SP Campground Review – LaPine State Park, La Pine OR

By the river at LaPine State Park

A lovely forested State Park on the “dry” side of the Cascades in Central-West Oregon.

Link to campground here: LaPine State Park, OR
Link to map location here:  LaPine State Park, OR

1. Site Quality = 3.5/5
   Pretty decent sites here except for a few dings. Sites are all paved with picnic table, fire-pit and good to very good shade. Selection of back-ins and pull-throughs. Biggest issue is that many sites are quite unlevel and access and turns in camp can be tight (our rig size is probably the limit that you can get round). There are 3 loops. The first loop (#100-136) offers much more spacious sites with very good privacy (especially along the back), but only 20Amp/water hookups. The other 2 loops (#6-96) offer the bonus of full-hookups (50Amp/water/sewer), but are alot tighter together. 
2.  Facilities = 3/5
   Decent facilities here. There are flush toilets and showers. Only ding is the showers have that annoying timer-button and don’t get very warm. Lots of space and activities around the park incl. day-use & picnic areas, trails, floating on the water and fishing. On-site dump station.
3. Location = 5/5
   This is a beautiful forested location. You’re right next to a gorgeous river, yet only a few miles from La Pine (basic shopping) and a little more from Bend (lots of shopping). You’re also in a perfect location to explore the Newberry Caldera and volcanic sites in the area.
4. Pet Friendliness = 5/5
   Fabulous doggie park. There is a separate doggie-play area, plus masses of forested trails. Doggie is also welcome to find a quiet bend in the river and splash around.

Overall Rating = 4.1
BONUS ALERT = Hike and camp by gorgeous Ponderosa Pine and river!

Summary: We wanted a nice stop on the “dry” side of the Cascades and this park worked out perfectly. It’s set right next to a river in deep Ponderosa Pine so you get the bonus of water and forest together. Lots of secluded and peaceful trails with easy access to splash (with pooch) in the river. Sites are decent with lots of trees, picnic table and fire-puts plus the bonus of selection from 20Amp to full hookups (50Amp/water/sewer). Only ding is that the full hookup sites are closer together, somewhat uneven and access can be tight (pull-throughs are the best option for our size rig). The perfect spot to explore the base of the Cascades and the Newberry Caldera. We thoroughly enjoyed hiking around w/ pooch and would come again.

 Extra Info:  Intermittent Verizon signal (sometimes kicking between 1X & 3G), but workable esp. with amp/antenna. Sites cost $22/night (20Amp or full hookup), all reservable. On-site dump station.

View of one of the huge (very private) sites in the 20Amp loop. Site #123 shown.

View down full hook-up loop (site #22, #23 on left front to back)

Another view down full hookup loop (Site #33 on right)

View down full hookup loop showing pull-throughs on right (#59 front right)

Fonrt view of our site (pull-through #89)

View of our sitting area at site #89

View of facilities in full hookup loop

Doggie play-area

Volcanos & Rain Shadows – The Cascades Range, OR

The Oregon Cascade Range

We’ve made it to Oregon!In the spirit of the early pioneers we’re rather relishing the cool, temperate weather and the thick rich pines, highlighted beautifully by the white-capped mountains of the Cascades. Oregon is a coastal state, but has a far more complex geological history and it all comes together right here in a story of volcanic eruptions, lava and rain shadows.

As they say it all started long, long ago. The NW has a million-plus year history of volcanic eruptions many of which have left deep marks on the landscape. Most people know about Crater Lake or have heard of Mt.St Helens, but the Cascades hide their own little story too. Newberry Volcano, centered about 20 miles southeast of Bend, Oregon is one of the largest Quaternary (that would be the period of 1.8 million years ago to the present) volcanoes in the United States. Spanning an area of 500 square miles it boasts 2 large volcanic lakes, hundreds of cinder cones/vents and  the Big Obsidian flow,  a very recent (only 1,300 year old) eruption that’s left a large, black lava-flow near the summit.

Hanging out by Paulina Lake at the Newberry Caldera

The whole hot history of this place has also shaped the landscape. Surrounding soils are high in pumice and acidity lending themselves to Ponderosa Pine and Bitterbrush. In fact, Oregon’s largest Ponderosa on record (162 feet high) is right here at our park.

The other amazing development is that it’s split the landscape in two -> A wet and a dry side. Oregon has one of the most marked “rain shadows“ in the West separated by just this single line of mountains. West of the Cascades areas of the coast can get up to 100″ per year, while East of them it can get down to below 10″. Gives a whole new meaning to splitting the difference!

The Big Obsidian Flow

But all this wonderful history doesn’t tell you that this is also pooch paradise. When we were struggling to find paw-friendly spots on the FL coast last year, I had a poster tell me “come to Oregon, this place belongs to dogs!”. So far paw-dreams are coming true and Polly has been welcomed like a grand queen. Our State Park has a dedicated dog play-area and Rangers even asked if she’d had a chance to swim in the river (and gave us hints on where to go). She was given a dog biscuit when we paid our day-fee for Newberry Caldera, and she’s been going simply banana’s from the mass of squirrels and chipmunks hopping around our site.

We’re relaxing here for a few days before our final push to the RV repair center and my jet-setting off to Europe for my family reunion. You can look forward to a few more park reviews, some pics from my new camera, possibly a guest blog post and hopefully news on the RV slide. Keep your paws and toes crossed for that last one for us, will you?

Did You Know?-> Ponderosa Pine smells like butterscotch. Give it a try!

Big and beautiful Ponderosa Pine

By the river at LaPine State Park

Polly meets a ground squirrel. A beyond exciting moment!

Moonrise amongst the pines on the dry side of Oregon