About Smiling River Campground
Nestled in Deschutes National Forest, Smiling River Campground offers visitors some of the most stunning scenery in central Oregon and easy access to an abundance of recreational activities. Hiking and fishing top the list of recreational activities for visitors. For anglers, the spring-fed Metolius river offers a stunning setting for fly-fishing. Its clear, cold water supports rainbow trout, whitefish, bull trout and kokanee salmon. For day hikers and backpackers, the area offers a wide variety of scenic terrain, ranging from riverside trails to routes in subalpine forests. Smiling River Campground offers sites that accommodate both tent and RV camping, however hookups are not available. Picnic areas, trails and scenic overlooks, along with the conveniences of firewood, drinking water and flush toilets, give visitors the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while still having many of the…
- Managed by: Deschutes National Forest, FS
- Where: 3 mi north of Camp Sherman, OR · 44.49333, -121.64056
Things to do:
Official page for this camp (fees, closures, booking)
Weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: May–Sep (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: Nov–Apr.
Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.
Trails near camp
| Trail | Open to | From camp | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Metolius River Trail | Hiking | at camp | 9.8 mi |
| FR 1400420 | ATV road | 0.2 mi | 0.5 mi |
| FR 1400400 | ATV road | 0.2 mi | 0.6 mi |
| West Metolius River Trail | Hiking | 0.3 mi | 8.5 mi |
| Metolius-Windigo | Horse | 1.1 mi | 143.9 mi |
| Green Ridge | Horse | 1.7 mi | 12.2 mi |
Straight-line distance from camp, from Forest Service, BLM, state and OpenStreetMap trail data.
Good to know
Verizon 4G · AT&T 5G · T-Mobile 5G
From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way shows rich detail, horizon to horizon.
Class 2 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.Dump station: 19.3 mi
Water fill-up: 21.7 mi
Propane: 2.3 mi
Camps nearby
- Lower Canyon Creek Campground 0.6 mi
- Gorge Campground 0.6 mi
- Camp Sherman Campground 0.8 mi
- Pine Rest Campground 0.8 mi
- Smiling River Campground 1.3 mi
- Allingham Campground 1.5 mi