These 9 epic lakes for camping near Bend Oregon are never going out of style!
Within an hour’s drive of Bend there are dozens of lakes for camping and hundreds of amazing campsites.
In this article, we’ll cover our favorite lakes for camping near Bend, including the pros and cons of each lake-side campground.
As Central Oregon residents, we are excited to share our tips with you, so that you can make the most of your time camping at these amazing lakes.
Pack your gear and let’s pitch a tent (or RV) at the best lakes for camping near Bend Oregon!
Lake-side Campgrounds Near Bend: Overview
Central Oregon is an outdoor paradise, offering no shortage of hiking, fishing, and camping opportunities.
In our opinion, most of the best campgrounds in Central Oregon are right next to a beautiful lake.
In fact, with hundreds of lakes and dozens of campgrounds, there are lots of incredible lakes for camping near Bend.
Lava Lake
Lava Lake is a relatively large lake on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway that has excellent views of the surrounding mountains, including South Sister, Broken Top, and Mt. Bachelor.
Distance From Bend: 1 hour
Great for: Boating, fishing, swimming, paddling, rentals
Nearby Hikes: Lava Lake Trail, Lucky Lake,
Amenities: Small store, boat/kayak/paddleboard rentals,
Local Tip:
There is a campground, boating site, and small RV resort complete with a grocery store and tackle shop. You can also rent kayaks, paddleboards, and boats.
Lava Lake is great for fishing. Motorized boats are allowed and there is a nice boat ramp and dock with a decent amount of trailer parking.
Devil’s Lake
Devil’s Lake looks like the artist embellished a bright turquoise hue in a painting of a lake.
The clear, vibrant water of Devil’s Lake is the main attraction, and contrasts sharply with the dark green pine trees and dusty rocks.
The lake is frigid so unless it is a hot day I wouldn’t expect to swim. In our opinion, the real draw of Devil’s Lake is paddleboarding or kayaking.
Distance From Bend: 40 minutes
Great for: Picturesque turquoise water, close proximity to Bend, free camping
Amenities: Toilet, no water
Nearby Hikes: Devil’s Lake Trail, South Sister Summit, Moraine Lake Trail
Local Tip: Bring a wagon to haul your gear to the site from your car.
There are 10 or so campsites on the west side of the lake and many have picnic tables. The campsites are nicely nestled in the trees, but you will have to walk your gear up to a few hundred feet from the car.
Parking at Devil’s Lake Trailhead requires a Northwest Forest Pass but the campground itself is free and first come first serve. That being said the campground is full most weekends and many weekdays so make sure you have a backup plan.
Suttle Lake
Suttle Lake is a medium, pickle-shaped body of water right off highway 20. There is a day use area, a lodge/hotel, and boat launch.
In fact, there are three campgrounds to choose from at this lake: Blue Bay Campground, South Shore Campground, or Link Creek Campground. All are great!
Distance From Bend: 45 minutes
Great for: Nearby restaurant and watercraft rentals, nearby Scout Lake (swimming)
Drawbacks: Can lack sunshine in forested campgrounds
Nearby Hikes: Suttle Lake Loop
Amenities: Toilet, water
Local Tip: Rent paddle boards from the Suttle Lodge!
All three campgrounds are mostly forested and fairly private, with lots of lake view to keep you busy. Suttle Lodge has a restaurant and even a hotel if you want to skip the camping all together. You can also rent boats, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards.
To get your blood flowing on those chilly Central Oregon mornings, stroll the 3.5 miles around the lake (after your morning coffee of course). Don’t worry there will be plenty of time to cook up a batch of bacon and eggs!
With small kiddos, the adjacent Scout Lake is great for swimming. It is smaller and has shallow banks for splashing around in.
Paulina Lake
Paulina Lake is a large and round lake located in a caldera within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.
Don’t let the fact that it is an active volcano scare you off! There are three campgrounds, a day use area, a boat launch, and a lodge.
Distance From Bend: 50 minutes
Great for: Unique topography, hot springs, paddleboarding, boating
Drawbacks: Lacking Cascade Mountain Range views
Nearby Hikes: Paulina Lake Loop, Paulina Peak Trail, Paulina Falls Trail
Amenities: Toilet, no water
Local Tip: Stop by Paulina Falls on the way in or out. It is worth the short detour!
The three campgrounds are: Little Crater Campground, Paulina Lake Campground, and Newberry Group Campground.
