Long Bend Campground

Our Take

What makes Long Bend Campground special

Stretched along the banks of the legendary Deschutes River near the small Oregon town of Maupin, Long Bend Campground is an inviting base camp for paddlers, anglers, and anyone drawn to the sound of moving water. The riverside sites put you steps from one of the West's most celebrated whitewater and fly-fishing rivers, and a primitive boat launch on-site makes it easy to slip a raft, drift boat, or kayak into the current. The landscape here is classic eastern Oregon high desert: tawny bunchgrass hills rising above a ribbon of green riparian corridor, with basalt rimrock framing the horizon. By day, you can float gentle stretches of river, cast dry flies to rising redside trout, or hike the surrounding BLM lands where pronghorn and mule deer roam. By evening, the canyon walls glow amber as the sun drops, and stargazing is outstanding under some of the darkest skies in the state. Long Bend fills up fast on summer weekends, so plan to arrive Thursday or Friday morning for the best site selection. Spring steelhead season and autumn's cooler temperatures offer equally memorable visits with fewer crowds. Facilities are basic, so pack in your own water, firewood, and supplies. Maupin, just a short drive south, has outfitters, restaurants, and a welcoming small-town vibe that rounds out any river trip perfectly.