U.S. Forest Service · Fremont-Winema National Forest · Oregon

Deadhorse Lake Campground

Deadhorse Lake is located one hour 20 minutes south of Paisley, Oregon situated on Deadhorse Lake, a high-mountain lake with grassy and pebble beaches. The lake, elevation 7372 feet, spans 31 acres and is stocked with rainbow trout. There are nine tent and trailer sites, all with picnic tables and fire grills. It also features seven group campsites; some larger sites are located further from the lakeshore. There is also a hand pump for potable water. Deadhorse Lake, great for fishing, swimming, and boating (non-motorized or electric motors only), features a boat launch and separate day use area. All camping is first-come, first-served, and weekends and holidays are generally full.

More like this: first-come in Oregon · tent only in Oregon

Deadhorse Lake Campground
Photo from the area. U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
Fees$6/Night for single unit, $2/Night for extra vehicle

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
Season05/15 to 10/15
ForestFremont-Winema National Forest
Fees$6/Night for single unit, $2/Night for extra vehicle
RulesElectric boat motors only, 5 mph speed limit.

Fremont-Winema National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Deadhorse Lake Campground30°40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 32.5°F averageFebruary: 35.5°F averageMarch: 40.4°F averageApril: 45.0°F averageMay: 53.0°F averageJune: 59.4°F averageJuly: 67.3°F averageAugust: 65.8°F averageSeptember: 58.8°F averageOctober: 47.9°F averageNovember: 37.4°F averageDecember: 30.4°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Paisley, 15 miles from the campground at 4,360 feet, station USC00356426 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. The shaded span is the published season, May 15 to October 15.

Getting there

Coordinates42.5611° N, 120.7743° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Mitten Springs Rx

    10 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Coyote Rx

    28 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Longbell Piles Rx

    39 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Bridge Buck Rx 2026

    42 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Explore

  • 0.2 mi
    Lakes Loop ↗
    7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.3 mi
    Cross Over Spur
    0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.4 mi
    Dead Cow Trail
    1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1 mi
    Spur to Campbell Lake
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1 mi
    Lakes Loop Tie
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.7 mi
    Cache Cabin Trail
    4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Fremont-Winema National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Guidebooks for Oregon

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to camp at Deadhorse Lake Campground?

$6/Night for single unit, $2/Night for extra vehicle

Source: Forest Service

Is Deadhorse Lake Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026. Season 05/15 to 10/15.

Source: Forest Service status

Can I bring an RV to Deadhorse Lake Campground?

Deadhorse Lake Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Deadhorse Lake Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Campbell Lake Campground (1.1 mi, first-come), Lee Thomas Campground (3.9 mi, first-come), and Sandhill Crossing Campground (5.9 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby