Free campgrounds and camping
OREGON CAMPGROUND DIRECTORY
NEWBERRY NATIONAL VOLCANIC MONUMENT
DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST
LATITUDE: N 43°49.707
LONGITUDE: W 121°16.795
(GPS from camp area on Road#9720)
Dispersed and Primitive Camping

Newberry Crater and Paulina Lakes are fee areas.
There are several dispersed and primitive camps
in the National Forest and Public Lands around
Newberry Crater.

PHOTO HERE
Newberry Crater and Volcano

East Lake

East Lake

PHOTO HERE
Paulina Lake
We have seen monster size German Brown
swim up to the shoreline.

Newberry Volcano encompasses 500 square miles.
Paulina Lake was named after the Paiute Indian
Chief Paulina. There were no fish in East Lake or
Paulina Lake when discovered by Peter Ogden
in 1826. The lakes have been stocked and produce
record German Brown Trout.

ROAD#9720
Road#9720 is a rough dirt road with washboards.
Starting on Highway 97 near milepost 153
(Opposite direction from Sun River)
The first 1/2 mile is paved.

Road#9720 / Mountain views from Cinder Pit

Fog covering the valley floor.
Looking west from top of cinder butte
on Road#9720

Fog covering the valley floor. Viewed from
top of the cinder butte on Road#9720

Fog covering the valley floor.
Looking south from top of cinder butte
on Road#9720

The early morning fog viewed from top of the
cinder butte on Road#9720 made for some
great images. Stretching north to south it covered
the length of Hwy.97, from Bend to LaPine,
including Sun River.

Road#9720 / View of Lava Butte from Cinder Pit
If you click on image and enlarge it, there is an old
fire tower on top of Lava Butte. As little kids, we used
to think this was where Santa Clause lived... least that
was what the grandparents had us to believe.

When the pavement ends, there is a cinder pit
You can drive to the top and there is a parking
area with 360 degree views, including several
mountains. You could camp or overnight park.
The cinder pit is also used as a target range.
LATITUDE: N 43°51.874
LONGITUDE: W 121°23.290
(GPS from the cinder pit)

Actual view of the cinder pit from top

View from top of cinder pit

Take Road#9720 for 8 miles and you will
see the junction of Road#950 to the Lava
Cast Forest.

Road#9720 near the Jct. of Road#950

Stay left at the junction of Road#950 for
another 1/2 mile and there are dispersed
camp areas next to the 20' high lava flows.
This road not recommended for RV's.

Camp area on Road#9720
N 43°49.635
W 121°17.224

 
Camp on Road#9720
N 43°49.707
W 121°16.795

Road#9720

We have camped here several times and
never saw another person.

Lava Field

DIRECTIONS (Road#9720)
From Bend, OR
Take Hwy.97 South.
At the Sun River junction, you will see
the sign for the Lava Cast Forest.
Take Road#9720 for 8 miles
At the Jct. of Rd#950, stay left on Rd.#9720
(Road#9720 gets more rough and narrow)
There are camp areas in about 1/2 mile.

FOR PASSENGER CARS
(There are less washboards this direction)
From Bend, OR
Take Hwy.97 South
(Between milepost#148 and #149)
There is a center divider on Hwy.97
and you have to continue about a mile south
and do a u-turn. Heading north / towards
Bend on Hwy.97)
Turn right on Rd#9710
About 8 miles turn on Road#9720
Lava flow and camp areas about 1/2 mile

ROAD CONDITIONS:
Road#9710 is rough with washboards
Road#9720 is dirt and cinder...

MAP
These are our personal hand drawn maps
Not guaranteed for accuracy

Photo taken from ODOT Road Cams
Hwy.97 at Lava Butte
December 22, 2008
It snows in the winter months.

Hwy.97 bridge at Sun River Junction
The construction of this bridge took several years...

Wildflowers at Cinder Pit

Wildflowers at Lava Cast Forest

Road to top of cinder pit on Road#9720

Chipmunk on Road#9720

WILDLIFE:
We saw what appeared to be a weasel or ferret.
It had short, tan colored hair with a black tip on
the tail. He was running around on the lava flow.
There is a good population of deer with some
elk sightings.

Showers at Newberry Crater / Paulina Lake

Showers at Crane Prairie Reservoir Lodge
$1.00 in quarters / $2-3 recommended
Also there is a laundry and free parking.

Check out the Lava Cast Forest

It is unique how the lava made casts around
the trees, which are now holes in the ground,
with the molds left behind as evidence.
Lava Cast Forest is on Road#950
There are signs marking the way
Recreation Pass Required / $5 Daily Fee

Road#21 Views (East from Paulina Lake)

Road#21 Views (East from Paulina Lake)

EAST FORT ROCK OHV TRAIL SYSTEM
Continue a couple mile east and there are
several campgrounds and dispersed camp
areas in the East Fort Rock OHV Area

Road#500
Railroad Tracks through Lava Lands

ROAD #500
Road#500 is south of Bend
(Near Lava Butte)
You can camp beside a towering wall of lava.
The train tracks go right though the lava fields
Benham Falls is just a short walk.

Lava Lands Visitor Center is at the
junction of Hwy.97 and Road#9702.
You can drive to the top of Lava Butte.
They spent millions of tax dollars to build
the Visitor Center, but forgot to budget
enough to keep it open to the public.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays... 2006

Bend, OR

Fort Rock

East Lake

Also see: CRANE PRAIRIE / ROAD#4285
Also see: CABIN LAKE
Also see: CAMPBELL LAKE
Also see: CHRISTMAS VALLEY / GREEN MOUNTAIN
Also see: CHRISTMAS VALLEY / SAND DUNES
Also see: DEADHORSE LAKE
Also see: EFROHV / CAMP II TRAILHEAD
Also see: EFROHV / CHINA HAT CAMPGROUND
Also see: EFROHV / ROAD 25 STAGING AREA
Also see: EFROHV / ROAD 2510 STAGING AREA
Also see: EFROHV / SOUTH LAVA TRAILHEAD
Also see: EFROHV / SAND SPRINGS C.G.
Also see: HAYSTACK RESERVOIR
Also see: LAVA FLOW CAMPGROUND
Also see: OLD HIGHWAY 20
Also see: LAVA BUTTE / ROAD #500
Also see: PINE MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORY
Also see: ROCK CREEK CAMPGROUND
Also see: SPARKS LAKE RECREATION AREA
Also see: THOMPSON RESERVOIR
Also see: WICKIUP RESERVOIR / ROAD#090
Also see: WICKIUP RESERVOIR / ROAD#4260
Also see: WICKIUP RESERVOIR / ROAD#4280
Also see: WICKIUP RESERVOIR / ROAD#4370
Also see: WICKIUP RESERVOIR / ROAD#44

Google Custom Map by Ian

OREGON FREE CAMPGROUND MAP
Google custom map by Ian with most of the
free campgrounds in Oregon.

Chemtrails Jan.22, 2004
What are these funny clouds

Pine cones in plastic bags...
Good idea to help save the forest.

Camped here August 8, 2007
We have camped here several times and
knew this area from our childhood.
Camped here October 3, 2007
Winter arrived early and dumped a couple
inches of snow.
Camped here July 25, 2008
No other people or mosquitoes around.
Camped here September xx, 2008
Camped here November 17, 2008
The snow had melted and temperatures
were moderate, but this time of year it
could start snowing anytime and it can get
a couple feet deep.

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dispersedcampgrounds.com
Free camping and campgrounds
OREGON CAMPGROUND DIRECTORY
DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST
NEWBERRY NATIONAL VOLCANIC MONUMENT