Elk Lake w/ view of South Sister
Elk Lake w/ view of South Sister
ELK LAKE CAMPGROUND
ELK LAKE CAMPGROUND
ELK LAKE CAMPGROUND

Featured amenities

Parking Parking
Restrooms Restrooms

About Elk Lake Campground

Elk Lake Campground is located on the north end of Elk Lake along the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway.

Available sites

16 total sites

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Boating

Boating

Spring Summer Fall
Fishing

Fishing

Year-round
Hiking

Hiking

Year-round
Swimming

Swimming

Summer

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Parking Parking
Restrooms Restrooms
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Restrooms
Parking and Transport

Parking and Transport

  • Parking
Water Access

Water Access

  • Lake Access
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see availability.

16 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 001, Loop: Loop 1 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 002, Loop: Loop 1 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 004, Loop: Loop 1 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 008, Loop: Loop 1 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 009, Loop: Loop 1 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 010, Loop: Loop 1 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 011, Loop: Loop 1 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 014, Loop: Loop 2 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 015, Loop: Loop 2 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 016, Loop: Loop 2 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 017, Loop: Loop 2 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 018, Loop: Loop 2 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 019, Loop: Loop 2 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 020, Loop: Loop 2 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 021, Loop: Loop 2 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 022, Loop: Loop 2 RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In

Reviews

144 reviews

Summary

AI generated

Elk Lake Campground offers a beautiful and relaxing setting with great access to the lake, and visitors appreciate the close proximity to a nearby resort with food and activities. While many campers enjoyed their stays, highlighting the cleanliness of the campground and the helpfulness of the camp host, there were some concerns about site conditions, restroom cleanliness, and a lack of water supply. Overall, the campground is seen as a nice spot for camping and outdoor activities, with some areas for improvement.

Based on guest feedback

4.0

Overall rating

Based on 144 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 51.4% (74)
4 stars 20.8% (30)
3 stars 10.4% (15)
2 stars 11.1% (16)
1 star 6.3% (9)

Showing 144 reviews

David P

Verified

August 10, 2025 Stayed at: 004, Loop: Loop 1

Nice location near the lake. Campsites are large enough for 2 or more tents.

Helpful

Gary E. M

Verified

July 31, 2025 Stayed at: 001, Loop: Loop 1

Nice campground. Nice lake. Wonderful place to be.

Helpful

Gary E. M

Verified

July 31, 2025 Stayed at: 001, Loop: Loop 1

Nice campground. Nice lake. Wonderful place to be.

Helpful

michael g

Verified

July 20, 2025 Stayed at: 011, Loop: Loop 1

This campground would get 5 stars if they had water available. During our stay the water spigots did not work. Otherwise it’s great!

Helpful

michael g

Verified

July 20, 2025 Stayed at: 011, Loop: Loop 1

This campground would get 5 stars if they had water available. During our stay the water spigots did not work. Otherwise it’s great!

Helpful

Oleksandra S

Verified

July 14, 2025 Stayed at: 010, Loop: Loop 1

The campground overall is good, lake is nice but there were no water and I was notified a week before when everything couldn't be changed. I was expecting that we will get some bottled water or at least information where we can get it. Also there aren't enough restrooms so the there is line in the morning.

Helpful

Oleksandra S

Verified

July 14, 2025 Stayed at: 010, Loop: Loop 1

The campground overall is good, lake is nice but there were no water and I was notified a week before when everything couldn't be changed. I was expecting that we will get some bottled water or at least information where we can get it. Also there aren't enough restrooms so the there is line in the morning.

Helpful

John W A

Verified

July 13, 2025 Stayed at: 014, Loop: Loop 2

The lack of water in the camp was unacceptable. My family has camped there for years and the effort to supply or notify campers of this problem was effortless. The host did everything that she could to inform people, but the forest service was pathetic.

Helpful

John W A

Verified

July 13, 2025 Stayed at: 014, Loop: Loop 2

The lack of water in the camp was unacceptable. My family has camped there for years and the effort to supply or notify campers of this problem was effortless. The host did everything that she could to inform people, but the forest service was pathetic.

Helpful

Kaylin I

Verified

July 10, 2025 Stayed at: 010, Loop: Loop 1

So campground and elk lake itself are 5/5 stars. But I wanted to just note on here and make clear this is really only small RV or sprinter van friendly site as well as site 9 and 11. Super narrow and uneven road into camp site with trees lining it makes it near impossible for a tow behind trailer to back in.

Helpful

Location & Directions for Elk Lake Campground

P.O. Box 8516, Bend, OR 97701 United States

Elevation: 1,501 ft

Getting There

From Bend, travel 33.1 mi southwest on Cascade Lakes Hwy (46) to north end of Elk Lake.

Nearest town

Bend, OR - 32 mi

About 42 min to downtown

Highway access

Elk Lake Campground is accessed via Cascade Lakes Highway (46), which connects to major roads in the Bend area.

Policies & Rules

Arrival & departure

Check out time

12PM

General

  • Prevent the spread of invasive species by inspecting and cleaning packs, equipment and tires before using rivers, lakes or trails.
  • Please Note: One RV with tow vehicle per single site or one vehicle per tent site. Most sites can accommodate 1 extra vehicle that is not included with the reservation fee. Extra vehicle will be charged a per night fee and collected at the campground. 
  • Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed. 
  • During your time in Central Oregon, you can find wildfire, prescribed fire and smoke information at centraloregonfire.org 
  • Reserved Sites will be held until the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests. Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
  • Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).
  • Don't Move Firewood: Please protect Pacific Northwest forests by preventing the spread of invasive species. Firewood can carry insects and diseases that can threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by obtaining and burning your firewood near your camping destination. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
  • Camping or otherwise occupying a single location (including leaving camping equipment and/or related supplies) for a period longer than 14 consecutive calendar days is prohibited. ‘Location’ means the occupied area, the occupied campsite, and the National Forest System lands in the immediate vicinity thereof. Camping or occupying any location on all National Forest lands for more than 28 calendar days total during a calendar year is prohibited.
  • NO generator use is allowed in campgrounds. Silent power banks or battery powered devices are allowed.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: November 3, 2026

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Bend, Oregon

Population: 103,390

Elevation: 3,625 ft

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service