Chief Paulina Horse Camp

Deschutes National Forest — lakeside, hiking

Location: La Pine, OR, OR

Price: From $23 per night

Price range: $23–$27 per night

Rating: 3.8 out of 5 (48 reviews)

Season: May through October

Chief Paulina Horse Camp is the only horse campground located in Newberry National Volcanic Monument in Deschutes National Forest. A favorite for horse enthusiasts, the campground provides visitors with access to lakes, lava flows and spectacular geologic features. For more information about the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=66159 Lava Lands Visitor Center in nearby Bend, Oregon, is a great starting point for visitors

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/chief-paulina-horse-camp to be notified when sites open up.

Chief Paulina Horse Camp is the only horse campground in Newberry National Volcanic Monument, offering access to lakes, lava flows, and spectacular geologic features. Campers praise the outstanding camp hosts and beautiful setting with water available for horses.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Pacific Marten, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Osprey, Canada Jay, Common Merganser, Western Tanager, and Northern Sagebrush Lizard documented in the area.

Insider tips for Chief Paulina Horse Camp: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 14 sites and high demand. Bring your own horse panels; existing corrals use only three water pipe rails and may bend under pressure. Inspect campsites for level ground before setting up; not all sites are level.

Skip Chief Paulina Horse Camp if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available.. You're visiting before late May — snow may block access.. You have horses but cannot bring supplemental corral panels for safety..

Best time to visit Chief Paulina Horse Camp: June-September — Official season is May through October, but snow reported in May; mid-summer offers clearer conditions and fully melted access roads..

Nearby campgrounds: Newberry Group Camp Site (La Pine, OR), Little Crater Campground (La Pine, OR), Paulina Lake Campground (La Pine, OR), East Lake Campground (La Pine, OR).

Cell Phone Coverage at Chief Paulina Horse Camp

Cell signal at Chief Paulina Horse Camp (La Pine, 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.

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Deschutes National Forest — lakeside, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Chief Paulina Horse Camp

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La Pine, OR, OR★ 3.8 (48 reviews)From $23/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Chief Paulina Horse Camp is the only horse campground located in Newberry National Volcanic Monument in Deschutes National Forest. A favorite for horse enthusiasts, the campground provides visitors with access to lakes, lava flows and spectacular geologic features. For more information about the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=66159 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.

Best for:HikersSites:Tent
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 RV50 ft
HookupsNo hookups.
Pull-throughsAvailable
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Drinking Water

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 RV hookups — no hookups available.✕ You're visiting before late May — snow may block access.✕ You have horses but cannot bring supplemental corral panels for safety.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with only 14 sites and high demand.

Bring your own horse panels; existing corrals use only three water pipe rails and may bend under pressure.

Inspect campsites for level ground before setting up; not all sites are level.

Best: June-September

Official season is May through October, but snow reported in May; mid-summer offers clearer conditions and fully melted access roads.

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: American Black Bear, Pacific Marten, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Osprey, Canada Jay, Common Merganser, Western Tanager, and Northern Sagebrush Lizard documented in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
541-383-5300· Deschutes National Forest
Getting there →

From Bend go south 23.5 miles on Hwy 97, then 13.9 miles east on County Rd 21(Paulina Lake Road) From La Pine go north 5 miles on Hwy 97, then 13.9 miles east on County Rd. 21 (Paulina Lake Road)

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.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Chief Paulina Horse Camp cost per night?+
Chief Paulina Horse Camp costs $23–$27 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Chief Paulina Horse Camp open?+
Chief Paulina Horse Camp is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Chief Paulina Horse Camp have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Chief Paulina Horse Camp?+
Chief Paulina Horse Camp can accommodate RVs up to 50 feet.
How do I make reservations at Chief Paulina Horse Camp?+
Chief Paulina Horse Camp 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 Chief Paulina Horse Camp?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Chief Paulina Horse Camp is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Chief Paulina Horse Camp open, and what are check-in times?+
Chief Paulina Horse Camp is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Print Facility MapForest Service Concessionaire
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●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.

$23 /night★ 3.8 (48)
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 Chief Paulina Horse Camp cost per night?+
What season is Chief Paulina Horse Camp open?+
Does Chief Paulina Horse Camp have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Newberry Group Camp Site

La Pine, OR

From $97/night

Little Crater Campground

La Pine, OR

From $27/night

Paulina Lake Campground

La Pine, OR

From $27/night

East Lake Campground

La Pine, OR

From $27/night

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