Openings · last 7 days
31
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 31 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-233197
When Smiling River Campground reopens
Smiling River Campground's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
59
Openings · last 90 days
67
Weekday pattern
Detected openings by day of week · 90dThursday accounted for the largest share of the openings Campsite Sniper detected. 33 of 67 openings detected in the last 90 days occurred on a Thursday (49.3%), with Saturday (12) and Tuesday (6) 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 14:00 local-time hours. Those hours contained 19 of 67 detected openings (28.4%). 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 13 days before the stay date; the middle 50% land 7–29.5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 025 | 14 | 20.9% |
| 017 | 10 | 14.9% |
| 023 | 9 | 13.4% |
| 010 | 5 | 7.5% |
| 008 | 5 | 7.5% |
Site 025 had the most detected openings in the last 90 days: 14. One free watch covers every site here.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Oct 10, 2026 · of 35 monitored sites
Of the 782 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 10, 2026): 325 open for online reservation · 291 reserved · 166 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative). Of the facility's 35 monitored sites, 28 can be reserved online and 6 are first-come, first-served (1 closed).
Where the open windows are
58.4% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 325 of 782 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 10, 2026Not open online58.4%
Open site-nights325 / 782
Reserved (of online inventory)291 / 616
Weekday openings228
Weekend openings97
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 228 fall on weekdays and 97 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026October holds the most room. 164 of 340 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 34 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 |
|---|---|
| 030 | 20 |
| 031 | 20 |
| 032 | 20 |
| 001 | 18 |
| 002 | 17 |
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
325 open site-nights across 27 sites at Smiling River Campground, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 48 2-night, 41 3-night, 14 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 21 at site 030.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 50 ft. 34 sites take 25 ft, 8 sites take 35 ft, 6 sites take 40 ft.
All 27 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 030 | 30 ft | None | 20 | 20 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 +8 more |
| 031 | 30 ft | None | 20 | 20 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 +8 more |
| 032 | 34 ft | None | 20 | 20 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 +8 more |
| 001 | 30 ft | None | 18 | 11 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4 +6 more |
| 002 | 30 ft | None | 17 | 11 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 5 +5 more |
| 029 | 40 ft | None | 17 | 16 nights | Sep 21, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5 +5 more |
| 003 | 30 ft | None | 16 | 7 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6 +4 more |
| 018 | 40 ft | None | 16 | 14 nights | Sep 21, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6 +4 more |
| 025 | 40 ft | None | 16 | 16 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 +4 more |
| 012 | 26 ft | None | 14 | 7 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8 +2 more |
| 006 | 26 ft | None | 13 | 7 nights | Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 9 +1 more |
| 028 | 50 ft | None | 13 | 6 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 9 +1 more |
| 008 | 34 ft | None | 12 | 6 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 30, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 9, Oct 10 |
| 009 | 30 ft | None | 11 | 9 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6 |
| 010 | 34 ft | None | 11 | 7 nights | Sep 21, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 9, Oct 10 |
| 021 | 36 ft | None | 11 | 5 nights | Sep 21, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8 |
| 007 | 34 ft | None | 9 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 4 |
| 015 | 34 ft | None | 9 | 5 nights | Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 9, Oct 10 |
| 019 | 30 ft | None | 9 | 6 nights | Sep 21, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 9, Oct 10 |
| 013 | 26 ft | None | 8 | 5 nights | Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 9, Oct 10 |
| 020 | 30 ft | None | 8 | 5 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 8 |
| 017 | 30 ft | None | 7 | 4 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 |
| 022 | 30 ft | None | 7 | 5 nights | Sep 21, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8 |
| 023 | 30 ft | None | 7 | 5 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3 |
| 011 | 30 ft | None | 6 | 5 nights | Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 |
| 014 | 30 ft | None | 5 | 2 nights | Sep 24, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 9, Oct 10 |
| 024 | 40 ft | None | 5 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 |
About Smiling River Campground
Overview
Nestled in Deschutes National Forest, Smiling River Campground offers visitors some of the most stunning scenery in central Oregon and easy access to an abundance of recreational activities.
Recreation
Hiking and fishing top the list of recreational activities for visitors.
For anglers, the spring-fed Metolius river offers a stunning setting for fly-fishing. Its 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.
Facilities
Smiling River Campground offers sites that accommodate both tent and RV camping, however hookups are not available.
Picnic areas, trails and scenic overlooks, along with the conveniences of firewood, drinking water and flush toilets, give visitors the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while still having many of the conveniences of home.
Natural Features
Many sites at this campground look out to Metolius River, a tributary of the Deschutes River.
The headwaters of the 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.
The area provides habitat for mammals such as mule deer, coyote and cougar. Migratory birds and native fish also call the area home.
Nearby Attractions
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. The trail was created in the 1980s primarily to serve long-distance horse riders seeking an alternative to the Pacific Crest Trail.
Lava Lands Visitor Center in Bend, Oregon, offers visitors the opportunity to learn about the diverse landscape and history of the area through interpretive programs and exhibits.
35 monitored sites6 FCFS sitesRVs up to 50 ftNo hookups34 shadedWaterfrontRiverfrontPets OKFire pitsMax party 6
Getting there
From Sisters, Oregon, travel 9.6 miles northwest on Highway 20, then turn right on SW Camp Sherman Rd / Road 14 for about 5 miles, then follow right onto SW Camp Sherman Rd / R F D 1419 for about half a mile. Make a left onto NF-1419 / 113, then a slight right onto SW Metolius River Rd / NF-900 and follow into the campground.
Po Box 249, Sisters, OR 97759541-323-1746
BikingCampingFishingHiking
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-233197 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-233197 · Smiling River Campground · Sisters OR12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Smiling River Campground?
Reservations for Smiling River Campground are made through Recreation.gov. 325 of 782 tracked site-nights are currently open (41.6%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 67 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 Smiling River Campground?
Campsite Sniper detected 31 site-date openings at Smiling River Campground in the last 7 days, 59 over 30 days and 67 over the last 90.
Which day of the week had the most detected openings at Smiling River Campground?
Thursday accounted for the largest share of the openings Campsite Sniper detected in the last 90 days: 33 of 67 (49.3%). Days reflect when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, not when the change occurred upstream.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Smiling River Campground?
41 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 030. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Smiling River Campground fit a 35-foot RV?
8 of the 34 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 50 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Smiling River Campground?
October 2026, with 164 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 340.
How far ahead of a stay do openings appear at Smiling River Campground?
Half of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 13 days before the stay date; the middle 50% landed 7-29.5 days out. Campsite Sniper can monitor future changes for dates you select.
When is the next open date at Smiling River Campground?
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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