The Cove Palisades Crooked River campground to get extreme makeover!

Campground closes for winter, but three cabins remain open

When you arrive at the The Crooked River campground next summer, look for improved electric service, four sites accessible for people with disabilities and three new accessible restroom/shower buildings.  The campground closes Sept. 30, 2011, to prepare for the winter work. The campground should reopen in early summer 2012, but check here or the park advisory web page for news.

You can still stay in the three deluxe cabins, located about one mile from the main campground. The  Crooked River Day Use boat ramp and the Upper Deschutes Day Use boat ramp also remain open. The seasonal Deschutes campground is closed until May 1, 2012.

The Crooked River campground is nearly 40 years old and the original water and sewer systems are in danger of failing.  The improvements include:

• Upgrading water service and increasing electric service to 50/30/20 amp in all campsites.
• Modifying four sites to be  accessible for campers with disabilities.
• Adding three new energy-efficient accessible restroom/shower buildings, including new sewer lines, drain fields and septic tanks.
• Modifying 42 campsites to make it easier for campers with over-sized vehicles to use.
• Building a new, two-lane waste water RV dump station in a new site.
• Building a new amphitheater to replace the existing one, in a location away from the overflow parking lot and RV dump station.

The project’s final budget is not yet set, but Oregon Parks and Recreation Department lottery fund dollars will fund the improvements.

The Cove Palisades State Park sits along Lake Billy Chinook near Madras in central Oregon. Tumalo State Park, 45 miles south, and Prineville Reservoir, 55 miles southeast, are the closest state parks that offer year-round camping. Private camping is  available at the Central Oregon KOA east of Culver and the Mountain View RV Park in Metolius.

The Cove Palisades State Park (park info, driving directions & map)