Boat-in Camping on Cultus Lake (Sunriver/Bend)

Watching boats head out from the Cultus Lake boat launch, you might wonder why some ride so low in the water. Those boats are loaded with camping gear, and they’re heading across the lake to the West Cultus campground. The camping beach is easy to locate, with a line up of boats ranging from well-used fishing dinghies to fast-n-loud wakeboard boats moored along the shore. Mid-week it’s a fairly empty stretch of beach, but on many weekends all twelve tent sites fill up, so don’t wait til Friday evening to stake out your spot. Hoodoo manages the campground and checks in daily to be sure all campers have paid up ($15/day, even for day use of the beach) To find Cultus Lake, take the Cascade Lakes Hwy 48 miles out of Bend. The public boat launch is at the main campground, just past Cultus Lake Resort (a good stop for lunch on your way back to civilization.)