Photo: SounderBruce, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
🌤 Weather at Ochoco State Scenic Viewpoint by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29–69 °F | 44–87 °F | 29–79 °F | 24–48 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Prineville, 1 mi away, elevation 2,876 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
🔭 Prineville Overlook — A plateau viewpoint on Highway 126 just west of Prineville, looking over the town and the Ochoco Mountains; open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Ochoco State Scenic Viewpoint, also called Ochoco Wayside, sits high on a plateau above Prineville in Crook County, Oregon. It is on Highway 126 west of town, about a mile west of the U.S. 26 junction. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) describes a panorama of ponderosa pine forests, juniper grasslands and the Ochoco Mountains, and lists the viewpoint as open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. You can drive or walk up to it.
It is a viewpoint, not a mountain park. The Bend Bulletin noted in 2021 that there are no services, only a few picnic tables, a covered shelter and some short paths with more views to the north and south. The Oregon State Land Inventory and PAD-US put the OPRD land at about 250 acres. There is no campground.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Highway 126, west edge of Prineville, Crook County, OR |
| Hours | 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (OPRD) |
| Facilities | A few picnic tables, covered shelter, short paths; no services |
| Size | About 250 acres (PAD-US) |
| Day-use permit | Not on OPRD’s list of parks with a day-use parking permit |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I camp at Ochoco State Scenic Viewpoint?
No. There is no campground. For camping nearby, OPRD runs a campground at Prineville Reservoir State Park southeast of town.
Keep exploring: The closest neighbors are Smith Rock State Park (a short drive away) and Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint (within about an hour’s drive).
Sources: OPRD, Prineville Reservoir State Park page and day-use parking permit list; The Bulletin (Bend), February 17, 2021; Oregon State Land Inventory; PAD-US (2012). As of October 2026.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Ochoco State Scenic Viewpoint
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are welcome in Oregon state parks and on most ocean beaches but must be leashed except in designated off-leash areas.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Leash no longer than 6 feet required in developed park areas
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are allowed on most ocean beaches under direct control; western snowy plover nesting areas restrict pets March 15 - Sept. 15; leash required on the beach at some parks (e.g. Cape Lookout)
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Designated pet-friendly yurts and cabins at many parks (South Beach has 14 pet-friendly yurts, Tugman 8); maximum two dogs and/or cats; $10 per night pet fee
- Pet fees statewide rule
- $10 per night for pet-friendly yurts/cabins; no pet fee for day use or campsites
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Pets prohibited at Dabney SRA, the Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls, and Shore Acres; off-leash areas at Stub Stewart, Willamette Mission, Elijah Bristow, Cottonwood Canyon and LaPine
Are dogs allowed at Ochoco State Scenic Viewpoint?
Pets are welcome in Oregon state parks and on most ocean beaches but must be leashed except in designated off-leash areas. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via stateparks.oregon.gov. More: Oregon state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
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