The best river, stream, or creek glamping in Wickiup Reservoir

Not far from the town of La Pine in the Central Oregon high desert, Wickiup Reservoir is a well-known spot for cooling off in the oftentimes sweltering summer months. Both non-motorized and motorized boats are allowed here, and there are multiple boat launches, with two at the two lakeside campgrounds and a third on the reservoir’s eastern banks. Wickiup Reservoir is also a popular spot for both birdwatching and fishing, particularly if you're hoping to catch a large brown trout. While many people fish directly from their boats, shore fishing is an option earlier in the season.

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Top-rated campgrounds

Solar lantern's provide , solar string lights for more light, customizable to turn off or on.

Not far from the town of La Pine in the Central Oregon high desert, Wickiup Reservoir is a well-known spot for cooling off in the oftentimes sweltering summer months. Both non-motorized and motorized boats are allowed here, and there are multiple boat launches, with two at the two lakeside campgrounds and a third on the reservoir’s eastern banks. Wickiup Reservoir is also a popular spot for both birdwatching and fishing, particularly if you're hoping to catch a large brown trout. While many people fish directly from their boats, shore fishing is an option earlier in the season.

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Top-rated campgrounds

1. Shelter at Castle Rock Farm

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7 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Mc Kenzie Bridge, OR

Shelter at Castle Rock Farm – A Private Sanctuary Camping Paradise Sanctuary Escape | Wildlife Viewing | Pet-Friendly | Covered Shelters | Stunning Scenery | Exclusive and Peaceful Escape to Castle Rock Farm, a breathtaking 1893 homestead nestled at the base of Castle Rock in the heart of the stunning Willamette National Forest located in McKenzie Bridge. This one-of-a-kind, private wildlife and birding preserve offers an unforgettable camping experience with covered shelters designed for comfort in all weather conditions. Ultimate Privacy & Seclusion – No noisy highways, busy roads, or misleading locations. Just peace, quiet, and nature. Camping in Comfort – Stay dry with covered gathering spaces, a deluxe canvas tent on a wooden platform, and handcrafted furniture made from sustainably sourced lumber. Breathtaking Scenery & Wildlife – Camp under a majestic Big Maple Tree, next to a babbling brook, with Great Gray Owls, Pileated Woodpeckers, and over 150 bird nesting boxes surrounding you. A true birder’s paradise! Outdoor Adventure Awaits – Just minutes from King Castle Trail, Blue Pool, hot springs, waterfalls, lakes, and endless trails for hiking, biking, rafting, and paddleboarding. Eco-Friendly & Handcrafted – No pesticides, no herbicides—just nature at its purest. Every structure is professionally built by expert craftsmen, using heritage-cut lumber from windfallen trees. Furry Friends Welcome! Two friendly yellow labs roam the property and love to join on morning and evening walks.Hand-feed native wild cutthroat trout in the private pond. Forage for wild strawberries along the nature trails. Enjoy the peaceful sound of the wind whispering through the trees and birds singing all around you 🏕️ Group Camping & Events: Need space for a group? The Big Maple site accommodates up to 50 tents for special events, weddings, birding groups, biking/running retreats, and more. 🚴‍♂️ Adventure-Ready: We can connect you with local rafting trips, bike/mountain bike rentals, and hiking shuttle services for a hassle-free experience. This is not just another campsite—it’s a sanctuary. Come disconnect, unwind, and immerse yourself in nature at Shelter at Castle Rock Farm. ✨ Book your stay today and experience camping like never before! ✨

2. Trails+Rivers+Forest+ATV+Kayaks

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4 sites · Lodging · Three Rivers, OR

We have it all! With direct access to millions of acres of forest trails and rivers, ATVs, kayaks and bikes available for rent on site, just 20 minutes from Mt. Bachelor's lifts, 10 minutes from luxury resort town of Sunriver and surrounded by forest, rivers, lakes and active wildlife such as massive herds of Elk and families of deer you can cozy up in a large, clean, new RV, custom built Tiny House, or camp your tent, van, or Skoolie with Starlink internet. When you need to stretch your legs you can step out onto the porch and sit under the propane heaters and covered porches circle up around fire pit area and with some cocoa and blankets. Bring your pets and let them roam around the fully fenced and gated land. Enjoy the view from inside onto the forested land. We even have projectors and screens outdoors for you to enjoy. Several grocery stores within 10 and 20 minute radius, lots of great places to eat at the nearby Sunriver Village (Restaurants and Shopping) and Sunriver Commons (Food Carts & Beer Station). Straight and direct access to Mt. Bachelor Lodge just 20 minutes away. Landlord is available 24/7 to help accommodate your needs and ensure you have an incredible experience. Heated and AC in RV and heated with fans in the Tiny.

