elizabethadventuresblogCentral Oregon is filled with amazing lakes to paddle on. Being out in the water is one of my favorite summer activities. There is something so peaceful about floating in the water and taking in the views. Whether you canoe, kayak or SUP, I hope to share some amazing lakes to explore in Central Oregon! Before we share about lakes though, let’s talk about some important things you should know.
Things to Know
- It is now required to have a permit for anything that is over 10’ or you could get a $115 ticket. You can get one of these at any sporting goods store or online at oregon.gov. If you go out on any of these lakes you must have proof of your permit with you.
- It is important to clean your kayaks, canoe and SUP between lakes to make sure you aren’t contaminating the lakes with algae or invasive specie. A simple hose-down when you get home is important!
- Remember to leave no trace, even out on the water. This means don’t feed the animals or litter.
- You must carry a life jacket and whistle on board at all times, even if you are not wearing them.
What To Paddle With
I have a kayak and a paddle board for adventuring on the lakes in central Oregon. I love how easy it is to just throw my kayak in and that I don’t have to worry about getting wet. It can also hard to travel with at times because of how big my kayak is. I love using my paddle board because I can spread out and lay down on it and carry more gear. My paddle board is also easier to travel with, but a lot more effort to inflate.
My Kayak:
I rented multiple kayaks prior to purchasing my own kayak to see what I liked. I choose mine because it was reasonably priced but also easier to maneuver. Really narrow kayaks tend to move side to side more easily than a wider kayak. I purchased this Pelican kayak because it was wide and made for a smoother, easier to navigate adventure out on the lakes.
My Stand Up Paddle Board
I use an Aquaglide Inflatable Cascade 11 paddle board and absolutely love it! I’ve used a few other brands and this one by far is the easiest I’ve used to maneuver through the water. You can purchase this paddle board through REI here or go directly to their website. Code eadventures15 will get you 15% off.
Elk Lake
This is a family favorite spot because it has a resort where you can stock up in snacks, get food at the restaurant, gas for your car or boat, camp lakeside or rent a cruise for the day. Elk Lake has stunning mountain views as well. This lake is located just outside of Bend along the Cascade Lakes Hwy. Because it is popular, it can be very crowded on weekends. You will want to book a campsite well in advance, go on a weekday or get there early so you can snag a lakeside spot for the day. The resort has a a dry dock you can rent for the day if you are going with multiple people as well as a cruise. Motor boats, canoes, kayaks and SUP’s are also available to rent if you do not own your own. THis lake has amazing views of the various mountains in central Oregon.
Sparks Lake
Sparks Lake is a local favorite because it has stunning views of the mountains and is large enough to spread out. There are a few first-come, first-serve campsites on the road by the parking lot. They are hard to get, so if you want to camp there, plan to go early or on a weekday. If you can’t get a campsite and still want to camp, another popular way to camp here is to load up your boat and paddle your gear across the lake.
If you choose to paddle across the lake to camp, please be sure to leave no trace by finding a site that has already been used rather than making your own campsite along the lake’s edge. A majority of people use the lake for day use only. The lake has a partially paved trail that meanders through the lava beds, making it great for families to enjoy for the day.
The water has some stunning views of the central Oregon mountains, unique lava rock formations and relatively shallow water. The road into the lake is unpacked with a lot of potholes. If you don’t have a car with clearance, you can still make it, you will just want to take it slow.
Crane Prairie
Crane Prairie is a reservoir lake south of Bend. It’s sister lake is Wickiup, which is much larger. I prefer Crane Prairie because although it allows motorized boats, it’s a much smaller lake and has a great campground. There are a lot of lakeside sites available, but be sure to book ahead of time! You can launch either from the resort boat launch or the campgrounds. Even though this lake is farther south, is still has beautiful views of the central Oregon mountains.
This lake is great because it has campsites, RV sites, cabin rentals, a store and motorized boat rentals. It is popular for people seeking good fishing, but I love taking my kayak out to the middle and just enjoying the mountain views as I paddle.
Paulina Lake
Paulina is another lake with cabins and boat rentals. There are multiple hikes in the area as well as a trail around the lake! Another great thing about Paulina is that there are actually two lakes here to choose from: Paulina and East Lake.
