Lingering snowpack means 8 Deschutes National Forest campgrounds won’t open by Memorial Day weekend

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The snowpack lingering from winter will delay the opening of eight Deschutes National Forest campgrounds in time for Memorial Day weekend, officials said Tuesday.

The snow levels in these campgrounds prevented annual pre-season safety inspections and hazard tree mitigation from being completed in time for reservations to begin this Friday.

The following campgrounds, which were slated to open prior to or on Memorial Day weekend, will be delayed in opening:

Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District

• Elk Lake Campground
• Little Fawn Campground
• Mallard Marsh Campground
• Point Campground
• Quinn Meadow Horse Camp
• Soda Creek Campground
• South Campground

Crescent Ranger District

• Trapper Creek Campground

Visitors with reservations at the above locations through May 30, can expect to see a refund and cancellation email as soon as today. Vista Recreation, the campground concessionaire, and the Forest Service are monitoring the snow levels at these locations and will begin hazard tree removal and preseason maintenance as soon as snow recedes in order to open campgrounds as soon as they are able to safely do so.

While the above campgrounds will be delayed in opening, the Deschutes National Forest has several campgrounds that have opened or will be opening prior to Memorial Day. To check which campgrounds on the Deschutes National Forest are currently open, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/deschutes/recreation.

During the spring and early summer recreation season, the Forest Service reminds visitors that it’s extremely important to “Know Before You Go.” This means confirming that your destination is open for use, checking to see if routes of travel are open and reviewing predicted weather forecasts. Forest Service roads are not plowed or maintained during winter conditions.

For more information about the closures, please contact the Deschutes National Forest at 541-383-5300.