3. STEEP DREAMS

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2 sites · Lodging · Sisters, OR

RELAX!!.... Or hike, or bike, or swim or simply recharge your batteries! Stay the night in our tipi or cabin while taking in the peaceful views of mountains and the treetops. Camps are located on the top of a canyon where you can see for days on this one of a kind central Oregon property. Camps are located next to county and BLM land if you want to hike, bike or take a dip in the pond. 20 minutes to Bend, 15 minutes to Redmond and only 10 minutes to Downtown Sisters.

4. Lazy River Retreat

1 site · Lodging · Bend, OR

Lazy River Retreat is a 2 acre plot fronting the Little Deschutes River.

5. The Honeybee Ranch

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5 sites · Lodging · Bend, OR

You are just minutes away whether you are Hiking, Biking, walking or riding your horses to our lovely little village of Tumalo for outdoor music, food trucks, fire pits and country store. Located in the golden triangle of Central Oregon, strategic to Bend Sisters and Redmond. The 11 acre Ranch is also surrounded by hundreds of acres of wooded and open fields with trails. You will see resident deer, owls, falcons and coyotes. Come unplug on your slice of "privacy".....and enjoy the view of Pilot Butte in the distance! Two adults-capacity: Includes two twin beds. Bring your own sleeping bags. Small refrigerator/freezer, Full Bathroom (Compost) Bathtub Heater Indoor / Outdoor lights Picnic Table Outdoor Fire Pits and BBQ Five minutes to the Deschutes River for fly fishing and river floating. We will happily share the best places to float, horse-back riding, hikes, bike trails to relax. Need something additional or forgot it? (floats, bike, ice, coffee creamer, s'mores, etc...just ask us!) Property condusive to snow shoeing and cross country skiing when snowy. Campsite is set up for two people. Join us at HoneyBee Ranch, where we value your privacy!

6. Coyote Landing

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2 sites · RVs, Lodging · Bend, OR

All inclusive RV camping on 5 quiet acres with views! One site for shorter stays in our RV, and the other is parking for longer stays in yours. Washer and dryer available, ample privacy and lots of open space. We are a hard working family of 5 with 2 dogs and a number of other small animals. We run a quiet / tidy space with access to public lands and walking trails. The 2 mile loop around the neighborhood is scenic and lush with irrigation during the summer months. The 2 fenced acres immediately north of the camping area are for your enjoyment. All of this and more, only 10 minutes from town. Please note that while good separation exists between your accommodations and our primary residence, you should expect to see and hear us around the property on occasion. Lasty, we are at the far corner of a 2 mile gravel loop, making the drive into our property slow and dusty - and also private!

Stories from the community

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Cassidy

October 2025

2 nights at Shelter at Castle Rock Farm

The tent was cozy and the campgrounds were beautifully maintained. Richard was helpful and the kitchen and tent were well stocked with small amenities like dish soap and a battery-powered vacuum.

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Ahndreah

October 2025

Weekend Trip to Shelter at Castle Rock Farm

This was such a great campsite! Very peaceful and had everything we needed. We will definitely be coming back! All the firewood you could possibly need, a clean outhouse. It felt very secluded but was close to some restaurants and Belknap hot springs. Awesome find!

