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A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Forest Service campground

Little Lava Lake

Forest Service campground in Deschutes National Forest, Deschutes County, Oregon. 4,748 feet. 20.7 miles from La Pine.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Deschutes National Forest
Elevation
4,748 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
16 15 standard non-electric, 1 group tent only area non-electric
Longest rig
40 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Deschutes County

Overview

Little Lava Lake Campground is located along the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway in the Central Oregon Cascades.

Recreation

Little Lava Lake Campground provides recreation opportunities for fishing, paddling, swimming and hiking. For anglers, the 130-acre Little Lava Lake offers a quiet alternative to its larger neighbor to the north, Lava Lake. Reaching a maximum depth of 20 feet, the lake supports planted Rainbow trout, some Brook trout, and self-sustaining populations of Whitefish and Tui Chub. Bait, lures, flies, still fishing and trolling are all acceptable angling methods.

Facilities

Little Lava Lake Campground's campsites are predominately located under lodgepole pine canopy with some sites located along the lakeshore and the Deschutes River.

There is a boat ramp and a day use area that can be used at Little Lava Lake for a fee.

Natural Features

Little Lava Lake is located on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountain Range at an elevation of 4,740 feet. The small lake is surrounded by mature pine forests with bull rushes and lava outcroppings lining its shores.

Nearby Attractions

Visitors can explore wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, lakes and reservoirs and approximately 1,600 miles of trails within the Deschutes National Forest.

Lava Lands Visitor Center in nearby Bend, Oregon, and the unique geological landscape of Newberry National Volcanic Monument draw visitors to the region as well.

Visitors will also enjoy traveling the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway which climbs into the Cascades over a 66-mile drive through snow-capped peaks and alongside alpine lakes.

A nearby resort on Lava Lake offers lodging and a limited selection of groceries.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • camping
  • fishing

The land around Little Lava Lake

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated June 12, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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