04 reviews
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
11 campsites
Season
Tentative Opening: M...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
11 campsites
Season
Tentative Opening: M...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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Lava Camp Lake Campground, Sisters, OR
Tent campers who carry their own water and want a lake-facing site with PCT and Three Sisters Wilderness access a short walk away. The lakeside sites fill fast first-come-first-served, so arrive mid-week. Bring a kayak or canoe for carry-down access.
No potable water is a hard stop for campers who don't want to haul their own supply. The access road is rough and rocky enough to demand a high-clearance vehicle or at least careful, slow driving, and there are no hookups, no showers, and no dump station.
Reference information about Lava Camp Lake Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>Located near the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recarea/?recid=4210">McKenzie Pass</a>, the primitive Lava Camp Lake Campground is pretty spot conveniently located to multiple trails, surrounded by mountain hemlock and lodgepole pine forests. This campground offers access to the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recreation/recarea/?recid=4356">Mt. Washington</a> and <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recarea/?recid=4355">Three Sisters</a> Wildernesses and is near the <a href="https://www.pcta.org/">Pacific Crest Trail</a>.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=71838">Lava Camp Lake Trail</a> enters Wilderness shortly after leaving the trailhead. Wilderness Permits are required for <strong>both </strong>day use and overnight stays from this <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=39204">trailhead</a>. <strong>See "Permit Info" below for more details.</strong></p>
The elevation is 5,300 ft. The campground, in a stand of mixed conifers including hemlock and Lodgepole pine, has the feel and appearance of a wilderness. The two primary features of the campground are the attractive and tranquil Lava Camp Lake and easy access to both Mt. Washington and Three Sisters Wildernesses. The campground, like the access road, is dusty, rough, and rocky, providing a wilderness-like camping experience without having to hike in. Two sites are available at the trailhead for equestrian campers.
Services provided early June through September 1
Lava Camp Lake is 5 acres. Hiking: Lava Camp Lake Trail #4060 (foot and horse) - 1 mile Millican Lake Trail (foot and horse) - 5 miles Trails provide access to Three Sisters Wilderness Fishing: None
Lava Camp Lake is 5 acres.
From Sisters, OR, take State Rt. 242 west 13.9 miles to Lava Camp Lake sign. Turn left onto Forest Rt. 900 (dirt) and go 0.3 miles to campground.
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Summer brings the most reliable access at this elevation. Daytime highs run mid-60s to low-80s°F, with nights dropping into the 30s and 40s. Alpine lakes melt out fully and wildflower meadows peak during summer months. Trails into both wilderness areas are accessible, though nearby trailheads can be busy despite the campground's small size. Winter snow blankets the area. Early fall can bring dustings of snow to higher elevations.
Summer offers most reliable access; services available June–Sept and pleasant daytime temps.
Potable water is not available at this site.
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