Open Year-round
No
Reservations possible?
No
RV Hookups
No
Potable water
Yes
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Southeastern Oregon is known for its high desert spaces and the great expanses of sky and earth, and when you add a sparkling mountain lake, quaking aspen and shore willows, a truly remarkable Steens Mountain experience results. Fish Lake sits only 20 miles from the town of Frenchglen and up the western slope of Steens Mountain. Here, at 7,400 feet, 23 campsites border the banks and offer visitors opportunities for swimming, fishing, picnicking and adventuring on one of Oregon’s most unique mountains. As you approach Fish Lake, be sure to catch the view of the valley below as you ascend the mountain’s steady slope.

Note: Fish Lake Recreation Site Campground is open July 15 through November 1 and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. The Steens Mountain Loop Road is seasonally open based on snowpack. Call the Bureau of Land Management's local station in Hines at 541.573.4400 for more information.

Travel Safe

Be sure to fill up on gas before heading out to the Steens Mountain and Alvord Desert area. Year-round gas stations are in Burns and Fields, Oregon. The gas station in Frenchglen is only open during the summer months. Further, cell phone reception is virtually nonexistent in much of the area, so travel with extra provisions. If you plan to explore the area extensively, we highly recommend bringing additional, full gasoline canisters to ensure that you don't get stranded.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Access to Steens Mountain adventures. Lakeside campsites. Aspen groves.

Cons

No potable water. No Reservations. Short open season.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Managed by

Bureau of Land Management

Features

Vault toilet
Boat ramp(s)
Swimming holes
Potable water
Picnic tables

Location

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