OutReserve

Smiling River Campground

About Smiling River Campground

Nestled in Deschutes National Forest, Smiling River Campground offers visitors some of the most stunning scenery in central Oregon and easy access to an abundance of recreational activities.

Number of accommodations: 28

Nearby Activities & Attractions

Hiking

Campground Amenities

Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

28 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 001, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 002, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 003, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 006, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 007, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 008, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 009, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 010, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 011, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 012, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 013, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 014, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 015, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 016, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 017, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 018, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 019, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 020, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 021, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 022, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 023, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 024, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 025, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 028, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 029, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 030, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 031, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 032, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND
No Hookups
Price not available

Reviews (340)

What Guests Are Saying

Smiling River Campground is highly praised for its clean, quiet, and beautiful setting along the Metolious River, making it a favorite destination for many campers. The campground offers a variety of recreational activities and easy access to nearby amenities. While some reviews mention issues with bathroom maintenance and occasional nuisances like flies, the overall experience is positive, highlighting the friendly camp host and well-kept facilities.

Review Summary

4.3
340 reviews
5
54.7%
186
4
27.1%
92
3
11.8%
40
2
4.1%
14
1
2.4%
8

Carol J

Verified

September 21, 2021 Stayed at: 012, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

5

Nancy the camp host at smiling river took great care of me. I am a single woman who camps alone. I came to her without a reservation on Sunday 9/12. She found me a wonderful spot along the river. After I got settled in she came by to see how everything was. On Wednesday I moved from #14 to #12. Again she swung by to make sure all was well. Nancy made my stay feel secure and welcomed,
Camp site #12 is across from the bathroom. Even Though it wasn.t hot anymore the bathroom smell was pretty bad. I smelled it across the road to my site. I left a day early because the bathroom was impossible to use and the smell that drifted over to me was more than I could stand. The bathroom was always cleaned daily by Nancy but the odor from the toilets was overwhelming. I know that outhouses are outhouses but of all the camping I have done this was the worst.
You have a wonderful campground I hope what ever other campgrounds do. it can be done at this campground
Thank you for your time
Carol Jacobs

PS I was in campground Camp Sherman before moving to smiling river where Vicky is the host and she too was very friendly and accommodating

Matt A

Verified

September 21, 2021 Stayed at: 001, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

5

I'll be back again

Michael B

Verified

September 20, 2021 Stayed at: 032, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

4

Nice large campsites on a beautiful little river. Camp host was quite pushy and accused my friends of trying to set a fire because she found an old box of matches by the trail at their campsite. Turned them into sherif deputy. My friend is a retired fire captain. Ridiculous

Karen D

Verified

September 20, 2021 Stayed at: 024, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

5

We really enjoyed our stay at the Smiling River campground! Clean, quiet, friendly camp host, and just such a beautiful area. We tent camped and were lucky enough to get a spot by the river, but honestly there's not a bad spot in this campground. We were a little concerned about not having a restroom with showers onsite, but there were multiple places around the campgroup to get drinkable water, and the bathrooms (vault toilets) were kept very clean. Highly recommend checking out the Camp Sherman store, the Wizard Falls Hatchery, and the amazingly beautiful blue Meltolius water flow at Bridge 99 (right by the Hatchery). We will defintely be back!

Michael B

Verified

September 20, 2021 Stayed at: 032, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

4

Nice large campsites on a beautiful little river. Camp host was quite pushy and accused my friends of trying to set a fire because she found an old box of matches by the trail at their campsite. Turned them into sherif deputy. My friend is a retired fire captain. Ridiculous

Karen D

Verified

September 20, 2021 Stayed at: 024, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

5

We really enjoyed our stay at the Smiling River campground! Clean, quiet, friendly camp host, and just such a beautiful area. We tent camped and were lucky enough to get a spot by the river, but honestly there's not a bad spot in this campground. We were a little concerned about not having a restroom with showers onsite, but there were multiple places around the campgroup to get drinkable water, and the bathrooms (vault toilets) were kept very clean. Highly recommend checking out the Camp Sherman store, the Wizard Falls Hatchery, and the amazingly beautiful blue Meltolius water flow at Bridge 99 (right by the Hatchery). We will defintely be back!

Rhonda M

Verified

September 17, 2021 Stayed at: 011, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

5

Nancy, the camp host is the best we ever had. She is super friendly, always says hello, takes pride and care of the rest rooms and everything she does.

Rhonda M

Verified

September 17, 2021 Stayed at: 011, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

5

Nancy, the camp host is the best we ever had. She is super friendly, always says hello, takes pride and care of the rest rooms and everything she does.

Robin C

Verified

September 13, 2021 Stayed at: 021, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

5

Nancy is such a good host. She is friendly and bathrooms are so clean.

Robin C

Verified

September 13, 2021 Stayed at: 021, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

5

Nancy is such a good host. She is friendly and bathrooms are so clean.

Location Smiling River Campground

Address:
Po Box 249
Sisters, OR, 97759
United States

Highway access

Smiling River Campground is located approximately 20 miles from US Highway 20, which provides access to the area.

Latitude & Longitude: 44.4933 / -121.641

Elevation: 897 feet

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: June 4, 2026

USDA Forest Service Logo
Managed by USDA Forest Service