La Pine State Park is located on the Deschutes river about twenty-five miles south of the city of Bend, Oregon. The park is in the central region of the state of Oregon which area is known as the high desert.

Site Coordinates: 43.764300 -121530100

Elevation: 4236 feet

La Pine state park has year round camping with full-hookup sites, electrical sites with water, rustic log cabins, deluxe log cabins, bathrooms with hot showers and flush toilets, log cabin meeting hall, firewood sales, ice sales (seasonal), park store (seasonal), RV dump station and a dog run area.

If you would like to immerse yourself in a subalpine pine forest where the air has that high-Cascades tang. If you wish to stay in a clean, quiet campground next to a twisting, cold river brimming with trout (and a nearby legendary fly fishing spot) and surrounded by miles of waiting-to-be-explored wilderness. If you desire to sit smack in the middle of dozens of high-mountain lakes (in winter, near some of the best ski-spots in the land). If you long to see eagles or red-tailed hawks grabbing breakfast right in front of you. Or, if you just want to sit in a campsite pondering what you might do tomorrow. Then you must needs visit LaPine State Park.

Summer activities at LaPine include biking, fishing, floating the river, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Winter activities include cross country skiiing, snow mobiling, snow shoeing, and unique mountain views. Golfing is also located nearby.

The largest ponderosa pine in Oregon, nicknamed Big Red is found right here in La Pine state park. Big Red is 162 feet tall, 28.9 feet around and most likely exceeds five hundred years of age.

Sightseers, wildlife watchers, and cross country skiers have plenty of ground to cover. Located in the Cascade mountain wilderness, these trails afford great views.

Virtually next door is Newbery National Volcanic Monument, home of many volcanic features including: Newbery caldera, lava butte; lava cast forest; lava river cave; Paulina and East Lakes, Paulina double falls, south ice caves, and sulfur hot springs.

82 Full-hookup sites $28.00 (Middle-South Loop)

47 Electric sites $30.00 (North Loop)

5 log cabins $51.00, with pets $61.00

5 deluxe cabins $94.00, with pets $104.00

Firewood $7.00

Ice $2.00

Awake to the twilight, the moon is directly overhead, starting the last quarter and the temperature, although being in the lower forties, again feels like it is near freezing. However, it is sunny and clear this morning, so this changes my supposition that the fog yesterday was the cause of the freezing feeling. The sun will rise in the next few minutes as I gather my things to walk to the shower house for a hot shower. Upon returning to the jammer, I see from the tops of the trees, that the sun has risen and upon arriving back at the jammer, I climb into the rear, sit at my desk and initiate my journal entry for this morinng.

After I have put my computer away, I then begin to pack out of this state park, after which, I drive across the Deschutes River bridge, then turn north on US 97, past Lava Butte, and drive to Bend where I turn into the w-mart for coffee, com and computer.

Awake to a very cold morning, dress in my winter blues and step out side to walk to the restroom and about half way there, I look up to see if I can see the moon and any planets. To mu surprise, I see, not only Venus but but also the moon with what looks like a rainbow around it, so I take a couple of photos of the moon.

Upon my return to the jammer, I begin boiling water for my morning meal. Once my three cups are filled with hot coffee, hot tea and my meal, I climb back in the jammer, turn on my computer and begin pounding the keyboard.

I have one bar on my phone when I arrived yesterday, but this morning, there is no signal. Thus, this piece of electronics can only be used to use apps that are currently on it. Too, I will update this campsite to include Little or No phone reception on the Campsite Rating, which will drop it from an eight to a seven rating.

When it warms up outside, I go for a walk to see if anyone had left firewood in their campsites and find two unburnt logs and some smaller pieces. I carry the logs back to my campsite and place them by my fire pit and then resume pounding keys. Then, at about one this afternoon, I step outside to try to split the logs but after some time trying, I decide to split up the smaller pieces and use this wood to start the fire and then place the two logs on top to burn them. This works and I am able to build a good pit of coals to cook my two tuna filet as well as bring to boil and cook a pot of vegetable stew.

Awake, dress, and begin getting ready to drive to town to gain access to the internet and the zoom meeting for ministry, but then, I decide to look at my new data phone service to see if it is available here. To my surprise, I find that I do have service, however, it is only two bars. Even so, it is enough to use for the zoom meeting and I will not have to leave and go into town.

Shortly after, the range comes by to tell me that campsite fifteen is reserved for tonight but site sixteen is available if I want it. I tell him that I will take it, unplug, move the jammer over one space and plug back in.

This site is in direct sunlight all afternoon but when the sun sets below the western treeline, it is more tolerable.

Awake to a very cold morning but by eight, it is forty degrees and then walk to the shower for a warm up. Afterwards, I walk back to the jammer to heat a pot of water for breakfast. By nine this morning, I am inside the jammer with the heater warming the outside and the cup of hot warming the inside.

Not a bad location, trees on either side provide shade during the day.

Up early and head into the town of La Pine first for a hot drink. Today, I plan to visit Newberry Volcanic national monument, but first I must do laundry and so, drive to the laundry mat and await outside until it opens while sipping on my cup of hot.

Somewhat compact site but plenty of shade during the day.