Crane Prairie Campground

Crane Prairie Reservoir is renowned as one of Oregon's best wildlife watching sites. Located just over 40 miles southwest of Bend, this beautiful man-made lake attracts an astounding variety of nesting and migratory birds.

However, it also boasts a number of outdoor activities and attractions, and as part of Deschutes National Forest, plenty of pristine natural scenery. If you want to explore the best the reservoir has to offer, Crane Prairie Campground is the ideal base.

Situated on the reservoir's eastern shore near the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, this scenic campground provides easy access to excellent fishing, boating, and swimming. Fish cleaning stations and a boat ramp are available within the campground.

If you want to go exploring on foot, there are numerous hiking trails to explore in and around the area. Wildlife lovers could catch a glimpse of sandhill cranes, bald eagles, deer, beaver, and maybe even a black bear, while nature lovers will enjoy catching sight of South Sister and Mt. Bachelor on the horizon.

With more than 140 sites that can accommodate tents or RVs, this is quite a large campground and generally the busiest of all Crane Prairie Reservoir campgrounds. Campsites start at $16 a night but do not offer electric hookups. However, all sites have their own tables and campfire rings with grills, while vault toilets and drinking water are also provided.

While there are no showers provided in the campground, showers can be accessed in the nearby Crane Prairie Resort (which boasts its own RV campground).

If camping with your pet, you'll need to make sure to pick up after your furry friend and ensure that they're well-behaved. Your pooch will also need to be kept on a leash at all times.

If you can be a responsible owner for the duration of your stay, there's nothing to stop you enjoying this popular Oregon campground with your canine pal!