Thompson Reservoir Campground

Located between Yamsay Mountain* and Hager Mountain, Thompson Reservoir cuts off the natural flow of Silver Creek to provide critical irrigation water for ranches and farms in the area, but it also creates a wonderful recreation area in one of Oregon's most remote and scenic areas.

Here on the reservoir's northeastern shore, Thompson Reservoir Campground provides 17 spacious campsites, potable water, vault toilet facilities, and a boat ramp for those visiting.

Thompson Reservoir is stocked annually with trout and small mouth bass, with some trout ranging from 12 to 18 inches. According to Oregon Outback, the creation of Erika Lasater and Paul Denny, anglers will find the best luck fishing with fenders and worms, frisky fly, or brown rooster tail.

* Yamsay Mountain is a part of the Eastern Arc, a series of massive shield volcanoes roughly 30 to 50 miles east of the Cascade's main range, and it includes other notable volcanoes such as Newberry Volcano to the north, Medicine Lake Volcano in northern California, and Simcoe Mountain east of Mount Adams in Washington.

Silver Lake Cowboy Dinner Tree

One of the Oregon's true Wild West experiences, the Silver Lake Cowboy Dinner Tree serves up some of the best and biggest steaks (30 ounces!) in the state, has some of the friendliest hosts, and is a must-stop for any visitor in the Fort Rock/Silver Lake area. While dining next to a wood-fired stove in the festooned cabin you'll have two choices for dinner, a 26- to 30-ounce top sirloin steak or a whole roasted chicken. Seriously, come prepared with an appetite as their pre-set meals aren't for lightweights.

From June 1 through October 31 the Silver Lake Cowboy Dinner Tree is open Thursday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; from November through May it is open from Friday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Reservations are required and only cash is accepted. Call 541.576.2426 for reservations and pricing. It is located 5.1 miles south of Silver Lake on E Bay Road/NF-28, roughly a 45-minute drive from Fort Rock.