TIMPANOGAS

Pacific Northwest

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TIMPANOGAS

Pacific Northwest

About this campsite

Overview

Timpanogas Shelter sits on shore of its namesake lake at an altitude of 5,300 feet in the Willamette National Forest within the Oregon Cascades Recreation Area. The cabin was patterned after the old Civilian Conservation Corps 3-sided shelter and was built in 1991 with the help of a University of Oregon outdoor school class and the Walker Rim Snowmobile Club.

The cabin is typically open from late June through late October. It is accessible by car, but the last 7 miles of the road are rough and narrow.

Recreation

Anglers enjoy fishing for brook trout and cutthroat on upper and lower Timpanogas Lakes, even though the lakes are closed to motorcraft. Canoeing is also possible on the lakes.

Those not inclined to fish can enjoy hiking or mountain biking on numerous trails in the Timpanogas area, especially in late August when huckleberries are ripe for picking. This includes the Timpanogas Lake Trail, which starts at the Timpanogas Campground.

The Diamond Peak Trail Area, Pacific Crest Trail and Diamond Peak Wilderness are also nearby.

Facilities

This rustic 15 x 18 shelter with a dirt floor is designed to accommodate 6-8 people and comes equipped with a sleeping loft, a table with benches and a wood stove for heat. A picnic table, campfire ring and pit toilet are located outside. Additional camping is available on-site for up to 20 people. Drinking water, firewood and electricity are not provided. The cabin does not have a cook stove or cooking supplies. Potable water is available from a hand pump at the nearby Timpanogas Campground until late September. Items such as bedding, lanterns or flashlights, matches, extra toilet paper, first aid supplies, trash bags, dish soap, towels and an ice chest are not available. Insect repellent is highly recommended. Guests are expected to pack out their trash and clean the cabin before leaving.

Natural Features

The cabin is situated in a mountainous and heavily forested area where it is possible to see Diamond Peak, Sawtooth and Cowhorn Mountains. Timpanogas Lake is just one of several alpine lakes in the area.

Willamette National Forest offers prime habitat for such species as Roosevelt elk, black bear, northern bald eagles, mule deer and bobcats, among other wildlife.

Nearby Attractions

Trails for hiking and mountain biking are located less than a mile from the shelter.

Location

TIMPANOGAS•OR

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Common questions about TIMPANOGAS

Is TIMPANOGAS free to camp at?

Yes. TIMPANOGAS in OR is a free camp, so there is no nightly fee to stay. There is no booking system for it, so plan on first in, best dressed, especially on long weekends. We hold no facilities list for it, so go in self sufficient with your own water and a way to deal with rubbish.

Can you book TIMPANOGAS online?

We hold no online booking link for TIMPANOGAS, so it is not bookable through this page. For sites like this, turning up early in the day is the surest way to get a spot, particularly in peak season. If a managing authority takes bookings by phone, their number is the fastest way to confirm a site.

Where is TIMPANOGAS?

TIMPANOGAS sits in OR. The map on this page shows the exact spot, and the coordinates travel straight into your navigation app. Check road conditions before you set out if you are towing, since access tracks can change with the weather.

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within 50km

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WINDY GROUP CAMP

Overview Located on the southwest end of spectacular Crescent Lake in Deschutes National Forest, Windy Group Campground offers visitors the opportunity to experience the beauty and recreational opportunities of the Cascade region in a rustic and secluded setting. A large group site sits at the lake's edge. Visitors enjoy hiking nearby trails and water activities on the lake. Recreation Boating, swimming and fishing are popular activities enjoyed by visitors during spring, summer and fall months. Anglers have the opportunity to fish from boat or shoreline for abundant salmon and trout. Summer months offer the best fishing. Crescent Lake Snowpark offers skiers and snowmobilers a base camp for winter excursions. Open to snowmobiling, Summit Lake Trail, about 9 miles one-way, follows the road leading from Crescent Lake to Summit Lake, offering excellent views across Crescent Lake and showcasing Diamond Peak. Facilities This large group site can accommodate up to 40 people. Amenities are minimal at this campground. There is one wooden style vault toilet. Picnic tables and a barbeque pit are available. The roads are unpaved, and RVs will have plenty of space to park. Natural Features Crescent Lake, nestled in a naturally glaciated basin behind a moraine dam, lies east of the towering Cascade Mountain Range. Its brilliant blue-green water, sandy beaches and water temperature are exceptional for a high-elevation lake. Towering lodgepole pine trees provide the backdrop for this area, with mountain hemlock, fir, and spruce also in the mix. Volcanic activity throughout the surrounding area of Deschutes National Forest is evident in its landscape, showcasing cinder cones, calderas and lava flows. Nearby Attractions Visitors can explore wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, lakes and 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 draw visitors to the region 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. A nearby resort on Crescent Lake offers lodging and a general store where supplies and equipment rentals are available. 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.

