Post Pile Campground

Facility · Oregon ·

Managed by the Bureau of Land Management

Prineville Deschutes Field Office (Bureau of Land Management OR) · Open Access

3,050 ft
Elevation
Crooked Wild and Scenic River, downstream from the Post Pile Campground
Photo: Bureau of Land Management · Recreation.gov

With views of nearby Chimney Rock, this campground offers year-round camping and Crooked River access along the Lower Crooked Back Country Byway. Campground facilities include seven campsites with excellent access to the Crooked Wild and Scenic River.

Know Before You Go:

  • Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are accepted.
  • Potable water is available year-round at the nearby Chimney Rock Campground, 1.3 miles north on State Highway 27.
  • Cell phone service is not available in the campground.
  • Watch for bicyclists: the section of State Highway 27 between Prineville and Bowman Dam is designated as the Crooked River Canyon Scenic Bikeway.

Point of Interest:

The campground takes its name from nearby rock outcrops composed of basaltic lava. As these formations cooled, a multi-sided joint pattern formed which seemingly resulted in the appearance of a pile of posts stacked vertically. The geologic phenomena is known as columnar basalt.

Getting there

From Prineville, Oregon: Drive 18 miles south on State Highway 27; the campground will be on your right.

44.12874, -120.80200 · 44°7'43.5"N 120°48'7.2"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Official map for this area

Typical weather

Typically 87°F in Jul, down to 42°F in Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F434855606976878679655142
Low °F252629334045494842342924
Precip in1.10.80.90.81.40.80.40.40.30.91.21.3

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 12 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

$8 per night; $2 per extra vehicle (tow vehicles excluded) with a maximum of two vehicles allowed per site.

Stay limit: 14 Days

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

More photos

Member photos

Common questions about Post Pile Campground

Can you reserve a site at Post Pile Campground?
No. Post Pile Campground is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.
How long can you stay at Post Pile Campground?
14 Days

Camping near Post Pile Campground

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.