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A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Forest Service campground

Soda Creek Campground

Forest Service campground in Deschutes National Forest, Deschutes County, Oregon. 5,447 feet. 20.4 miles from Sisters.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Deschutes National Forest
Elevation
5,447 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
10 10 standard non-electric
Longest rig
40 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Deschutes County

Overview

Soda Creek Campground sits adjacent to Soda Creek as it flows across an open meadow into Sparks Lake.

Recreation

Sparks Lake's clear water and mountainous backdrop make it a popular destination for paddling and photography.

Facilities

Soda Creek Campground can accommodate RV, trailer or tent campers, however, electric hookups are not available. There are limited sites that are RV friendly, with most of the sites suitable for smaller vehicles or tent camping. All sites are equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill and the campground has vault toilets available. Campers will need to bring their own water supply.

Natural Features

Sparks Lake, fed by streams originating on the slopes of Broken Top, rests atop a porous, volcanic lakebed. Throughout the summer the lake level decreases as snowmelt declines and water seeps underground into nearby lakes and streams.

Nearby Attractions

The accessible Ray Atkeson Trailhead begins near Sparks Lake Day Use area. The trail winds through lava channels and lodgepole pines. Less than a mile in, visitors will reach the Ray Atkeson Memorial Overlook where they will find one of the most iconic views in Central Oregon.

Visitors can travel the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, a 66-mile drive through the Cascade Range that weaves past snow-capped peaks and alpine lakes.

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

What people do here

  • camping

The land around Soda Creek Campground

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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