Oregon's Best Lakes and Waterfronts

Oregon's lakes range from the world-famous deep blue of Crater Lake to the volcanic Cascade Lakes chain to the remote desert playas of southeastern Oregon.

Crater Lake
The deepest lake in the US (1,943 feet) and arguably the most beautiful — the lake's blue color results from extraordinary clarity (visibility to 134 feet) and depth. No rivers flow into Crater Lake; it is fed entirely by snow and rain and loses water only by evaporation and seepage. The lake is so pure it has extremely low nutrient content — this is why it's so clear. The Cleetwood Cove Trail (2 miles round trip, 700 feet descent) is the only access to the water's edge; boat tours to Wizard Island are bookable from there.

Sparks Lake (Bend area)
In the Cascade Lakes area south of Bend — Sparks Lake gives the most beautiful canoe and kayak setting in Oregon, with the reflection of South Sister and Broken Top in the shallow, clear water. No motorboats are allowed; the lake is shallow enough to wade. Sunrise on the lake with the volcanic peaks reflected is one of Oregon's most photographed scenes.

Wallowa Lake (northeast Oregon)
A glacially carved lake in the Wallowa Mountains — 4 miles long, over 300 feet deep, and surrounded by peaks rising to 9,000 feet. The Wallowas are called "Oregon's Alps" — the glacially carved terrain, with U-valleys, moraines, and sharp ridges, is unlike anywhere else in Oregon. The Mount Howard Gondola (from Wallowa Lake State Park) ascends 3,700 feet to a summit with sweeping views.

Alvord Desert / Steens Mountain
In southeast Oregon — Steens Mountain rises 5,000 feet above the Alvord Desert playa. The dry lake bed (20 miles long, 7 miles wide) is one of the largest playas in Oregon, perfectly flat and white with alkali. Hot springs (Alvord Hot Springs, $10 soak fee, primitive) on the desert edge with Steens Mountain behind them are among the most remarkable in Oregon.

Columbia River
Oregon's northern boundary — the Columbia is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest by volume and the most important salmon migration river in the US. The Columbia River Gorge between Portland and Hood River is both a major recreation area and a scenic corridor. Lewis and Clark traveled this stretch in 1805.