Openings · last 7 days
23
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 23 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-232287
When Big Lake reopens
Big Lake's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
85
Openings · last 90 days
106
Weekday pattern
Detected openings by day of week · 90dTuesday accounted for the largest share of the openings Campsite Sniper detected. 32 of 106 openings detected in the last 90 days occurred on a Tuesday (30.2%), with Thursday (19) and Wednesday (15) next in line.
Hour-of-day pattern
First detected by hour · local time · last 90 daysThe largest concentrations of detected openings were first detected during the 08:00 and 09:00 local-time hours. Those hours contained 27 of 106 detected openings (25.5%). Hours show when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, in Pacific Time, not when the change was made upstream.
Lead-time profile
Days before stay date · percentilesHalf of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 12 days before the stay date; the middle 50% land 6–27 days out. Set an alert if you want Campsite Sniper to monitor future openings.
Highest-churn sites
Most openings · 90d| Site | Openings | Share of all openings |
|---|---|---|
| 011 | 14 | 13.2% |
| 013 | 12 | 11.3% |
| 012 | 9 | 8.5% |
| 015 | 9 | 8.5% |
| 048 | 9 | 8.5% |
Site 011 had the most detected openings in the last 90 days: 14. One free watch covers every site here.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026 · of 48 monitored sites
Of the 2,112 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026): 1,100 open for online reservation · 346 reserved · 666 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative). Of the facility's 48 monitored sites, 33 can be reserved online and 13 are first-come, first-served (2 closed).
Where the open windows are
47.9% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 1,100 of 2,112 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026Not open online47.9%
Open site-nights1,100 / 2,112
Reserved (of online inventory)346 / 1,446
Weekday openings702
Weekend openings398
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 702 fall on weekdays and 398 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026October holds the most room. 873 of 1,488 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 41 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 004 | 41 |
| 046 | 41 |
| 006 | 40 |
| 001 | 39 |
| 005 | 39 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Sep 21
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
The next bookable night is Sep 21; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
1,100 open site-nights across 33 sites at Big Lake, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 92 2-night, 83 3-night, 40 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 21 at site 004.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 78 ft. 37 sites take 25 ft, 16 sites take 35 ft, 10 sites take 40 ft.
All 33 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 004 | 25 ft | None | 41 | 41 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2 +29 more |
| 046 | 30 ft | None | 41 | 41 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2 +29 more |
| 006 | 27 ft | None | 40 | 35 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3 +28 more |
| 001 | 25 ft | None | 39 | 35 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +27 more |
| 005 | 32 ft | None | 39 | 35 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +27 more |
| 015 | 30 ft | None | 39 | 35 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +27 more |
| 018 | 36 ft | None | 39 | 35 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +27 more |
| 024 | 30 ft | None | 39 | 35 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +27 more |
| 025 | 27 ft | None | 39 | 35 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +27 more |
| 026 | 30 ft | None | 39 | 36 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +27 more |
| 042 | 45 ft | None | 39 | 35 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +27 more |
| 045 | 30 ft | None | 39 | 35 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +27 more |
| 047 | 30 ft | None | 39 | 35 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +27 more |
| 049 | 30 ft | None | 39 | 35 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +27 more |
| 002 | 34 ft | None | 38 | 35 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5 +26 more |
| 039 | 32 ft | None | 38 | 28 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5 +26 more |
| 048 | 45 ft | None | 38 | 36 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5 +26 more |
| 043 | 30 ft | None | 37 | 20 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +25 more |
| 028 | 45 ft | None | 36 | 18 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +24 more |
| 003 | 38 ft | None | 35 | 18 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6 +23 more |
| 041 | 50 ft | None | 34 | 17 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +22 more |
| 017 | 37 ft | None | 30 | 14 nights | Sep 21, Sep 24, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 10 +18 more |
| 029 | 45 ft | None | 30 | 12 nights | Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 11 +18 more |
| 020 | 32 ft | None | 29 | 9 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 9, Oct 10 +17 more |
| 022 | 39 ft | None | 29 | 12 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +17 more |
| 010 | 33 ft | None | 26 | 20 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 16, Oct 17 +14 more |
| 013 | 49 ft | None | 25 | 12 nights | Sep 23, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 9, Oct 10, Oct 11, Oct 12 +13 more |
| 019 | 24 ft | None | 24 | 14 nights | Sep 21, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 18, Oct 19 +12 more |
| 014 | 39 ft | None | 23 | 11 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 9, Oct 12 +11 more |
| 011 | 49 ft | None | 22 | 7 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 28, Sep 29, Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 18 +10 more |
| 007 | 60 ft | None | 21 | 14 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 20, Oct 21, Oct 22 +9 more |
| 012 | 46 ft | None | 17 | 7 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Oct 5, Oct 8, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 15, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 25, Oct 26 +5 more |
| 021 | 78 ft | None | 17 | 10 nights | Sep 21, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 7, Oct 22, Oct 23, Oct 24, Oct 25, Oct 26 +5 more |
About Big Lake
Overview
This campground provides 49 single campsites. There are both reservable and FCFS sites. The original campsites within Big Lake are in two loops, (sites #1-14 and #15-20) which have eight or so sites with frontage on the lake shore. In 1992 additional campsites were opened (sites #21-49) on a long straight stretch from the boat launch towards Big Lake West. These sites have larger and wider parking spurs, and most sites use stairs to access the table, fire rings and tent pad below the parking spur. Sites can accommodate trailers up to 35 feet in length, depending on site. Drinking water is provided by a water system, built in 1993, which serves the entire Big Lake complex by filtering water drawn from the lake and distributing it to the campgrounds. There are three single vault toilets, and two double vault toilets in the campground. The extra vehicle parking area consists of a boat launch, picnic area, and parking for approximately 15 vehicles and boat trailers. All of these day use facilities are located in the middle of the campground, between the original loops and the "expansion" campsites. *Day Use Fee for day users/boat launch. Extra Vehicle Fee for campers with more than 1 vehicle.
Campfires allowed until and unless otherwise posted. Fire bans are common during summer months. Please plan accordingly.
If paying for FCFS sites with a Credit Card, a Remote Offline Kiosk (ROK) is offered at this campground. There are no refunds, modifications, cancellations, or other fee changes allowed with ROK payments. This system is the same as putting cash into a fee tube and cannot be refunded. This system does not show site availability and you must check that the site is available prior to making payment.
Reservations may be made up to 6 months in advance of arrival date by reserving online at RECREATION.GOV or by calling 877-444-6777.
Recreation
Water skiing, sailing and swimming are among the favorite activities at the lake. The Patjens Lakes Trail offers excellent hiking opportunities. The trail follows the western side of Big Lake, heads south into the Mt. Washington Wilderness, passes alongside the scenic Patjens Lakes, and then loops back to the campground.
Facilities
Big Lake Campground offers 49 spacious campsites for tent or RV camping. Drinking water, vault toilets and a boat ramp are provided.
Nearby Attractions
The major activities in the Big Lake area revolve around motorized use. Boats frequent the lake and off highway vehicles (OHVs) us the adjacent Santiam Pass Motorized Recreation Area. Other attractions include Mt. Washington Wilderness and associated access trails, historic Santiam Wagon Road, McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass National Scenic Byway, Pacific Crest Trail, and Sand Mountain Lookout.
Water skiing, sailing and swimming are among the favorite activities at the lake. The Patjens Lakes Trail offers excellent hiking opportunities. The trail follows the western side of Big Lake, heads south into the Mt. Washington Wilderness, passes alongside the scenic Patjens Lakes, and then loops back to the campground.
48 monitored sites13 FCFS sitesRVs up to 78 ftNo hookups27 shadedWaterfrontLakefrontPets OKFire pitsMax party 8
Getting there
From Eugene, Oregon, take I-105 east to McKenzie Highway 126. Travel east on 126 for 90 miles to Santiam Pass. At the top of the Pass, turn right onto the access road (sign says Hoodoo Ski Area, Big Lake Road, & Benson Sno-Park). Travel one mile to the fork in the road and stay left on Forest Service Road 2690. Continue for 2 miles to the entrance to Big Lake Campground on the left.
Mckenzie Ranger Station, 57600 Mckenzie Hwy., Blue River, Or 97413, OR801-226-3564
BikingBoatingHikingNon-Motorized BoatingOff Highway VehicleSwimmingWater Skiing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-232287 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-232287 · Big Lake · OR12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Big Lake?
Reservations for Big Lake are made through Recreation.gov. 1,100 of 2,112 tracked site-nights are currently open (52.1%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 106 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Big Lake?
Campsite Sniper detected 23 site-date openings at Big Lake in the last 7 days, 85 over 30 days and 106 over the last 90.
Which day of the week had the most detected openings at Big Lake?
Tuesday accounted for the largest share of the openings Campsite Sniper detected in the last 90 days: 32 of 106 (30.2%). Days reflect when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, not when the change occurred upstream.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Big Lake?
83 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 21 at site 004. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Big Lake fit a 35-foot RV?
16 of the 41 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 78 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Big Lake?
October 2026, with 873 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 1,488.
How far ahead of a stay do openings appear at Big Lake?
Half of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 12 days before the stay date; the middle 50% landed 6-27 days out. Campsite Sniper can monitor future changes for dates you select.
When is the next open date at Big Lake?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 21 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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