Cow Meadow Campground
Deschutes National Forest — lakeside
Location: BEND, OR, OR
Price: From $21 per night
Rating: 3.1 out of 5 (24 reviews)
Season: May through October
Cow Meadow Campground is situated where Snow Creek and the Deschutes River flow into the northeast part of Crane Prairie Reservoir. Located just off of the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, Cow Meadow Campground provides great access to a wide-range of recreation opportunities, including fishing, boating and hiking.Cow Meadow Campground can accommodate RV, trailer or tent-campers; however, water and electric hookups are not available. This is no water at this facility so campers will need to bring the
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Electric Hookups, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cow-meadow-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Cow Meadow Campground offers excellent access to Crane Prairie Reservoir for fishing and boating, located on the scenic Cascade Lakes Highway with sites near Snow Creek and the Deschutes River. The area provides diverse recreation opportunities including hiking and water activities.
Wildlife alert: Mountain lions, gray wolves, and American black bears present in the area. Osprey and bald eagles also documented nearby.
Insider tips for Cow Meadow Campground: Book early — this is a popular federal campground with limited sites Bring heavy-duty insect repellent (Picaridin and DEET) and rely on campfire smoke; multiple campers report severe mosquito problems Only select sites have electric hookups; confirm hookup availability when booking if needed
Skip Cow Meadow Campground if: You need water or sewer hookups — only electric available on select sites. You're sensitive to mosquitoes — multiple reviews cite intense mosquito activity as a major drawback. You prefer year-round camping — seasonal operations May-October only.
Best time to visit Cow Meadow Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Crane Prairie Campground (BEND, OR), Cultus Corral Horse Camp (BEND, OR), Cultus Lake Campground (BEND, OR), Quinn River Campground (BEND, OR).
Cell Phone Coverage at Cow Meadow Campground
Cell signal at Cow Meadow Campground (BEND, OR): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
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.
Cow Meadow Campground is situated where Snow Creek and the Deschutes River flow into the northeast part of Crane Prairie Reservoir. Located just off of the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, Cow Meadow Campground provides great access to a wide-range of recreation opportunities, including fishing, boating and hiking.Cow Meadow Campground can accommodate RV, trailer or tent-campers; however, water and electric hookups are not available. This is no water at this facility so campers will need to bring their own supply.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a popular federal campground with limited sites
Bring heavy-duty insect repellent (Picaridin and DEET) and rely on campfire smoke; multiple campers report severe mosquito problems
Only select sites have electric hookups; confirm hookup availability when booking if needed
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Bend, OR: Travel about 45 miles south on Cascade Lakes Highway (46), 0.5 mile east on Forest Road 40, then 2 miles south on Forest Road 4000-790.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#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, speakableHow much does Cow Meadow Campground cost per night?+
What season is Cow Meadow Campground open?+
Does Cow Meadow Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Cow Meadow Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Cow Meadow Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Cow Meadow Campground?+
What season is Cow Meadow Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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