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Deschutes/Perry South Campground
Overview
Deschutes/Perry South Campground offers a rugged and scenic retreat on the shores of Lake Billy Chinook within the Deschutes National Forest. Located northwest of Culver, Oregon, this site is managed by the US Forest Service and provides a traditional, rustic outdoor experience. It is particularly known for its direct access to water recreation and its stunning position within a deep canyon landscape. Travelers seeking a quiet escape from more crowded state parks will find this a peaceful alternative for their RV or trailer adventures in Central Oregon.
Location & Surroundings
The campground is situated on the Metolius Arm of Lake Billy Chinook, surrounded by dramatic vertical basalt cliffs and rolling sagebrush hills. This region is characterized by its high desert climate, offering warm summer days and exceptionally clear, starry nights. Visitors are often struck by the deep blue waters of the lake contrasted against the arid, earthy tones of the canyon walls. The Crooked River National Grassland encompasses the surrounding area, providing a vast expanse of natural beauty and wildlife viewing opportunities for guests.
Amenities & Park Features
As a Forest Service facility, Perry South provides a primitive camping experience without electrical, water, or sewer hookups. The park features a paved boat ramp with a boarding dock, making it a prime destination for motorized boating and kayaking. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table and a fire ring, and the facility offers access to vault toilets and potable water during the peak season. While there are no hookups, the sites are generally spacious enough to accommodate various RV lengths, though drivers should prepare for a winding access road.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
The primary draw is Lake Billy Chinook, which is famous for its excellent kokanee and bull trout fishing. Boating, water skiing, and paddleboarding are popular activities throughout the summer months. Just a short drive away, visitors can explore The Cove Palisades State Park for additional hiking trails and scenic overlooks. For those interested in river experiences, the lower Deschutes River and the Metolius River offer world-class fly fishing and rafting opportunities within easy driving distance of the campground.
Who This Park Is Best For
This campground is ideal for self-contained RVers who prioritize nature and water access over luxury resort amenities. If you enjoy dry camping and want to be steps away from a boat launch, this is a perfect match. It appeals strongly to anglers, boaters, and families looking for a classic camping trip in a high-desert environment. Those who appreciate quiet evenings and natural scenery will find Perry South much more appealing than the more developed, commercial RV parks found in the nearby towns.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Russ Libby
This campground has a state park campground feel, especially close to the lake. Lots of RVs with generators and loud music, partying etc, mostly young family’s so not too bad, but also, not a quiet campground.
J L
QUALITY CAMPGROUND Thank you PGE and their wonderful campground hosts for having a well-maintained clean campground for my family of four to use on our trip to recreate at Lake Billy Chinook in August 2023. The sites had established fire rings, a bench, and freshly raked tent spots. Very little trash was around and our particular site in the upper section had ample space for multiple tents. These pit toilets were the cleanest and best smelling I’ve ever encountered in my time camping as an adult. You can reserve a boat slip to leave your watercraft for $10 a night and this may be the BEST reason to camp here. Unfortunately, the water int the campground arm was very green with floating algae and not swimmable at all. We drove to Suttle Lake on the forest roads for Saturday so we could kayak and enjoy swimming with our dog in a beautiful cold clear lake. Water pump at lower CG is MUCH easier to use than the upper CG pump pictured here. PSA that NF 64 was gated and locked just passed Monty Campground so we could not drive up the Metolius as planned.
Todd Richardson
Nice place but high traffic. There are two camping sections for the campground: upper and lower. The lower is the main one with water access and where everyone wants to camp. I wish I would have stayed in the upper. I was in site 7, and when anyone wanted to come or leave the campground in all hours of the night, the vehicle headlights lite up my tent like daylight and kept waking me up. You could hear and see the traffic coming and going on the main road also. This would not really happen in the upper campground. Won’t make that mistake again. Nice place though for high desert.
Jeanne lee Adams
Been going here my whole life. Great place.
Jack Dalton
Great access to boat ramp. Camp hosts were very friendly and helpful. Enjoyed it!