Lower Bridge Campground

Lower Bridge Campground earned its name for being located on the Metolius River where it flows under the corresponding bridge. You can't miss the beauty of this campground, with its towering ponderosa pines and incense cedars providing ample shade. Hiking and fishing top the list of recreational activities for visitors. For anglers, the spring-fed Metolius offers a stunning setting for fly-fishing; the clear, cold water supports rainbow trout, whitefish, bull trout and kokanee salmon. For day hikers and backpackers, the area offers a wide variety of scenic terrain, ranging from riverside trails to routes in subalpine forests. The campground can accommodate RV, trailer or tent campers, however water and electric hookups are not available. All sites are equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill, and the campground has vault toilets and drinking water available. The headwaters of the adjacent Metolius River are at Metolius Springs at the base of Black Butte, a 3,076-foot cinder cone. The clear, cold river flows north from the springs through diverse coniferous forest and a landscape of volcanic activity, providing habitat for mammals such as mule deer, coyote and cougar; migratory birds and native fish also call the area home. The Camp Sherman Fish Viewing Platform allows visitors the chance to view a variety of types of fish, while the Metolius Research Natural Area gives bird watchers ample opportunities. The Metolius and Wizard Falls fish hatcheries have display ponds where you can observe and feed different types of salmon and other fish. The Metolius-Windigo Trail, open to hikers, bikers and horses, is more than 100 miles in length and begins near the Metolius River headwaters west of the town of Sisters, Oregon; it was created in the 1980s primarily to serve long-distance horse riders seeking an alternative to the Pacific Crest Trail.