Candle Creek Campground

Deschutes National Forest — riverside

Location: SISTERS, OR, OR

Price: From $21 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (38 reviews)

Season: May through October

Candle Creek Campground sits at the confluence of the Metolius River and Candle Creek. It is at the end of the Metolius Valley and on the river where the rapids start. This unique location makes it a very popular spot among locals.Hiking and fishing top the list of recreational activities for visitors.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Electric Hookups

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/candle-creek-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Candle Creek Campground sits at the confluence of the Metolius River and Candle Creek, offering a unique location popular among locals. The spring-fed Metolius River provides excellent fly-fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, whitefish, bull trout, and kokanee salmon in a stunning setting.

Wildlife alert: Northern Pacific Rattlesnake and Wandering Garter Snake present in area. Also coyote, bobcat, and mule deer.

Insider tips for Candle Creek Campground: Book early as this is a federal campground and very popular with locals Electric hookups available on select sites only Hiking and fishing are the primary recreational activities

Skip Candle Creek Campground if: You need water or sewer hookups - only electric available on select sites. You prefer year-round camping - seasonal operations only May-October. You want a large campground - only 10 total sites.

Best time to visit Candle Creek Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Lower Bridge Campground (SISTERS, OR), Pioneer Ford Campground (SISTERS, OR), Sheep Springs Horse Camp (SISTERS, OR), Green Ridge Lookout (Sisters, OR).

Cell Phone Coverage at Candle Creek Campground

Cell signal at Candle Creek Campground (SISTERS, OR): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

CamperWatch›OR›Candle Creek Campground
Candle Creek Campground — photo 1
Deschutes National Forest — riversideLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Candle Creek Campground

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SISTERS, OR, OR★ 4 (38 reviews)From $21/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Candle Creek Campground sits at the confluence of the Metolius River and Candle Creek. It is at the end of the Metolius Valley and on the river where the rapids start. This unique location makes it a very popular spot among locals.Hiking and fishing top the list of recreational activities for visitors.

Best for:FamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV18 ft
HookupsElectric hookups on select sites. No water/sewer.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsElectric Hookups
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Vault Toilets

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need water or sewer hookups - only electric available on select sites✕ You prefer year-round camping - seasonal operations only May-October✕ You want a large campground - only 10 total sites

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early as this is a federal campground and very popular with locals

Electric hookups available on select sites only

Hiking and fishing are the primary recreational activities

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Northern Pacific Rattlesnake and Wandering Garter Snake present in area. Also coyote, bobcat, and mule deer.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
541-323-1746· Deschutes National Forest
Getting there →

From Sisters, OR: Travel 12.4 miles northwest on Highway 20, then 12.3 miles north on Forest Road 12, and then 1.6 miles east on Forest Road 1200 980.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Deschutes National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Deschutes National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Candle Creek Campground cost per night?+
Candle Creek Campground costs $21 per night. Hookup options: Electric hookups on select sites. No water/sewer.
What season is Candle Creek Campground open?+
Candle Creek Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Candle Creek Campground have hookups?+
Electric hookups on select sites. No water/sewer.
What is the maximum RV length at Candle Creek Campground?+
Candle Creek Campground can accommodate RVs up to 18 feet.
How do I make reservations at Candle Creek Campground?+
Candle Creek Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Candle Creek Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Candle Creek Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Candle Creek Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Candle Creek Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Printable Map
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$21 /night★ 4 (38)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Candle Creek Campground cost per night?+
What season is Candle Creek Campground open?+
Does Candle Creek Campground have hookups?+
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