This primitive campground offers campers the chance to enjoy the beauty of the Deschutes National Forest. Prairie 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.
With Paulina Creek nearby this facility is surrounded by ample foliage with numerous trees shading the campground. Its close proximity to both Paulina Lake and East Lake also allow campers access to nearby boating and fishing.
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.
What campers say
Prairie Campground is a small, mostly primitive site set among lodgepole and ponderosa pines near Paulina Creek. Sites are generally RV-friendly with pull-through spots, picnic tables and fire rings; several first-come sites are available. Expect primitive outhouses, a water spigot (adapter or hose often needed) and a camp host rather than full hookups. A creek provides a popular swim spot and shady banks but can bring mosquitoes. Road access is paved in places but shows wear. Facilities are basic and sometimes partially out of service, but visitors report a quiet, pleasant setting for tents and small to medium RVs.
