Scout Lake

Pacific Northwest

Scout Lake in Pacific Northwest — photo 4

Scout Lake

Pacific Northwest

About this campsite

Overview

Scout Lake Group Campground sits near the shores of its namesake in Deschutes National Forest. Its proximity to high alpine lakes, lush forests and towering peaks in nearby wilderness areas make it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

Recreation

Water sport enthusiasts of all types will enjoy the opportunities available at Scout Creek Lake and nearby Suttle Lake. Only non-motorized watercraft are allowed on Scout Creek, but water skiing, fishing and boating are popular at Suttle Lake, less than one mile away.

Nearby trails and a picturesque shoreline offer visitors opportunities for hiking, birding, wading and swimming at Scout Lake, and a large beach is located just steps away.

Facilities

There are 10 sites at this campground. Site #6 is a single family site while 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 7 and 8 are doubles. Sites 1, 2 and 9 are triples. If the entire campground is rented together, it will comfortably accommodate up to 100 guests. A large day-use area with 11 picnic tables and parking for 50 vehicles makes this area perfect for large parties and family functions.

All sites are equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills.

There are three vault toilets and a gravity fed water system.

Natural Features

The campground sits at 3,600 feet in the high desert region of central Oregon in a towering mixed conifer forest. Nearby landscapes showcase the unique volcanic activity throughout the region, and visitors can explore extinct volcanoes, calderas and lava flows typical in the area.

The surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams and diverse forests support an abundance of wildlife, including deer, squirrel, trout, salmon and a variety of migratory birds.

Nearby Attractions

Visitors can explore wilderness areas, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and approximately 1,600 miles of trails that comprise nearly 2.5 million acres the Deschutes National Forest and the adjacent Ochoco National Forest.

Lava Lands Visitor Center in nearby Bend, Oregon, and the Newberry National Volcanic Monument are popular attractions as well.

Visitors will also enjoy traveling the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, known as Oregon's Highway in the Sky, which climbs into the clouds on a 66-mile drive through the Cascade Mountain range, weaving through snow-capped peaks and alpine lakes.

Charges & Cancellations

Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

Location

Scout Lake•OR

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

TUE☁️

19° / 7°

💧 1%

WED☁️

22° / 9°

💧 2%

THU☁️

23° / 10°

💧 2%

FRI☁️

24° / 10°

—

SAT☁️

23° / 9°

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Nearby Campsites

within 50km

800m away

LINK CREEK

Overview Link Creek Campground is situated on the shores of Suttle Lake in the Deschutes National Forest. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing, hiking and biking in summer, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. Recreation Popular activities in the area include hiking, fishing and motorized boating in the summer months, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter months. Numerous hiking mountain biking trails are accessible from the campground and in the surrounding area. The 3.2 mile Suttle Lake Loop Trail meanders through the developed recreation areas on Suttle Lake. The trail is relatively flat and follows the wooded shoreline of the lake, providing opportunities for fishing or picnicking along the way. A boat ramp is located within the campground. Motorized and non-motorized boats are allowed on Suttle Lake. Facilities Link Creek Campground offers tent and RV campsites, as well as yurts. Campsites are equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Electrical hookups are not available. The yurts are equipped with electricity. While the campsites are pet-friendly, unfortunately pets are not permitted within the yurts. The yurts are available for reservation year-round. Housekeeping is reduced to 2-3 days from November - March. Each is equipped with a bunkbed with one double and one single mattress, double futon, table and chairs and a wood stove. Visitors need to bring their own linens and eating essentials. They each have a light, a wall heater, and 1 - 110 electrical outlet. Natural Features Suttle Lake is surrounded by a mixed conifer forest. The lake is deep and clear. The lake covers an area of 253 acres and has an average depth of 44 feet. It sustains an excellent population of naturally reproducing kokanee, brown trout, whitefish, and crayfish. Link Creek, which empties into Suttle Lake, is shallow and clear enough to view spawning fish. Lake Creek flows eastward from Suttle Lake and eventually joins the Metolius River. In autumn, the local vine maple trees display brilliant orange, red and yellow foliage. Nearby Attractions Visitors can explore wilderness areas, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and approximately 1,600 miles of trails that comprise nearly 2.5 million acres within the Deschutes National Forest and the adjacent Ochoco National Forest. Visitors enjoy traveling the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, known as Oregon's Highway in the Sky, which climbs into the clouds on a 66-mile drive through the Cascade Range, weaving past snow-capped peaks and alpine lakes. Charges & Cancellations Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

1.2 km away

South Shore

Overview South Shore Campground is located along Suttle Lake, shaded by Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine. One section of the camp sits on the shoreline, while the other is nestled on a hillside. Most sites have lake views. The 3,400-foot elevation and the lake breezes make South Shore Campground a comfortable summertime destination. Recreation There is a boat launch available at this camp. Popular activities include power and non-motorized boating, sailing, water skiing and wind surfing. Anglers can fish for rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and brown trout, and there is a fish cleaning station on-site. Hikers and mountain bikers have access to the 3.2-mile Suttle Lake Shoreline Trail. Facilities Each site has a gravel parking spur, picnic table and campfire ring. Dump stations are dispersed through the campground. Drinking water and vault toilets are provided. Natural Features Nestled along the Cascade Mountains, the Deschutes National Forest is one of the most popular recreation forests in the Pacific Northwest. It offers a variety of landscapes, from fields of sagebrush and hay to old-growth forests and glacier-carved volcanic peaks. Suttle Lake is a natural lake formed by glaciers. It has a forested shoreline and offers views of nearby Mt. Washington. Nearby Attractions The town of Sisters is about 15 miles away, offering shopping and restaurants. Charges & Cancellations Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

1.6 km away

BLUE BAY

Overview Blue Bay Campground is situated in a diverse forest of pine and fir on the south shore of Suttle Lake in Deschutes National Forest. Its proximity to high alpine lakes, lush forests and towering peaks in nearby wilderness areas make it a popular destination for individual and group camping excursions. Recreation Popular activities in the area include hiking, fishing and motorized boating in the summer months, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Numerous non-motorized trails can be accessed from the campground and in the surrounding area. The 3.2-mile Suttle Lake Loop Trail meanders through the developed recreation areas on Suttle Lake. The trail follows the wooded shoreline of the lake, providing opportunities for fishing or picnicking along the way. For fishing, boats are most commonly used on Suttle Lake. Float tubes are adequate, and wading is possible in some areas. A few areas are fishable from shore. The lake sustains an excellent population of naturally reproducing kokanee, brown trout, whitefish and crayfish. The campground has a shallow boat ramp area, and most campsites have easy access to the waterfront. Motorized and non-motorized boats are allowed on Suttle Lake. Facilities Blue Bay Campground offers standard sites that accommodate both tents and RVs, but no hookups are available. Picnic tables and campfire rings with grills are provided, as are vault toilets and drinking water. Natural Features Suttle Lake is surrounded by mixed conifer forest. Its waters are deep and clear, formed in a terminal moraine, deposited by glacial ice about 25,000 years ago. Lake Creek flows eastward from Suttle Lake to the Metolius River. The clear, cold Metolius flows north from headwater springs through diverse coniferous forests and a volcanic landscape with extinct volcanoes, cinder cones, calderas and ancient lava flows. Nearby Attractions Visitors can explore wilderness areas, lakes, reservoirs, wild and scenic rivers and approximately 1,600 miles of trails that comprise nearly 2.5 million acres within the Deschutes National Forest and the adjacent Ochoco National Forest.