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Cow Meadow Campground in Oregon
Hard to BookNational Forest

Cow Meadow Campground

Deschutes National Forest, Oregon

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As of October 2026, Cow Meadow Campground is a campground in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon with 15 campsites. Cow Meadow Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

  • PermitSnag checks Cow Meadow Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • Cow Meadow Campground is located at 43.8132Β° N, 121.7765Β° W.
people allowed on each site
6

Cow Meadow Campground reservations and next available dates

October 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Next Available Dates

Oct 3 (14 sites)Oct 4 (14 sites)Oct 5 (14 sites)

14 sites open on Oct 3 at Cow Meadow Campground. Book one now, or pick your dates above and get an alert when a site opens.

As of 1 October 2026, 00:20 UTC.

Stay and booking rules

  • Taxes apply
  • Maximum consecutive stay: 14 consecutive days
  • Maximum stay: 28 days
  • Minimum stay: 1 consecutive days

Published by Recreation.gov for Cow Meadow Campground, read on September 30, 2026.

Campsites at Cow Meadow Campground

  • Standard 15

What an RV fits

  • 30 ft15 sites

Amenities

  • restrooms
  • potable water

At a glance: Setting: Mountain.

Things to do: fishing, boating, hiking, wildlife, photography, stargazing.

All sites at Cow Meadow Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the Loop 1 loop.

SiteTypeSleepsMax RV
002Standard630 ft
004Standard630 ft
005Standard630 ft
006Standard630 ft
008Standard630 ft
009Standard630 ft
010Standard630 ft
011Standard630 ft
012Standard630 ft
013Standard630 ft
014Standard630 ft
015Standard630 ft
016Standard630 ft
017Standard630 ft
018Standard630 ft

About Cow Meadow Campground

Overview

Cow Meadow Campground is situated where Snow Creek and the Deschutes River flow into the northeast part of Crane Prairie Reservoir. Located just off of the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, Cow Meadow Campground provides great access to a wide-range of recreation opportunities, including fishing, boating and hiking.

Recreation

Crane Prairie Reservoir is a prime location for boating and fishing. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife manages populations of rainbow trout, mountain whitefish, brook trout and largemouth bass.

Both motorized and non-motorized boats are permitted on Crane Prairie; however, a 10 MPH speed limit is enforced.

Facilities

Cow Meadow Campground can accommodate RV, trailer or tent-campers; however, water and electric hookups are not available. This is no water at this facility so campers will need to bring their own supply. All sites are equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill and have access to a vault toilet. This campground also has a boat ramp that can accommodate small boats.

Natural Features

Crane Prairie Reservoir is one of Central Oregon's premier wildlife viewing areas for waterfowl, including Sandhill crane, Canadian geese, bald eagles and osprey. The adjacent forest is home to black-backed woodpecker, Williamson's sapsucker and mountain chickadee. Deer, squirrel, beaver and an occasional black bear also find habitat in the surrounding forest.

Nearby Attractions

Nearby Osprey Point is a unique area where visitors can learn about local fauna and observe osprey nesting platforms erected after natural snags toppled from age.

Visitors can explore wilderness areas, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails. Cow Meadow Campground offers easy access to the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway which weaves through multiple high lakes with views of South Sister, Broken Top and Mt. Bachelor.

Newberry National Volcanic Monument offers a glimpse into Central Oregon's rich geologic history. Travel 30 miles to Lava Lands Visitor Center to explore exhibits at the interpretive center, attend a ranger talk, take in scenic views from the top of Lava Butte and travel one-mile underground through Lava River Cave. Travel 45 miles to Newberry Caldera to visit Paulina and East Lake, Paulina Peak and Paulina Falls.

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.

Rules and notices at Cow Meadow Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 30, 2026. Check Cow Meadow Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

This is a no water facility so campers will need to bring their own supply.

Prevent the spread of invasive species by inspecting and cleaning packs, equipment and tires before using lake or trails.

Please Note: One RV with tow vehicle per single site or one vehicle per tent site. Most sites can accommodate 1 extra vehicle that is not included with the reservation fee. Extra vehicle will be charged a per night fee and collected at the campground.

Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed.

During your time in Central Oregon, you can find wildfire, prescribed fire and smoke information at centraloregonfire.org

Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests.

Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).

Don't Move Firewood: Please protect Pacific Northwest forests by preventing the spread of invasive species. Firewood can carry insects and diseases that can threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by obtaining and burning your firewood near your camping destination. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.

Click here for more information about Deschutes National Forest

Camping or otherwise occupying a single location (including leaving camping equipment and/or related supplies) for a period longer than 14 consecutive calendar days is prohibited. β€˜Location’ means the occupied area, the occupied campsite, and the National Forest System lands in the immediate vicinity thereof. Camping or occupying any location on all National Forest lands for more than 28 calendar days total during a calendar year is prohibited.

NO generator use is allowed in campgrounds between 10:00PM and 7:00AM (36 CFR 261.10). Silent power banks or battery powered devices are allowed.

Cow Meadow Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Cow Meadow Campground?

Cow Meadow Campground is rated "Hard to Book" based on historical demand. This campground is popular and often books out weeks in advance. Your best strategy is to monitor cancellations.

How do I find last-minute availability at Cow Meadow Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at Cow Meadow Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Cow Meadow Campground have?

Cow Meadow Campground has 15 campsites.

More campgrounds in Deschutes National Forest

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