How much does camping cost at Cinder Hill Campground?

Camping fees at Cinder Hill Campground range from $27/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 13 to September 27, 2025.. 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, Swimming, Biking, Boating, Wildlife Viewing, Beach Activities. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Cinder Hill Campground

Q: Can I have a campfire at Cinder Hill Campground?

Fire policies at Cinder Hill Campground: Strict fire-related guidelines subject seasonal variations preventing environmental forest hazards affecting surrounding residents camping populations accordingly necessity always following.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

3.72

212 reviews

Summer Destination

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

6,430 ft

Price

$27/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

106 campsites

Season

Open: June 13, 2025....

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

RV FriendlyShowers

Book on Deschutes National Forest Set up a cancellation alert Official Website

Get Directions

Cinder Hill Campground is a popular campground. Set up a free alert to catch cancellations.

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

6,430 ft

Price

$27/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

106 campsites

Season

Open: June 13, 2025....

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

RV FriendlyShowers

Book on Deschutes National Forest Set up a cancellation alert Official Website

Get Directions

Cinder Hill Campground

$27.00 - $27.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Standard Nonelectric campsites are charged at $27 per night during Peak Season (June 13 to September 27, 2025). Adds a $2 holiday surcharge. Lower...

Standard Site Fee$27.00

Hookup Site Fee$0.00

Premium Site Fee$0.00

Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00

Group Site Fee$0.00

Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

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Provider

541-383-5300

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What Campers Say

3.72

Mixed Reviews

Based on 212 reviews

1 Google reviews

Most mentioned

restroomsspaciouslocationhiking

Some mention

noise

"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."

Read all reviews

Campground Map

Cinder Hill Campground

43.7369, -121.2003

Nearby places

Bend: 23 miles south

La Pine: 5 miles north.

Nearby supplies

Supplies available at a nearby resort (offering essentials, lodging, and boat rentals).

Driving directionsFrom Bend, travel 23 miles south on Highway 97 to County Road 21 (Paulina Lake Road). Turn onto County Road 21 and go about 17 miles east. Take Forest Road 300 north for 0.5 miles. From La Pine, go 5 miles north on Highway 97 to County Road 21 (Paulina Lake Road). Take County Road 21 east about 17 miles. Take Forest Road 300 north for 0.5 miles.

Accessible by paved roads from Highway 97 and County Road 21. The last stretch, Forest Road 300, involves half a mile of driving, but challenges such as narrow paths may exist especially for large trailers.

Best Time to Camp at Cinder Hill Campground

Summer delivers warm, dry days with highs between 65–80°F and cool nights dropping to 35–50°F at elevation. The campground operates June 13 through September 27, with weekends busy and weekdays quieter. This is prime time for boating, swimming, fishing, and hiking when the Rim Trail and volcanic features are fully accessible. Spring and fall bring cooler temperatures and occasional rain. Winter buries the area in snow and closes access.

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 13 to September 27, 2025.. 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.
Current Alerts: A restricted generator use policy is in affect for sites 52 - 110 at Cinder Hill Campground to enhance visitor experience opportunities. Generators may only operate between the hours of 10 a.m. and noon and the hours of 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily.

About Cinder Hill Campground

Cinder Hill Campground sits inside the caldera of Newberry Volcano at 6,430 feet, where 106 sites overlook East Lake and access volcanic features like hot springs and thermal vents. The campground runs $27/night with flush toilets, showers, and boat access for fishing, swimming, and hiking the Rim Trail. Reviews are polarized: visitors praise the spacious sites and lake setting but consistently report poor restroom maintenance, generator noise, and inconsistent host presence.

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

Weather and SeasonsSummer delivers warm, dry days with highs between 65–80°F and cool nights dropping to 35–50°F at elevation. The campground operates June 13 through September 27, with weekends busy and weekdays quieter. This is prime time for boating, swimming, fishing, and hiking when the Rim Trail and volcanic features are fully accessible. Spring and fall bring cooler temperatures and occasional rain. Winter buries the area in snow and closes access.

ElevationPerched high in Oregon's Cascade Range, the campground sits at an elevation where pure mountain air mingles with the fresh scent of pine forests. This elevated setting within the Northwest's volcanic highlands creates a refreshing retreat where visitors naturally adjust to the crisp, clean atmosphere while enjoying the calming presence of East Lake's pristine waters spread across the ancient caldera floor.

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.

Geological RegionLocated in the caldera of Newberry Volcano within Newberry National Volcanic Monument in Deschutes National Forest. The caldera features thermal vents, hot springs, diverse forests, and wildlife.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Check-in

Afternoon

Check-out

Following noon

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

Site layoutThe campground is organized in loops with variable spacing. Some sites provide good privacy and forest separation, while others sit closer together with less screening.

Reservation PlatformsReservations available on Recreation.gov.

Walk-in AvailabilityNumber of first-come-first-served sites present after Peak Season; rules prohibit disturbances such as staking out prematurely occupied FF spaces before clearance.

Cancellation PolicyReservations canceled before scheduled arrival dates get refunds minus a $10 fee and reservation fee. Late cancellations subtract the first night's fees in addition. Changes within deadlines incur $10 charges for rearranging stay periods.

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.

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

Showers

Potable water

Flush toilets

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

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

Swimming

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsWildlife including bears may pose potential threats; enforced rules around food storage critical minimizing predator encounters.

Active AlertsA restricted generator use policy is in affect for sites 52 - 110 at Cinder Hill Campground to enhance visitor experience opportunities. Generators may only operate between the hours of 10 a.m. and noon and the hours of 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily.

Fire PolicyStrict fire-related guidelines subject seasonal variations preventing environmental forest hazards affecting surrounding residents camping populations accordingly necessity always following.

Quiet HoursQuiet hours are Schedule designed limited generator noise-respective zones typically mornings evenings reinforce balance maintaining unhindered nature meditation safety populations.

Emergency ServicesEmergency services at Lava Lands Visitor Center in Bend, Oregon; Hospital and police stations expected there.

Trash & RecyclingTrash and recycling facilities are available, but reviews indicate overflowing garbage cans are a frequent issue. 'Garbage cans were overflowing' (Brian A, July 2020).

Water FeaturesDirectly near East Lake shores reachable within walking distance boating fishing kayaking access points interconnected Paulina Creek water bodies.

Camp HostReported mixed reviews regarding hosts ranging friendly approachable contrasting unattentive rude dismissive unaccommodating instances interpersonal engagements.

Weather at Cinder Hill Campground

Trip Planning Tools

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

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

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

Site-Specific Reviews

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

Based on 212 reviews