Elk Lake (Oregon)
Lake in Oregon, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elk Lake is a natural body of water in the central Cascade Range in the U.S. state of Oregon. Nearly 4,900 feet (1,500 m) above sea level, the lake is part of a volcanic landscape about 25 miles (40 km) west-southwest of Bend along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway.[2]
| Elk Lake | |
|---|---|
The lake with South Sister in the background | |
  Elk Lake  Elk Lake | |
| Location | Deschutes County, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 43°58′27″N 121°48′09″W |
| Lake type | Natural, oligotrophic |
| Primary inflows | Snowmelt, seepage |
| Primary outflows | None on the surface |
| Catchment area | 13 square miles (34 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 405 acres (164 ha) |
| Average depth | 12 feet (3.7 m) |
| Max. depth | 62 feet (19 m) |
| Water volume | 7,000 acre-feet (8.6×106 m3) |
| Residence time | 1 year |
| Shore length1 | 5.1 miles (8.2 km) |
| Surface elevation | 4,882 feet (1,488 m) |
| Settlements | Bend |
| References | [1][2][3] |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Elk Lake is about 6 miles (10 km) west of Mount Bachelor in Deschutes National Forest. Nearby lakes include Hosmer, Sparks, Blow, Doris, Devils, Lava, and Little Lava.[4]
Heavily used for recreation, the lake is among the most popular of the Cascade Lakes.[2] Its name stems from the large number of elk that formerly frequented the area in summer.[2] During winter, Elk Lake freezes, and access roads are usually closed by snow until late May.[2]
The popular fishing game Russian Fishing 4 added Elk Lake as its first non-Russian fishing map in June 2025, featuring a variety of bluegills and gars.[5]
Recreation
The United States Forest Service manages campgrounds, boat launches, and picnic sites at various locations around the lake, also served by a private resort with cabins.[2] Lake activities include sailing, fishing, swimming, and windsurfing.[6]
The lake supports populations of brook trout generally ranging from 7 to 14 inches (18 to 36 cm) and kokanee averaging 8 to 9 inches (20 to 23 cm).[6] Hiking trails leading to other high-elevation lake groups, such as those in the Mink Lake basin, begin at Elk Lake.[2]