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Kate

October 2025

With pets

1 night at Shelter at Castle Rock Farm

Rich’s property is absolutely beautiful. We arrived and found everything pretty easy to find. As soon as we pulled up Rich drove down to greet us, showed us around the site, and had a chat before it started raining — which was no problem as he’s done a really great job covering the tent, sitting area, and kitchen at the big maple site. It’s clear that the host has thought through just about every camping amenity that you might need. I was constantly finding little things around the site and kept shouting things like “he even has marshmallow toasting sticks!! Firewood is covered and organized by size just feet away from the site. That’s the kind of convenience you’ll have here. The rain cleared up and the stars came out and we managed to start a fire and have an incredibly cozy night with our pup. There were no other campers while we were there - so it really felt like we had complete privacy and the place to ourselves. a short walk away is a second campsite next to a huge open meadow which is where we went on our morning walk and it was absolutely stunning and serene. Saw a bunch of wildlife (the whole property is a sanctuary for it) and reluctantly packed up and continued our road trip. The whole area is ridiculously beautiful so if you’re coming from far away just know the drive alone makes it worthwhile. 10/10 would camp again!

Ashleigh

September 2025

2 nights at Shelter at Castle Rock Farm

I recently stayed at this campsite with my dog, and we both had a great experience. After a full day of exploring the area, she was completely worn out and slept soundly in the tent, lulled to sleep by the sound of rain on the roof. Luckily, we stayed perfectly dry thanks to the well-built structure covering our setup—it made all the difference. The site was fully equipped with everything we needed, including cooking tools, which made meals super convenient. The property itself was stunning—peaceful, natural, and full of wildlife. I spotted around 10 deer during our stay and more wild turkeys than I could count. It was such a refreshing escape. Highly recommend this spot for anyone looking to unplug, enjoy nature, and still have a few comforts of home! Dog Approved!

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Lyndsay

September 2025

Weekend Trip to Shelter at Castle Rock Farm

This campsite was amazing! I was lucky enough to get to stay at both the Big Maple site and Tall Timber the weekend I stayed. It was just me on this trip, and it was nice to have it all to myself and enjoy the hammock and firepit but it is definitely a great spot for a group of friends to stay at too. Made for a great location while I did some hikes and exploring along the McKenzie River including Koosah and Sahalie Falls. There is so much space and privacy and its in such a beautiful setting- Very relaxing. The vacuum is nice for self cleaning, makes it super quick and easy and Rich clearly takes good care of the grounds and his guests. I loved it here so much!

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Karen

September 2025

Weekend Trip to STEEP DREAMS

This is a special place with an amazing views, comfortable bed and great shower. Coffee in bed while watching the sun rise. A porch for relaxing. Exactly as advertised, but better!

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Emily

September 2025

Weekend Trip to Shelter at Castle Rock Farm

I really enjoyed this spot. It was secluded, had lots of great little details included such as firewood starter, water with a sink, walking sticks, table to cook on, etc. We truly enjoyed relaxing at this spot and wish we had even more time! Would love to come back in the future. The spot is located close to the Cougar Rocks Hotspring! Again, I think the host did a great job on the little details that made this place a great one to stay at!

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Forest

September 2025

2 nights at Shelter at Castle Rock Farm

Very accommodating and responsive host. He also turned me on to several interesting spots to check out as well as a great place to eat. The property is impeccably well maintained and as beautiful as an oregon rainforest can be.

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Crystal

September 2025

Weekend Trip to Shelter at Castle Rock Farm

This place was so cute and perfect for our short stay! Easy to find with the directions from our host and included everything we needed! We hiked Sahalie and Koosah Falls and went to Tamolitch Blue Pool which was really close to this spot! We will definitely stay again next summer when we return to the area! There were deer and an owl above the tent that we couldn’t see but sounded like it was only feet away.

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Dyllan

September 2025

With kids

1 night at Shelter at Castle Rock Farm

We were lucky to have nobody else camping in the surrounding spots, but the complete emersion in nature was the best part for us! The big maple spot is amazing. Totally quiet at night besides the bugs and frogs, beautiful property in the early morning. We were even lucky enough to see deer, owls, and a blackbear in the late evening. Everything we needed was provided to make our stay so easy.

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Dorothy

September 2025

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Shelter at Castle Rock Farm

We stayed here with 6 friends for a birthday celebration and Richard was so nice and accommodating! The space is perfect for small or large group hangs, we really enjoyed the fire pit area and covered awning/kitchen set up. A few friends stayed in their big tent and others set up tents on the grass. Richard provided firewood and was great at communication. He’s also got 2 cute dogs that stopped by. The grounds were beautiful and super close to local hikes and hot springs! Would highly recommend and will be returning!

