Deschutes National Forest dispersed camping rules

Allowed with restrictions

Dispersed camping is mentioned, but none of the documents clearly says it is allowed forest-wide. There is a forest-wide 14-day limit, and a separate order bans camping or limits it to set sites in named sensitive areas.

Where it is not allowed

• No camping at all in the Whychus Creek Riparian Corridor, the Bend Municipal Watershed, the Cascade Lakes Hwy Scenic Views Corridor, or the Deschutes Wild & Scenic River corridor from Bend to County Road 40 (Order 06-01-26-01).
• Three Creeks Lake Area and the Deschutes Wild & Scenic River corridor from La Pine SRA to Wickiup: camp only in developed campgrounds or existing dispersed sites.
• Whychus Creek Wild & Scenic River Portal Area: camp only in existing designated dispersed sites.
• Tumalo Creek Area: no camping within 200 ft of permanent surface water.
• Newberry Caldera: camp only in developed campgrounds and resorts.

14 consecutive calendar days at a single location

Applies to: Deschutes National Forest, forest-wide

Restrictions in effect · Fire order 06-01-26-06

In effect September 5, 2026 to November 30, 2026

Stage 1 restrictions cover the whole forest except the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Thielsen, Mt. Washington and Diamond Peak wildernesses. Campfires are allowed only in Forest Service-built fire rings at the designated sites listed in Exhibit A. Stoves, lanterns and fire pits running only on gas or propane with an on/off switch are allowed if vegetation is cleared 3 ft around the flame. Smoking is limited, chainsaws are banned 1-8 p.m., and explosives are banned. This order replaces order 06-01-26-05.

Alerts and orders

Wilderness permits

From June 15 to Oct 15, overnight trips into the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Washington wildernesses need a limited-entry Central Cascades Wilderness Permit. Some trailheads also need a limited-entry permit for day use; others need a free self-issue day permit. Reserve at Recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777. Overnight permits are not sold at Forest Service offices. Diamond Peak and Waldo Lake need a self-issue permit June 15–Oct 15. PCT hikers with a long-distance permit (500+ miles) don't need a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit.

Fees

The 2021-2023 report says Central Cascades Wilderness Permits have a non-refundable processing fee and no separate permit fee. Campground and pass fees are not stated.

• Campfire bans in named areas under Order 06-01-26-01, e.g. Bend Municipal Watershed (stove fires banned too) and Hosmer Lake/Mallard Marsh (fires only in developed campgrounds). Portable gas stoves and lanterns are exempt except in the watershed.
• Wildernesses: groups are limited to 12 people and 12 head of stock, and gear may not be stored for more than 48 hours.
• Three Sisters Wilderness: at Green Lakes, Moraine Lake and North/South Matthieu Lakes, camp only at designated sites within 15 ft of a campsite post. Other lakes and meadows have 100-250 ft setbacks from water.
• Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Washington wildernesses: no fires above 5,700 ft except liquid or gas stoves. Diamond Peak: the same rule above 6,000 ft.
• Wilderness trail pages say to build campfires at least 100 ft from water.
• Green and Moraine Lakes areas and their access trails: dogs must be leashed from July 15 to Sept 15.

Vehicles are banned off roads and trails designated on the MVUM. Under the Stage 1 order you may park on bare ground within 10 ft of the road, or drive the minimum distance over bare mineral soil to reach a dispersed campsite.

Motor vehicles are limited to the roads and trails shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Map.

• Cabin Butte Area Closure (Order 06-01-01-26-01), Bend-Fort Rock RDCurrent

  2026-05-01 to 2027-04-30

  All public entry is closed, including day use and overnight camping. Horse Butte, Bessie Butte, Boyd Cave, Cabin Butte and Coyote Butte are closed, along with most roads and trails in the area. NFSR 9710 and NFSR 1800 south of NFSR 1820 stay open.

• Crescent Industrial Camp seasonal closure (Order 06-01-26-01)Status unknown

  Annually from Aug 15, 10:00 AM, for up to 90 days

  Closes the Crescent Industrial Camp area and all of NFSR 5814 to site use and road travel.

• Fireworks are always illegal on Forest Service lands in Central Oregon.
• Central Oregon Fire Use Information Line for current restrictions: 1-800-523-4737.
• Be cautious in areas burned by the 2022 Cedar Creek Fire.
• West Bend: no trail closures are in place right now, but log hauling is ongoing west of Bend, so take care at road crossings.

Gaps and conflicts in the official pages when they were checked.

• The full text and order number of the 14-day stay-limit order were not supplied, so storage rules for camping gear are unknown.
• No document states outright that dispersed camping is allowed forest-wide.
• Conflict on fire rules: the alerts and fire pages (D2/D10) say open fires are allowed in 'designated campgrounds', but Order 06-01-26-06 allows fires only in Forest Service-built fire rings at the sites listed in Exhibit A. Exhibit A is not in the supplied text.
• Conflict on vehicle travel: D10 says you may drive to a campsite within 300 ft of an open road, but Order 06-01-26-06 allows parking within 10 ft of the road or minimum travel to dispersed camping. The order is the controlling text.
• The cave-entry order listed on the alerts page was not supplied.
• The Crescent Industrial Camp seasonal closure has no explicit 2026 end date.
• Campground fees and recreation pass requirements are not stated.
• No Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) or other map URL was supplied.
• It is not stated whether a campfire permit is required.

Is dispersed camping allowed in Deschutes National Forest?

Allowed with restrictions. Dispersed camping is mentioned, but none of the documents clearly says it is allowed forest-wide. There is a forest-wide 14-day limit, and a separate order bans camping or limits it to set sites in named sensitive areas.

How long can you camp in Deschutes National Forest?

The stay limit is 14 consecutive calendar days at a single location.

Are campfires allowed in Deschutes National Forest?

Stage 1 restrictions cover the whole forest except the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Thielsen, Mt. Washington and Diamond Peak wildernesses. Campfires are allowed only in Forest Service-built fire rings at the designated sites listed in Exhibit A. Stoves, lanterns and fire pits running only on gas or propane with an on/off switch are allowed if vegetation is cleared 3 ft around the flame. Smoking is limited, chainsaws are banned 1-8 p.m., and explosives are banned. This order replaces order 06-01-26-05. This was the order in effect when the area was checked on September 24, 2026; confirm on the alerts page before you go.

Do you need a permit to camp in Deschutes National Forest?

From June 15 to Oct 15, overnight trips into the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Washington wildernesses need a limited-entry Central Cascades Wilderness Permit. Some trailheads also need a limited-entry permit for day use; others need a free self-issue day permit. Reserve at Recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777. Overnight permits are not sold at Forest Service offices. Diamond Peak and Waldo Lake need a self-issue permit June 15–Oct 15. PCT hikers with a long-distance permit (500+ miles) don't need a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit. The 2021-2023 report says Central Cascades Wilderness Permits have a non-refundable processing fee and no separate permit fee. Campground and pass fees are not stated.