Sheep Springs Horse Camp

Deschutes National Forest — lakeside, hiking

Location: SISTERS, OR, OR

Price: From $25 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (53 reviews)

Season: May through October

Sheep Springs Horse Campground sits in the spectacular Metolius River Basin area in Deschutes National Forest. In close proximity to snow-capped peaks, high elevation lakes, scenic rivers and several wilderness areas, this campground offers a variety of scenery and recreational opportunities for visitors.Located at an elevation of approximately 3,200 feet, campsites are interspersed among a towering canopy of old-growth Ponderosa pine and a variety of spruce and fir. The Metolius River flows nea

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water

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

Sheep Springs Horse Camp is a favorite among horse enthusiasts in Deschutes National Forest's Metolius River Basin, offering access to scenic trails through lakes, lava flows, and forests. Campers praise the shaded sites, clean facilities, and wonderful trail system suitable for various horse gaits.

Wildlife alert: Mountain lions, coyotes, mule deer, northern pacific rattlesnakes, and wandering garter snakes present in the area.

Insider tips for Sheep Springs Horse Camp: Book early — this is a popular federal campground with only 11 sites Bring water for horses or use the nearby spring trough or creek Pack a poop bin for horse waste management Expect washboard road conditions on access roads

Skip Sheep Springs Horse Camp if: You need RV hookups or full amenities — no hookups available. You require cell service — Verizon coverage not available. You need garbage service — not provided at this campground. You visit outside May-October — seasonal operations only.

Best time to visit Sheep Springs Horse Camp: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Candle Creek Campground (SISTERS, OR), Lower Bridge Campground (SISTERS, OR), Pioneer Ford Campground (SISTERS, OR), Allen Springs Campground (SISTERS, OR).

Cell Phone Coverage at Sheep Springs Horse Camp

Cell signal at Sheep Springs Horse Camp (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.

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

Sheep Springs Horse Camp

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SISTERS, OR, OR★ 4.5 (53 reviews)From $25/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Sheep Springs Horse Campground sits in the spectacular Metolius River Basin area in Deschutes National Forest. In close proximity to snow-capped peaks, high elevation lakes, scenic rivers and several wilderness areas, this campground offers a variety of scenery and recreational opportunities for visitors.Located at an elevation of approximately 3,200 feet, campsites are interspersed among a towering canopy of old-growth Ponderosa pine and a variety of spruce and fir. The Metolius River flows nearby, making its headwaters at Metolius Springs at the base of nearby Black Butte, 6,436-foot extinct stratovolcano.

Best for:HikersFamiliesSites: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.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking Water
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 RV hookups or full amenities — no hookups available✕ You require cell service — Verizon coverage not available✕ You need garbage service — not provided at this campground✕ You visit outside May-October — seasonal operations only

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a popular federal campground with only 11 sites

Bring water for horses or use the nearby spring trough or creek

Pack a poop bin for horse waste management

Expect washboard road conditions on access roads

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: Mountain lions, coyotes, mule deer, northern pacific rattlesnakes, and wandering garter snakes present in the area.

Location

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

From Sisters, Oregon, take Highway 20 west for about 12 miles. Turn north onto Jack Lake Road/FS Road 12 and continue for nearly 6 miles. Turn left onto FS Road 1260, then right onto FS Road 200. Sheep Springs will be on the right hand side.

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 Sheep Springs Horse Camp cost per night?+
Sheep Springs Horse Camp costs $25 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Sheep Springs Horse Camp open?+
Sheep Springs Horse Camp is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Sheep Springs Horse Camp have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Sheep Springs Horse Camp?+
Sheep Springs Horse Camp can accommodate RVs up to 50 feet.
How do I make reservations at Sheep Springs Horse Camp?+
Sheep Springs 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 Sheep Springs Horse Camp?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Sheep Springs Horse Camp is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Sheep Springs Horse Camp open, and what are check-in times?+
Sheep Springs Horse Camp is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Print Facility Map
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●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.

$25 /night★ 4.5 (53)
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 Sheep Springs Horse Camp cost per night?+
What season is Sheep Springs Horse Camp open?+
Does Sheep Springs Horse Camp have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Candle Creek Campground

SISTERS, OR

From $21/night

Lower Bridge Campground

SISTERS, OR

From $27/night

Pioneer Ford Campground

SISTERS, OR

From $30/night

Allen Springs Campground

SISTERS, OR

From $28/night

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