Recreation area

Little Crater Day Use Site

Deschutes National Forest · Oregon — managed by USDA Forest Service

Open recreation area — no reservation needed

About this campground

Paulina Lake is located within the caldera of Newberry Volcano.  This collapsed crater or caldera is the result of more than 500,000 years of volcanic activity.  This lake relies on rain, snowmelt, and hot springs for water. This boat ramp is on the southeast side of Paulina Lake and is adjacent to a campground and also offers picnicking opportunities, trailhead access to the Little Crater Trail and a shallow boat launch (no docks). Recreation Fee Site: Parking at this site requires a recreation pass. Passes are NOT available at this site, but can be purchased from Forest Service offices or vendors. Please check here for more information about recreation passes and where they can be purchased. Acceptable passes include: $5 Day Pass Northwest Forest Pass Interagency Annual Pass Interagency Senior Pass (America the Beautiful, Golden Age) Interagency Access Pass Interagency Military Pass Every Kid in a Park Pass Northwest Forest ePass

Getting there

From Bend, OR: Travel 23 miles south on Highway 97 then turn left onto County Road 21 and head east for 15 miles.

Activities

  • BOATING
  • HIKING

Nearby federal campgrounds

Explore more Oregon camping

Little Crater Day Use Site doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby Oregon campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.

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Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.