8.8 km away

WHITEFISH HORSE CAMP

Overview In Deschutes National Forest, Whitefish Horse Campground offers visitors some of the most stunning scenery in central Oregon and easy access to an abundance of recreational activities in the Cascade region. A favorite among horse enthusiasts, the campground looks out onto the waters of Crescent Lake. With snow-capped peaks, high elevation lakes, scenic rivers, and several wilderness areas located nearby, this campground offers visitors the opportunity to experience both the serene and wild aspects of central Oregon. Recreation A favorite among horse enthusiasts, the campground provides visitors with access to a variety of trails. Lakes, lava flows, and forested areas provide the backdrop for many of these rides. Whitefish Creel Trail is popular with both hikers and horseback riders. This trail can be accessed from the west end of Crescent Lake and follows Whitefish Creek up through lodgepole pines to a beautiful view of Diamond Peak at Diamond View Lake. From there, the trail descends along Trapper Creek through Engelmann spruce and white fir to the west end of Odell Lake. Equestrians may want to traverse at least a portion of the spectacular Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), one of America's premier National Scenic Trails. This trail showcases some of North America's most fantastic scenery, winding its way its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington. Portions of the trail traverse Diamond Peak at timberline. Wilderness passes are required for this trail. Facilities The campground has 17 large equestrian sites, each equipped with double or quadruple metal corrals. Sites 008, 013 and 018 have four horse stalls, while all the others have two horse stalls. Picnic tables, campfire rings/grills, and ample room for parking vehicles and trailers are available at each site. Drinking water is also available, as is access to vault toilets. Horse campgrounds have been designed to accommodate people who need to corral their horses. With a limited number of these kinds of campgrounds, please consider camping in one of the many other campgrounds nearby if you do not have a horse. This horse camp is open usually by Memorial Day, or after snow levels recede. It stays open until snow blocks the road, typically around Thanksgiving. However, water and host services may not be provided after early October. Natural Features Cresent Lake is nestled in a naturally glaciated basin behind a moraine dam, east of the towering Cascade Mountain Range. Its brilliant blue-green water, sandy beaches, and water temperature are exceptional for a high-elevation lake. The area provides habitat for mammals such as mule deer, coyote, and cougar. Migratory birds and native fish also call the area home. These species, along with many others, depend on surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams, and diverse forests to live. Nearby Attractions Visitors can explore wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and approximately 1,600 miles of trails in the 2.5 million-acre Deschutes National Forest and adjacent Ochoco National Forest. Lava Lands Visitor Center in 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. Visitors may also enjoy traveling the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. The 66-mile drive through the Cascade Mountain range, weaves through snow-capped peaks and alpine lakes, highlighting the beauty of central Oregon. 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.

9.5 km away

SPRING

Overview Nestled in Deschutes National Forest, Spring Campground offers visitors some of the most stunning scenery in central Oregon and easy access to an abundance of recreational activities in the Cascade region. A favorite among visitors, the sites in this campground are widely-spaced and scattered among a mixed conifer forest, giving it an open and sunny character. The campground looks out to the stunning water of Crescent Lake, and several tent-only sites are on the lake front. Recreation In addition to being a prime location for boating, fishing, swimming, hiking and biking in summer and early fall, Spring Campground offers excellent skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter months. Crescent Lake Snowpark offers skiers and snowmobilers a base camp for winter excursions. Summit Lake Trail, 9 miles one- way, follows the road leading from Crescent Lake to Summit Lake, offering excellent views across Crescent Lake and highlighting Diamond Peak. Anglers enjoy fishing from boats or the shoreline. Fish species found in the lake include kokanee salmon, mackinaw, rainbow trout, brown trout and mountain whitefish. Summer months offer the best fishing opportunities. Facilities Sites at Spring Campground are plentiful, and some can be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground is rarely full, offering a bit more solitude than neighboring campgrounds. Larger groups may reserve a block of 12 campsites. These sites are somewhat isolated from the others and can fit up to about 70 campers and 25 vehicles. Sites are equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Vault toilets and drinking water are available. A nearby resort on Crescent Lake offers lodging and a general store. Natural Features Cresent Lake, nestled in a naturally glaciated basin behind a moraine dam, lies east of the towering Cascade Mountain Range. Its brilliant blue-green water, sandy beaches and water temperature are exceptional for a high-elevation lake. Fantastic nearby peaks, lava flows and old-growth forests provide visitors with breathtaking landscapes, showcasing ecosystems typical of central Oregon. Wildlife found in the area include deer, porcupine, native fish and migratory birds. Nearby Attractions Visitors can explore wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, lakes and 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 draw visitors to the region as well. Visitors may also enjoy traveling the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, known as Oregon's Highway in the Sky. The 66-mile drive through the Cascade Mountain range weaves through snow-capped peaks and alpine lakes, highlighting the beauty of central Oregon. 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.