McKay Crossing Campground
Campground · 15 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Deschutes National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 15
- Bookable sites
- up to 8
- People per site
- 4,774 ft
- Elevation
Overview
McKay Crossing Campground is located off the beaten path along Paulina Creek. It provides campers with seclusion from the main road and the tranquility of hearing the creek flow. This area is good for bird watching, particularly in the wetlands located west of the campground.
Recreation
Boating, swimming and fishing are popular activities enjoyed by visitors during spring, summer and fall months, while skiing and snowmobiling are popular during the winter.Anglers have the opportunity to fish in the surrounding clear, cold lakes and streams for abundant salmon and trout.
Hikers and backpackers have access to a variety of trails in the area, including several in Newberry National Volcanic Monument.
The Crater Rim Trail is a favorite high country trail, boasting vast stretches of forest, deserts and mountains extending from all sides of the trail.
Nearby Peter Skene Ogden National Recreation Trail parallels Paulina Creek, passing several waterfalls along the way, as it ascends 8.5 miles to the spectacular Paulina Lake.
Facilities
McKay Crossing Campground can accommodate RV, trailer or tent-campers however electric and water hookups are not available. All sites are equipped with a picnic table and fire pit and the campground has vault toilets available.Natural Features
Paulina Creek divides this campground into two sections with sites 1-5 in one loop and sites 6-15 in an adjacent loop. A large waterfall is within a very short walk and brings the sound of falling waters to the camp sites near by.Nearby Attractions
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.Lava Lands Visitor Center in nearby Bend, Oregon, is a great starting point for visitors to learn about the diverse landscape and history of the area through interpretive programs and exhibits.
Lava River Cave, located in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument is also nearby for campers to explore. At 5,211 feet in length, the northwest section of the cave is the longest continuous lava tube in Oregon.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (541) 323-1746.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.
The facts
- Season: Tentative Opening: May 9, 2025 – October 19, 2025 — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 15 bookable sites
- Up to 8 people per site
- Loops: Loop 1
Site types
- 15 Standard Nonelectric
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, grills.
15 campsites at McKay Crossing Campground
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Grade | Water | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | Slight | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 02 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | Riverfront | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 03 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | Slight | Riverfront | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 04 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | Riverfront | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 05 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 06 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | Riverfront | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 07 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | Riverfront | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 08 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | Riverfront | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 09 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | Riverfront | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 10 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | Riverfront | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 11 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 12 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 13 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | Slight | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 14 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 15 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
Getting there
From Bend, OR: Travel about 23.5 miles south on Highway 97 then 3 miles east on County Road 21 (Paulina Lake Road) until you see the sign for McKay Crossing at FS road 2120. Travel a few miles on this sometimes washboard dirt road to reach the campground.
From LaPine, OR: Travel about 6.8 miles north on Highway 97 then 3 miles east on County Road 21 (Paulina Lake Road) until you see the sign for McKay Crossing at FS road 2120. Travel a few miles on this sometimes washboard dirt road to reach the campground,
43.71639, -121.37732 · 43°42'59.0"N 121°22'38.3"W
Typical weather
Typically 84°F in Jul, down to 38°F in Dec.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 40 | 43 | 50 | 57 | 65 | 72 | 84 | 83 | 76 | 62 | 46 | 38 |
| Low °F | 20 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 33 | 37 | 41 | 40 | 34 | 28 | 24 | 19 |
| Precip in | 2.9 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 3.2 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 12.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about McKay Crossing Campground
- Can you reserve a site at McKay Crossing Campground?
- Yes, McKay Crossing Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does McKay Crossing Campground have?
- 15 sites.
- Are pets allowed at McKay Crossing Campground?
- Yes, pets are allowed at McKay Crossing Campground.
- Are campfires allowed at McKay Crossing Campground?
- Campfires are allowed at McKay Crossing Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
McKay Crossing Campground also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by McKay Crossing Campground's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- Single Campsite Rate: $19/night
- One vehicle included with reservation – Each Additional Vehicle: $10.00
- NOTE : Holders of a Golden Age and Golden Access Passports and Senior and Access Passes are entitled to the following discounts on expanded amenity recreation fees: - A 50 percent discount on the fee for a single camping unit. This discount does not apply to use of a cabin, lookout, double camping u
Restrictions:
- Maximum site spur length is 26 feet.
Camping near McKay Crossing Campground
- Prairie Campground 2.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Ogden Group 2.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Paulina Lake Campground 5.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Newberry Group Camp Site 6.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Chief Paulina Horse Camp 6.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Little Crater Campground 6.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- East Lake Campground 8.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Paulina Peak Trailhead 5.1 mi · Facility
- Paulina Peak Observation Site 6.4 mi · Facility
- Little Crater Day Use Site 6.6 mi · Facility
- East Lake 8.2 mi · Facility
- Lava Cast Forest Day Use Interpretive Site 8.3 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone 541-383-5300
- Email Jen@Hoodoo.com
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-06-12.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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