The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Stillwater Campground is one of 12 campgrounds and day-use areas that line the lower end of the Crooked Wild and Scenic River. The areas surrounding this river, including Stillwater Campground, are part of a gorge with rocky cliffs that extend up to 600 feet high. The campground itself has 10 campsites that are maintained by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and given on a first-come, first-serve basis. These sites are partially shaded and feature pull-through parking spaces with picnic tables and fire rings. A disability-accessible vault toilet is also at the campground, and campers may stay for up to 14 days a time here for a fee of $8 a night. An additional $2 a night may be taken per extra vehicle at a site, and two extra vehicles, aside from towing vehicles, may be permitted each day.
Dry Canyon Trail is an out-and-back hiking and biking trail that takes a path through a scenic valley. This trail is also paved and runs through some sections of Redmond, with multiple benches along the way. Length: 7.8 miles Intensity: Moderate
Juniper Trail is a loop trail popular with mountain bikers. The terrain of the trail is rocky but level. Length: 3.1 miles Intensity: Easy
Located in Crooked River National Grassland, Skull Hollow Trail is a long loop trail that is popular with backpack campers. The trail itself features scenic canyons in full sun. Length: 12.3 Intensity: Difficult
Stillwater Campground is known for its proximity to Crooked River, which is popular with anglers who like to go fly fishing from early spring to late fall. Fish species commonly found in this river include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, catfish, crappie, and crayfish. Fishing is best in the lower section of the river, though there are more opportunities in the Prineville Reservoir section, which can be accessed through Prineville Reservoir State Park. Boating is permitted in the river, too, both motorized and non-motorized.
Climbing is popular at Smith Rock State Park, which is where you can find some of the tallest rock formations of the gorge surrounding Crooked River. This park is also home to multiple marked climbing trails, most of which feature climbing bolts. Some climbers choose to visit the park in the winter, though, since some popular trails are closed during the summer to preserve falcon and eagle nests that reside on the formation tops.
Plenty of wildlife may be seen at and around Stillwater Campground, including river otters, beavers, garter snakes, and great blue herons, all of which reside in the land around Crooked River. In the canyon areas, you may spot golden eagles, prairie falcons, ravens, mourning doves, chukar, and California quail. In the winter, you may see large populations of mule deer and pronghorn antelope. Other animals in the campground area include coyotes, porcupines, skunks, mallard ducks, Canadian geese, and bats.
Picnicking is popular at Greenwood Day-Use Area and Upper Lone Pine Day-Use Area, both of which are located just a few miles away from Stillwater Campground. These picnic sites feature traditional picnic tables and vault toilets, and they are popular Crooked River access points for anglers.
BLM campgrounds offer great campsites that are located right in the heart of nature, but they don't offer the same amenities that more developed campgrounds do. For RV camping with full hookups, you can stay at a place like Crooked County RV Park or Ochoco RV Park. Both of these locations are found in Prineville, Oregon, and are relatively close to the Crooked River.
While you may camp at Stillwater Campground for a small fee, you can stay at another BLM campground for free if you don't mind traveling away from the Crooked River area. One great free campground you may stay at is Knapper Camp, a dispersed campground and day-use area. This campground is known for its naturally high density of obsidian, and many campers come here to collect pieces of these rocks for themselves. However, no water or electrical outlets can be found at this campground, and there are no toilets.
Stillwater Campground offers a vault toilet but no potable water, so campers are recommended to bring their own water supplies when they choose to stay there. You may also like to bring battery, gas, or solar-powered camping equipment to use in place of electricity, such as lamps, heaters, and fans. Generators are also permitted to be used at this campground during daylight hours. If you plan on visiting Crooked River, consider bringing waterproof clothing and insect repellent to stay comfortable. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Everyone who stays at Stillwater Campground is required to follow the Bureau of Land Management's "Leave No Trace" policy. This policy is put in place to protect the wildlife of the area and preserve the land for future generations to enjoy. You can follow this policy by cleaning up any trash in your campsite, watching your campfires closely, and keeping your distance from any wildlife you encounter.
To reach Stillwater Campground, take US-26 from Portland to Prineville for approximately 130 miles. Once in Prineville, turn right onto South Main Street, which will turn into State Highway 27. Take this road for about 13.9 miles, then turn right into the entrance of Stillwater Campground. Address: Stillwater Campground Rd, Prineville, OR 97754 Ready to visit Stillwater Campground? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night, where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here's a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
