Crescent Lake, Deschutes Nat'l Forest

[Sarvi]

Has anyone boondocked around Crescent Lake? I'm looking at the MVUM and seeing TONS of dispersed camping areas, but I would hate to show up there and not find anything. I'm towing a 33ft travel trailer. I'm just wondering if there's as much available as the map shows, and if I can get my trailer in. Thanks.

[ICamel]

If water is a concern, Spring Campground is less than 3.5 miles by road and you will drive right past it on the way in and way out. It has potable water pressurized faucets. Since both campgrounds are managed by Hoodoo Recreation it shouldn't be an issue to fill up your totes. Check with the campground host when you get there. Dry camping is a great way to become proficient at water conservation!

[Sarvi]

Nice maps! If I remember right, I reserved site number 10... not directly on the water, but pretty close.

Thanks for the tip about the water! I'm going to have a couple 7 gallon totes with me, I will fill them up for the ride home! On that note though, since there isn't any water at the campground, does anyone foresee an issue with me filling up my totes to add to my water tank if i run low through the weekend? I know there's potable water at the picnic area near Crescent Lake Campground.

[ICamel]

Here are two views so you can identify your campsite on the map and then see what it looks like on Google Earth.

[DanNJanice]

There is a hand pump well, I think on the NW side of the lake that IMO has the best tasting water you will ever find. I always fill up a couple of 5 gallon jugs when I go past there, to bring home.

[Sarvi]

grandma lynn wrote:
Glad you got a site, it is a beautiful lake. I wanted to add to those that said call the ranger. We were suppose to camp with grandkids at a forest service campground (Crystal Lake) in Montana. Looked it up, oops says 22 feet max. I called the local ranger district office, got an awesome lady that assured me it had been upgraded and my 34ft 5'vr will fit. She told me how to get there and what kind of road conditions there were. We went and had an awesome time. I now check with the local ranger districts were ever we want to go. It is a great resource and they are familiar with the area. Camp on.

Great advice. I do plan to call when the time gets a bit closer, and hopefully glean some great info. I've never been to this area before, so it will all be new to me.

[grandma_lynn]

Glad you got a site, it is a beautiful lake. I wanted to add to those that said call the ranger. We were suppose to camp with grandkids at a forest service campground (Crystal Lake) in Montana. Looked it up, oops says 22 feet max. I called the local ranger district office, got an awesome lady that assured me it had been upgraded and my 34ft 5'vr will fit. She told me how to get there and what kind of road conditions there were. We went and had an awesome time. I now check with the local ranger districts were ever we want to go. It is a great resource and they are familiar with the area. Camp on.

[Sarvi]

I was born and raised in MI... mosquitoes will certainly carry someone away at dusk there!

[ReneeG]

Regarding Waldo Lake and the mosquitos - there is a lake we camp at here in Idaho and the mosquitos are bad. We have the Off! Lanterns that we light and place around our outside area and they really work in keeping the mosquitos at bay. Sometimes, but not all, we spray Yard Guard and that helps too.

[ORbiker]

goducks10 wrote:

ORbiker wrote:
It's not boondocking, but close.
Check out Waldo Lake .

Been to Waldo Lake several times. It has to have the biggest mosquito population in the north Cascades. Horrible. It's a beautiful CG and even prettier lake. But the skeeters are terrible. My wife and I have canoed on it several times. The water is some of the clearest around.

Alaska is the only place that has mosquitoes as bad as the Waldo Lake Area. But; if there is even a slight breeze, it is a fabulous place. It seems like the perfect place for the OP if conditions work out.
Find a nice open spot where the wind will blow and be careful when going into the thicker woods. I have been chased by the mosquitoes and could not stop.
You should see Waldo in the winter. So very peaceful.

[ORbiker]

mtnbbud wrote:
I'm betting you could camp in the snowpark parking lot if you couldn't find something better. I see people camping in the snowpark parking lot by Chemult all the time throughout the summer. I'd expect the snowpark at Crescent Junction is similar. You'd jst need to make sure they don't gate the lot in the summertime.

Hay
Don't tell everyone my secret stops.

[Sarvi]

mtnbbud wrote:
I'm betting you could camp in the snowpark parking lot if you couldn't find something better. I see people camping in the snowpark parking lot by Chemult all the time throughout the summer. I'd expect the snowpark at Crescent Junction is similar. You'd jst need to make sure they don't gate the lot in the summertime.

Never thought of that, good idea!

[goducks10]

ORbiker wrote:
It's not boondocking, but close.
Check out Waldo Lake .

Been to Waldo Lake several times. It has to have the biggest mosquito population in the north Cascades. Horrible. It's a beautiful CG and even prettier lake. But the skeeters are terrible. My wife and I have canoed on it several times. The water is some of the clearest around.

[mtnbbud]

I'm betting you could camp in the snowpark parking lot if you couldn't find something better. I see people camping in the snowpark parking lot by Chemult all the time throughout the summer. I'd expect the snowpark at Crescent Junction is similar. You'd jst need to make sure they don't gate the lot in the summertime.

[ORbiker]

It's not boondocking, but close.
Check out Waldo Lake .