hike the Rim Trail to explore volcanic features in the surrounding Newberry National Volcanic Monument.

Cinder Hill Campground offers a mixture of camping options suitable for trailers, tents, and group camping.

Weather and SeasonsBest season: summer. Summer offers the best blend of warm, dry days and cool mountain evenings — expect daytime highs around 65–80°F and nighttime lows 35–50°F at 6,430 ft. This is peak boating, swimming, kayaking, and trout/kokanee fishing on East Lake, and the Rim Trail and volcanic features are fully accessible. Campground services are open (June 13–Sept 27) and while weekends can be busy, weekday visits feel uncrowded and perfect for stargazing and extended hikes. Peak months: July, August, September, June Avoid: October, November, December, January

Elevation6430 ft above sea level

Natural Features and SceneryEast Lake fills the volcanic caldera with cold, clear water that draws trophy trout and kokanee salmon. The campground is heavily forested in spots, providing shade and privacy at sites like #16. Beyond the lake, thermal vents release steam and hot springs bubble up from the volcanic geology. Wildlife includes black bears, eagles, and migratory birds along the shoreline. Paulina Creek cuts through lava flows downstream from the caldera, creating waterfalls in a forested gorge.

Lodging & AccommodationsThere is no hotel-style lodge within the park, but a nearby resort offers lodging options under a special use permit.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Stay Limit

Maximum stay is 14 consecutive nights in one visit
28 nights total yearly reservation limit.

Guests Allowed Per Site

Only one RV with tow vehicle per single site or one vehicle per tent site. Most single sites can allow an additional car for a nightly fee.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsReservations available on Recreation.gov.

AccessibilityThe campground includes features like paved parking, but user reviews suggest limited accessibility, with complaints about the distance to restrooms and lack of clear paths.

Site SizeCampsites are described as spacious by many users, with multiple reports stating they can accommodate larger groups or several tents. For example, campsite #53 was noted to have room for 'plenty of tents' (Rebecca D, July 2021).

PrivacyPrivacy varies, with some sites offering good separation and others described as less private. For instance, 'Site #16 was wonderful! Nice separation/privacy and heavily forested spot' (Kim E, July 2023).

Total Campsites106 campsites

Recommended SitesAvoid sloped terrains unshaded layouts proximity vehicular traffic noise-generating FF disruptions remarks advocate diligent FF coordination promoting smoother equitable fair systemizing beforehand avoiding conflicts chaos unforeseen.

Best CampsitesSite #16 offers good separation and heavy forest cover. Campsite #53 has room for multiple tents. Reviews suggest choosing sites with natural wind barriers to block generator noise and checking for proximity to restrooms, which are often poorly maintained.

Need help booking Cinder Hill Campground?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

Recreation.gov Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Cinder Hill Campground offers a wide range of amenities suitable for both tent and RV campers. The campground provides picnic tables and campfire rings with grills at each site. Flush toilets and drinking water are available, although user reviews consistently report issues with bathroom maintenance, and there are mixed reports on flush toilets being operational. A boat ramp is located within the campground for easy lake access, but there are complaints about the condition of restrooms near the ramp.

Showers

Potable water

Flush toilets

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

Cinder Hill Campground provides a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. The area is also well-suited for kayaking and paddleboarding.

Hiking

Fishing

Biking

Boating

Winter Activities

Water Sports

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

3.7

212 reviews

Mixed Reviews

Cinder Hill Campground has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews

User reviews for Cinder Hill Campground are highly polarized. Positive sentiments highlight the beautiful natural setting, variety of activities, and spacious sites. However, negative feedback frequently focuses on poor maintenance of restrooms, inconsistency in host presence, and generator noise.

Review Summaries

Based on 212 reviews

Best sites at a glance

Pulled from per-site mentions in 212 reviews.

Site #16Loved
Site #16 is described as spacious with good privacy.
Site #57Mentioned
Site #57 is close to the boat ramp but avoids lake breeze, making it quieter.
Site #33Issues noted
Site #33 is noted for its proximity to the lake but has issues with glass and ants.

What Campers Love

The campground is praised for its scenic location next to East Lake, large and spacious campsites, and proximity to recreational activities such as hiking and fishing. 'Beautiful setting! Restrooms...

Based on 212 reviews

Common Concerns

Common complaints include poorly maintained restroom facilities, noisy campers ignoring quiet hours, and issues with reservation management. For example, 'The restrooms were filthy and very run down'...

Based on 212 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Bring your own firewood, bug spray, and cleaning supplies for picnic tables and fire rings, as these are often left in poor condition. Campers also recommend choosing sites with natural wind barriers...

Based on 212 reviews

Seasonal Insights

Spring and early summer bring cool temperatures, and some amenities may be unavailable early in the season. Late summer sees warmer weather but can also bring algae blooms in the lake and generator...

Based on 212 reviews

Camper Quotes

'Showers were clutch. Bring quarters!' (Elliott O, February 2023); 'Campsite was very sloped dirt, picnic table needed maintenance' (Mike K, August 2021); 'Great location, space size, and privacy'...

Based on 212 reviews

Accessibility Features

Reviews highlight the difficulty of accessing restrooms for those with disabilities, with complaints about distance and unclear pathways.

Based on 212 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

Pets are allowed, but several reviews note issues with off-leash dogs and dog waste left around the campground.

Based on 212 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.

Go if

You want spacious lakeside sites with fishing, boating, and hiking access to volcanic trails.

Skip if

You expect well-maintained facilities or a quiet atmosphere on summer weekends.

Nearby Campgrounds

Deschutes National Forest

East Lake Campground sits in the Deschutes National Forest at mid-elevation, operated by the US Forest Service with a 14-day stay limit. The campground offers tent and RV sites with flush toilets, showers, potable water, and fire rings. Reviewers praise clean sites, helpful hosts, and scenic lake views, though infrastructure issues and generator noise can detract from the experience.

Cinder Hill Campground

Real-Time Availability

Quick Facts

Real-Time Availability

Quick Facts

Get Notified When Available

Plan a trip to Cinder Hill Campground

Campground Map

Weather at Cinder Hill Campground

Best Time to Camp at Cinder Hill Campground

Planning Tips

About Cinder Hill Campground

Best Campsites

Reserving a campsite

Need help booking Cinder Hill Campground?

Amenities available

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

Policies & Safety

Trip Planning Tools

Reviews

What Campers Love

Common Concerns

Go if

Skip if

Overview

About the campground

Seasons & access

Facilities

Water activities

RV information

Directions

Plan a trip to Cinder Hill Campground

Best Time to Camp at Cinder Hill Campground

Planning Tips

Best Campsites

Reserving a campsite

Need help booking Cinder Hill Campground?

Amenities available

Activities you can enjoy

Policies & Safety

Trip Planning Tools

Reviews

What Campers Love

Common Concerns