USDA Forest Service · Oregon
Ochoco Divide Group Site
USDA Forest Service · Oregon, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- May 22 to October 3
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 4,751 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- OCHOCO DIVIDE CAMPGROUNG (NFSR 2600550) · bituminous surface treatment · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Ochoco NF - FS
- Nearest town
- Prineville
- Address
- 3160 Ne 3rd Street, Prineville, OR, 97754
- Phone
- 541-351-1182
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Hiking, Picnicking
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
The Ochoco Divide Group Site is a convenient place to camp while traveling across scenic State Highway 26 by bicycle or car. Resting at the top of the Ochoco Divide at an elevation of 4,700 ft., the group site is set on a hill away from the road as an extension of the general campground. Summertime in the Ochoco National Forest brings pleasant temperatures; the campground is closed during winter.
Recreation
The group site of the Ochoco Divide Campground is mainly used by touring cyclists. It is also a good place to take a relaxing stroll through the woods. There are opportunities for hunting, mountain biking and hiking in the national forest surrounding the facility. Several trailheads begin at the Bandit Springs rest stop about one mile from the campground on Highway 26.
Facilities
The group site is part of the main Ochoco Divide Campground. There is excellent quality drinking water throughout the main campground and near the group site. The group site can comfortably fit up to 12 people; no more than 35 are allowed. Parking is limited. Campers must park at the base of a small hill and walk up to the site. There is a large group size fire ring as well.
Natural Features
The scenery surrounding the campground alternates between thick Ponderosa pine forests and grassy meadows, though shortly beyond the campground the road descends into lower-elevation, arid canyon lands.
One of the most unique geologic features of the Ochoco National Forest is the 'thunder egg,' Oregon's official state rock. Thunder eggs are small, colorful, round volcanic rocks similar to geodes that have been exposed over time. The U.S. Forest Service has designated specific sites for rock hounding.
Nearby Attractions
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is less than an hour away. Hike amongst the Painted Hills and famed fossils, take a journey through time at the museum at Sheep Rock or picnic beneath the beautiful mountain scenery.
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 25° | -1° | 50° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 37° | 25° | -10° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 42° | 26° | 9° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 47° | 30° | 11° | 71° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 57° | 38° | 24° | 79° | 5 of 11 |
| June | 68° | 43° | 33° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 82° | 53° | 41° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 81° | 54° | 44° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 68° | 46° | 36° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 60° | 38° | 27° | 76° | 8 of 10 |
| November | 47° | 32° | 10° | 62° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 37° | 25° | 0° | 53° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Wildwood Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Whistler Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Walton Lake · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 32 sites
- Bingham Springs Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi
- Ochoco Ranger Rental · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi · 1 sites
All public campgrounds in Oregon · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.