If you love hot springs, this is definitely the place for you. You can either paddle or hike halfway around Paulina Lake to the hot springs on the other side. You will want to bring a small shovel because the hot spring holes fill in with the soft pumice rock of the lake. But you can easily see where others have dug and create a new pool to enjoy.
Paulina has multiple boat rental options from motorized to kayaks. Another reason I love this area is because after you spend time on the water, you can go for a hike to a waterfall, explore the lava beds, or enjoy the views from Paulina Peak.
Lake Billy Chinook
This is a reservoir lake along the Deschutes River that is nestled between canyon walls. The lake allows for motorized boats and has multiple launch sites as well as campgrounds. I love paddling here because of the more unique landscape compared to other central Oregon lakes.
The lake has two large rock canyon walls on both sides making for a really beautiful experience. Because this is a larger lake, you can rent a house boat for the week or a motorized boat for tubing. If you don’t have your own kayak or SUP, you can rent those too! The resort has a small cafe as well as a general store to stock up on all your snacks.
Mirror Pond and Old Mill
Mirror Pond is a section of the Deschutes River that runs through downtown Bend, right off Drake Park. You can put in right at the park or farther up river near the Old Mill district. This is an extremely popular spot for locals and tourists to float the river in the summer and can be very busy on the weekends. A lot of people will put their innertubes in at Riverbend Park and then float all the way down to Mirror Pond.
If you choose to do this, just know there is a small waterfall/rapid section at the end of the Old Mill district you will go down before continuing to Mirror Pond. It was designed to have people go down it, but know it will drop river floaters down some small rapids. You can also get out before the falls. I love kayaking to the falls and watching people surf and body board the rapids. The city built in a wave section!
Mirror Pond is my favorite spot to go if I want to get out on the water in central Oregon if I’m short on time. The houses are all so beautiful and it’s close to downtown so I can explore or eat after. Weekdays or mornings before it gets hot are my preferred times to paddle to avoid the crowds. If you don’t have an inner tube, kayak or SUP, there are rentals available at Riverbend Park in the summer as well as other rental companies in town. If you’re lucky, you’ll even see an otter or two swimming around!
Clear Lake
Clear Lake is located off the McKenzie Highway, just after the Santiam Junction and it sure lives up to its name! The water is crystal clear and you can see to the bottom of the lake. I love looking down and seeing massive logs sticking up as you paddle around them. It’s such a beautiful site! There are multiple campgrounds and the resort has cabin rentals as well as paddle boats. This lake is only for non-motorized boats. This is without a doubt the most unique lake to paddle on in central Oregon.
Suttle Lake
There is a resort with cabins that is open year-round at Suttle Lake. It has a small day-use area so you can enjoy hanging out lakeside while also hopping over to the resort for snacks and drinks. During the summer there are boat rentals (non-motorized) at the docks at the resort, or you can bring your own to the day-use area. You can also find a campsite around the lake and put your boat in at one of their launches. This lake does allow motorboats, so if you don’t enjoy kayaking or SUPing with a lot of wake, you may not want to go here. If it’s windy, the water can be choppy to paddle on. On a calm day this lake is beautiful, surrounded by trees and a view of Mt. Washington.
Three Creeks
This is another popular camping, hiking and paddle lake. It has very limited camping and you will need to go early or mid-week and hope you get lucky with an open spot. The campsites are large and have great views of the water! There is a small snack shack at the lake where you can rent boats as well. It is a non-motorized boat lake and usually calm, unless the wind picks up.The lake is a very popular spot for day hiking and backpacking, so it fills up extremely fast and it has limited parking. You will want to go early or be prepared to walk to the lake. The lake has a great view of Tam MacArthur Ridge. There is limited to no cell service at the lake, so plan accordingly and know the weather before going.
Big Lake
This lake is located near Hoodoo at the top of the Santiam Pass. It allows for motorized boat use and has a boat launch within the campground. It has a stunning view of Mt. Washington as it sits right at its base. I like this lake mostly for it’s mountain view. It has great hikes in the area as well as large campsites. You can launch motorized and non-motorized boats from the day-use area. You will not find any boat rentals here and need to bring your own. If you do not own, you can find a place in Bend to rent for the day.
Other Central Oregon Guides
Central Oregon is an outdoor playground from paddling to biking or camping and hiking. Check out my “central Oregon larch” guide for the best places to find larches in the fall or my “central Oregon viewpoints” guide for epic hiking trails.
Happy Boating!
Elizabeth
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