Cold Spring Campground: Your Central Oregon Adventure Base near Sisters

Cold Spring Campground Introduce

Nestled amidst the picturesque Ponderosa Pine and small Aspen trees of the Deschutes National Forest, Cold Spring Campground offers an ideal escape for those seeking a tranquil and activity-rich outdoor experience in Central Oregon. Located just a short drive from the charming town of Sisters, this campground provides a perfect blend of peaceful solitude and convenient access to local amenities and endless recreational opportunities. Whether you’re an avid mountain biker, a hiking enthusiast, or simply looking for a quiet spot to relax and reconnect with nature, Cold Spring Campground presents a compelling choice for your next Oregon adventure.

With its well-maintained facilities and a welcoming atmosphere, Cold Spring Campground caters to a variety of camping styles, from multiple tents to larger setups. The overall serenity of the campground, where the wind whispers through the trees creating a soothing white noise, ensures a truly relaxing stay. Locals and visitors alike will appreciate the thoughtful amenities and the natural beauty that define this unique Oregon camping destination. It's a place where the fresh mountain air, the scent of pines, and the clear night skies combine to create memorable outdoor moments.

Location and Accessibility

Cold Spring Campground is strategically located on McKenzie Hwy, Sisters, OR 97759, USA, making it incredibly accessible for Oregonians. Situated approximately five miles outside the vibrant town of Sisters, it strikes a perfect balance between remote tranquility and convenient access to town amenities. The recently paved McKenzie Highway leading to the campground ensures a smooth and enjoyable journey, whether you're arriving by car, RV, or even bicycle. This improved road surface is particularly beneficial for cyclists, providing an excellent route for a scenic ride directly to the campground.

The proximity to Sisters means that campers are never too far from grocery stores, restaurants, unique shops, and even public showers, should the need arise. Yet, despite its accessibility, Cold Spring Campground maintains a quiet and peaceful ambiance, largely due to its thoughtful distance from the town center. This location also serves as an excellent base for exploring the wider Central Oregon region, with numerous natural attractions, viewpoints, and historical markers within a short drive. The convenience of its location, combined with the feeling of being truly immersed in nature, makes Cold Spring Campground an ideal choice for a local Oregon getaway.

Services Offered

Individual Campsites: Cold Spring Campground features a variety of campsites along a single paved loop. Sites vary in size, accommodating both smaller tent setups and larger multi-tent or RV configurations. Many are fairly large, offering ample space for campers.
Pit Toilets: Clean and well-maintained pit toilets are available on-site for campers' convenience, providing essential restroom facilities.
Potable Water: The campground offers potable water, essential for cooking, drinking, and washing. While the water may have a yellowish tint due to natural mineral content, it is safe for consumption and ideal for hand and dish washing.
Garbage Bins: On-site garbage bins are provided for refuse, making it easy for campers to keep their sites clean and help maintain the campground's pristine environment.
Camp Host: A friendly and attentive camp manager or host is typically present at the campground. They regularly check in with campers to ensure their needs are met and the campground rules are observed, contributing to a pleasant and secure camping experience.
Quiet Hours Enforcement: Cold Spring Campground emphasizes and observes quiet hours, ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for all campers, especially during the evenings and overnight.
Accessibility to Trails: While not a direct service, the campground's location provides direct access to service roads that lead to various trails, a significant amenity for hikers and mountain bikers.

Features / Highlights

Mountain Biking Haven: One of the standout features of Cold Spring Campground is its exceptional accessibility for mountain bikers. The paved McKenzie Highway leading to the campground is smooth and bike-friendly, and service roads directly from the campsite lead to an extensive network of trails. This makes it an ideal base for exploring the renowned mountain biking trails of the Sisters area.
Peaceful and Quiet Atmosphere: Despite its convenient proximity to Sisters, the campground is remarkably quiet. The natural sounds of the wind through the Ponderosa Pines create a soothing white noise, and strict adherence to quiet hours ensures a serene environment for relaxation and sleep.
Beautiful Forest Setting: The campground is nestled within a beautiful forest dominated by majestic Ponderosa Pines and dotted with small Aspen trees. This provides ample shade, a refreshing scent, and a picturesque backdrop for your camping experience.
Spacious Campsites: Many campsites at Cold Spring are generously sized, providing plenty of room for tents, vehicles, and outdoor living. This space allows for a comfortable camping experience, even for larger groups or those with multiple tents.
Friendly Camp Host: Visitors consistently praise the friendly and attentive camp host who ensures the campground runs smoothly and that campers have everything they need, enhancing the overall positive experience.
Family and Pet-Friendly: Cold Spring Campground is a wonderful spot for families with young children and is welcoming to dogs (on leash), with many spots offering enough space for everyone to enjoy.
Proximity to Sisters: Being just five miles from Sisters, campers have easy access to the town's amenities, including shops, restaurants, and public showers, offering convenience without sacrificing the feeling of being in nature.
Gateway to Central Oregon Exploration: The campground serves as an excellent base for exploring the broader Central Oregon region, with numerous viewpoints, historical markers, and natural attractions within a short driving distance.