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Alexander

September 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Shelter at Castle Rock Farm

This is our second time staying at Big Maple/Tall Timber. We brought friends this time and everyone commented over and over what a great place it is. Sites are thoughtfully located to provide seclusion, tranquility and natural beauty, each site is meticulously maintained and presented and provided for thoughtfully, we will certainly be back!

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Kimi

September 2025

Weekend Trip to STEEP DREAMS

Most comfortable bed from an online reservation ever! Very clean and cozy teepee with nice details like lamps with usb plug ins and nightlight setting, heavy blankets and a couple chairs. Portapotty down the hill was clean. Nice landscaping and a cute pond. There were lots of deer to greet us. Note—the gravel path up is indeed steep, we made it in good weather in a Prius, 4 wheel drive in anything less than dry conditions would be great. We’d definitely stay here again.

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Nerys

August 2025

With pets

2 nights at STEEP DREAMS

We really enjoyed our stay. Despite the smoke from wildfires the view was gorgeous, the cabin was super cozy and quiet. The pond was also a big hit with our pups, they swam multiple times. We would definitely stay again!

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Michelle

August 2025

Weekend Trip to STEEP DREAMS

Beautiful, quiet property away from everything. This is our second visit. We love coming here and can't wait to come back.

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Frances

August 2025

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Shelter at Castle Rock Farm

This was our third timing staying at Big Maple and it was simply amazing as usual. The site is gorgeous, with so much useful equipment that makes packing for camping so much easier. The space is beautiful, with some new trails on the property. We visited Clear Lake and some hot springs which were nearby, but there are many other nearby hiking trails or viewpoints. Highly recommend this spot to any avid campers who want an elevated experience. Please as campers always respect the land and property - this place is such a gem.

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Kathy

August 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to STEEP DREAMS

We loved our stay in this cute cabin! It was so comfortable with everything we needed for our three day stay. The patio was such a highlight, we spent time there each evening enjoying the view. Thank you so much for everything!

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Caleb

August 2025

With pets

3 nights at Shelter at Castle Rock Farm

Awesome place to be, saw deer, turkeys, heard a woodpecker, and an owl. Surrounded by nature cut off from the world. A great place to unplug, relax, and unwind. Richard was awesome, he was very gracious and kind.

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Nathan

August 2025

2 nights at STEEP DREAMS

Incredible views, comfy bed, peaceful environment with a little creek they have running right between the little cabin and the tipi. We really enjoyed our stay. We were attending a concert in Bend. We found this to be beautiful drive and not too far from our venue.

Dawn

August 2025

2 nights at STEEP DREAMS

Better than I could have imagined! Very comfortable!

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best river, stream, or creek glamping in Wickiup Reservoir guide

Notable campgrounds

Best for groups: Gull Point Campground has two group campsites for up to 30 people.
Best for anglers: Reservoir Campground offers direct access to the water.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Reservations for the can be made directly through the Forest Service, either online using recreation.gov or over the phone. Campsites open up for reservation six months in advance, at 6 am.
The peak season runs from the end of May until the end of September. Outside of that time, campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you can’t find a spot at Wickiup, note that there are still tons of places to camp in the area, both in nearby state parks, on BLM land, and at privately run Hipcamps.

When to go

The best time to visit Wickiup Reservoir is in late spring or early autumn, when the weather is warm and dry and the crowds are fewer. July and August are also great months if you like warm weather, but the reservoir and area campgrounds can get very busy with summer vacationers. Accessing the area during the cold winter months can be challenging due to heavy snowfall.

Know before you go

The easiest place to pick up groceries and other supplies is the town of La Pine, about a half-hour drive from the reservoir.
Do not enter the water during cyanobacteria (harmful algae) blooms. The forest service puts out alerts about blooms, but it's always a good idea to do a visual check just in case. Water that looks foamy or thick and is a green, blue, or brownish-read color should be avoided.
Forest fires are an issue in this part of the forest, and bans on fires and even some types of cooking devices are not uncommon. Check before igniting anything.