Skip to content
McKay Crossing Campground in Oregon
Hard to BookNational Forest

McKay Crossing Campground

Deschutes National Forest, Oregon

Sold out? We check McKay Crossing Campground for cancellations and email you the moment a site opens.

Sold out for your dates?

Free to start. Email alerts included.

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

  • PermitSnag checks McKay Crossing Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • McKay Crossing Campground is located at 43.7164Β° N, 121.3773Β° W.
people allowed on each site
8

McKay Crossing Campground reservations and next available dates

October 2026

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

Stay and booking rules

  • Taxes apply
  • Maximum stay: 28 days

Published by Recreation.gov for McKay Crossing Campground, read on September 29, 2026.

Campsites at McKay Crossing Campground

  • Standard 15

Amenities

  • restrooms
  • potable water

At a glance: Setting: Mountain.

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

All sites at McKay Crossing Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the Loop 1 loop.

SiteTypeSleeps
01Standard8
02Standard8
03Standard8
04Standard8
05Standard8
06Standard8
07Standard8
08Standard8
09Standard8
10Standard8
11Standard8
12Standard8
13Standard8
14Standard8
15Standard8

About McKay Crossing Campground

Overview

McKay Crossing Campground is located off the beaten path along Paulina Creek. It provides campers with seclusion from the main road and the tranquility of hearing the creek flow. This area is good for bird watching, particularly in the wetlands located west of the campground.

For more information about the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=66159

Recreation

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.

Facilities

McKay Crossing 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.

Natural Features

Paulina Creek divides this campground into two sections with sites 1-5 in one loop and sites 6-15 in an adjacent loop. A large waterfall is within a very short walk and brings the sound of falling waters to the camp sites near by.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (541) 323-1746.

Nearby Attractions

Visitors 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 Range, weaving past snow-capped peaks and alpine lakes.

Lava Lands Visitor Center in nearby 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.

Lava River Cave, located in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument is also nearby for campers to explore. At 5,211 feet in length, the northwest section of the cave is the longest continuous lava tube in 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.

Rules and notices at McKay Crossing Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 29, 2026. Check McKay Crossing Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

This facility is pet friendly so long as animals are picked up after and kept on their leashes.

Prevent the spread of invasive species by inspecting and cleaning packs, equipment and tires before using lakes, rivers 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.

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.

McKay Crossing Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at McKay Crossing Campground?

McKay Crossing 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 McKay Crossing Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at McKay Crossing 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 McKay Crossing Campground have?

McKay Crossing Campground has 15 campsites.

More campgrounds in Deschutes National Forest

Same forest, same drive. Set an alert on any of them alongside this one.

All 83 Deschutes National Forest campgrounds

Campgrounds

Browse Campsites

Monitor campsite availability across federal and state parks. Get alerts when sites open up at sold-out campgrounds.

One tick helps us more than you’d think

Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our campground pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.

Add PermitSnag in Google

Takes less than a minute.