Many campsites are super close to the water and offer excellent views of the lake and surrounding topography.
There are also lots of day hikes to explore. Did we mention there are hot springs dug into the lakeshore that you can hike (or paddle) to!
Sparks Lake
Sparks Lake is one of our favorite lakes on Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway.
With beautiful views of nearby mountains, plenty of beach space, and lots of shoreline to explore, this is a great all-around lake for everyone.
Distance From Bend: 40 minutes
Great for: Paddling, hiking, swimming, mountain views.
Drawbacks: Limited camp spots, can be buggy
Nearby Hikes: Ray Atkeson Memorial Trail
Amenities: Toilet, no water
Local Tip: Go during the week to avoid crowds
Sparks Lake has a variety of free, first-come first-serve campsites around the lake. There are a few campsites just off of the road but they tend to fill up quickly on weekends. You can also paddle or hike into a handful of campsites around the lake.
Also, there is a campground (Soda Creek Campground) right next to Sparks Lake that is paid and reservable.
Hosmer Lake
If there is one thing Hosmer Lake isn’t lacking in, its uniqueness and creativity. This lake doesn’t seem to want to be put into a box.
In fact, its squiggly and haphazard shape is super fun to explore and excellent for paddling and fly-fishing.
Distance From Bend: 1 hour
Great for: Paddleboarding and fly-fishing
Drawbacks: Not really a beach area to hang out
Nearby Hikes: Six Lakes Trailhead
Amenities: Toilet, no water
Local Tip: Set aside lots of time for exploring this lake by paddling. There is so much to explore!
Two inviting campgrounds (Mallard Marsh and the generically named South Campground) sit next to each other on the west side of this unique lake.
Overall, Hosmer Lake is great for paddleboarders and fly-anglers, but probably not for hanging out on the beach lakeside.
Waldo Lake
Waldo Lake, one of our preferred lakes, is simply amazing. With crystal clear water, it is considered one of the clearest lakes in Oregon, providing an exhilarating experience while paddleboarding. We enjoy exploring the islands and claiming one for ourselves for the day.
Distance From Bend: 1 hour 45 minutes
Drawbacks: Limited beach space, recent wildfires
Nearby Hikes: Waldo Lake Trail
Amenities: Toilet, water
Local Tip: Don’t forget your paddleboard, kayak, boat, or canoe!
Even though it requires a bit of a drive from Bend, it offers ample space to spread out. As one of the largest lakes in Oregon, it boasts three campgrounds and two day-use areas.
Additionally, there are around 50 primitive dispersed campsites around the lake beyond the developed campgrounds.
Hiking and mountain biking opportunities are abundant, and the 20-mile trail circling the lake is famous for both hiking and riding.
Regrettably, much of the forest on the west side of the lake was burned in 2022. However, we still hope that it will be worth visiting in the upcoming years.
Camp Lake
Camp Lake is considered to be more on the alpine side in comparison to other lakes in the area.
It is nestled next to Middle and North Sister and is quite exposed, with scattered pine trees that manage to withstand the harsh winters.
Distance From Bend: 1 hour 5 minutes
Great for: Backpacking, accessible alpine experience
Drawbacks: Lots of exposure, tough during hot weather
Nearby Hikes: Getting to this lake is the hike!
Amenities: None
Because of its elevation and proximity to mountains, the views from the lake are breathtaking, especially on a clear day. It is an excellent destination for backpacking during the summer and early fall, with the hike beginning at the Pole Creek Trailhead.
Overall, Camp Lake is an accessible alpine lake and excellent backcountry experience. The trail to the lake covers a distance of 7 to 8 miles with a gradual incline, and although it is exposed, there is at least one stream that has water.
Upon reaching the lake, you will likely be greeted by icebergs that hang out in the lake for most of the year.
Local Tip: Stop by Angelina’s Bakery and Cafe in Sisters on your way up to the trailhead. Pick up some coffee, a pastry, or a breakfast sandwich to get you fueled up for the hike!
Conclusion
These are just a handful of the best lakes for camping near Bend. There are many more, but these are our favorites.
Hopefully you found this information valuable if you are planning on camping near Bend. Get out there and enjoy some of the best lakes for camping in Central Oregon!
If you’re visiting the area, you might be looking for things to do in Bend. Also, let us help you plan your trip with our articles about Central Oregon.