Contact Information

Address: McKenzie Hwy, Sisters, OR 97759, USA

Phone: (541) 338-7869

Mobile Phone: +1 541-338-7869

For reservations and additional information, it is often best to contact the Deschutes National Forest Sisters Ranger District, or check recreation.gov for booking availability.

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

Cold Spring Campground is an ideal destination for Oregon locals, offering a compelling blend of accessibility, natural beauty, and recreational opportunities right in their backyard. Its location just five miles from Sisters means that a rejuvenating escape into nature is never too far away, making it perfect for weekend trips or extended stays without extensive travel. The recently paved McKenzie Highway ensures a smooth and pleasant drive, appealing to those seeking an easy approach to their camping adventure.

For Oregonians who cherish the outdoors, Cold Spring Campground provides direct access to a wealth of activities. Mountain biking enthusiasts will particularly appreciate the seamless connection to local trails and the ability to ride directly from their campsite. The paved road also offers a fantastic cycling route into Sisters for a change of pace. Hikers will find a variety of trails stemming from the nearby service roads, allowing them to explore the stunning Ponderosa Pine forests and enjoy the fresh Central Oregon air.

Beyond the activities, the very essence of Cold Spring Campground caters to a local's desire for genuine tranquility. The spacious and well-maintained sites provide a comfortable base, while the natural white noise of the wind rustling through the trees and the strictly observed quiet hours ensure a deeply peaceful environment. This serenity allows for true relaxation, whether you're enjoying a campfire under the clear Oregon sky, reading a book, or simply soaking in the natural surroundings. The presence of a friendly and helpful camp host further enhances the welcoming atmosphere, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable stay. While amenities like showers might require a short drive into Sisters, this minor convenience is a small trade-off for the privacy, peace, and unparalleled access to outdoor recreation that Cold Spring Campground offers. It truly embodies the spirit of Oregon's outdoor lifestyle, making it a perfectly suited local getaway for families, adventurers, and peace-seekers alike.

Cold Spring Campground Photos

Cold Spring Campground Location

Cold Spring Campground

Oregon Deschutes County Sisters Old McKenzie Highway

McKenzie Hwy, Sisters, OR 97759, USA

Cold Spring Campground Reviews

Just spent four nights at Cold springs campground just outside of Sisters Oregon with my mountain bike team. This campground is 5 mi outside of town. The McKenzie highway that runs to the campground was recently paved and is very smooth and great for bikes. We were able to ride the two and a half miles into the high school and enjoy the jump track our first afternoon there. Additionally there are service roads that lead to trails right from the campsite. That was a bonus for us.The campsite itself is one big paved loop. Some of the campsites are pretty small and wouldn't work for tents and others were quite large and worked well for multiple tents.There are pit toilets and potable water, the water is pretty yellow though so we only used it for washing hands and dishes.The campground itself is beautiful as it is filled with ponderosa pine and small aspen trees. The wind blows through the trees in the evening creating a very soothing white noise. And it is overall a very quiet campground where they definitely observe quiet hours.There are garbage bins on site for refuse. The camp manager was very friendly and would check in on us occasionally to see if there was anything we needed.Overall I give this campsite a 5 for the beauty, the accessibility with the distance from town that creates a quiet campground, and the access to the trails. It is a little remote and doesn't have showers so just be aware of that. We did drive into town and use the public showers that fed off quarters.
Jun 23, 2025 · D. Sheldon
Wonderful camping spot, we brought our almost 2 year old and dogs. The spots are fairly large and all our neighbors were friendly as well as the camp host!Many places to visit nearby so it's a great area if you're looking to just relax or go out and find awesome view points or historical markers!
Jun 20, 2025 · Bradley Ulmer
Had a great experience here recently. Camp hosts were amazing. Very friendly and informative about the area. The grounds and toilets were very clean. The creek lives up to its name. It's cold enough that you can feel a difference in the ambient temp when you walk by it. Most sites are RV friendly, but there were no generators running at night. Most sites are pretty private, but if you are looking for more privacy, I recommend the west side of the loop.There are some ATV/OHV trails that border the campground, and one afternoon there was some loud dirtbike noise, but it was short lived. Noise from the 242 highway is almost non-existent.Some Verizon cell signal. Not enough for much beyond texts and email, but great for checking in.I already have my next stay booked. Great campground find.
Jul 10, 2023 · Eric Keyser
This campground is great! It's clean, quiet, and very well kept. The sites were all nice and clean, bathrooms the same. And the camp hosts were so welcoming and nice to us. They were helpful with local information as well as some good stories. Thank you for such a wonderful stay!
May 31, 2023 · Chris Riehl
Beautiful forest. No shower. There is a small cold spring water creek you can soak your feet in.
Jul 19, 2023 · oluchi chi