Deschutes Nat’l Forest             Sisters District

Metolius River Area

THE METOLIUS RIVER AREA is what I think of when camping comes to mind. It doesn’t have a mountain to climb or a lake to boat on, but the gurgling of the river, the usual sunshine, and the smell of the pines all help draw me to the campgrounds here. Your visit should start with a short side trip to the Head of the Metolius located just off Hwy 20 on the road into Camp Sherman. The river starts here as it gushes out of the hillside full force. The flow seems to stay constant year around. The short trip to get here is well worthwhile. Years after you leave, this spring will be what you will tell your friends about.

          Before you go into Camp Sherman, be sure to stock up with provisions or lunch at nearby Sisters. There are many fun stores and plenty of provisions for the camper at a decent price. Fly fishing only, is allowed on the Metolius.

          There are eleven campgrounds in this area. All are on the river and are first-come, first-serve sites except Sheep Springs which is a Horse Campground. This campground is located in the woods in the Metolius Area and it might be wise to make reservations here through the National Reservation System. (See the SHEEP SPRINGS page for help). The other campgrounds vary in type and size. You might like to drive through the area first before you pick a campground and a site, but all of the campgrounds are nice.

Click Here to See a Map of the Metolius Area