There are over 300 lakes near Bend Oregon within a two-hour drive! Each one is unique and has different activities to offer.
As central Oregon local’s, we love these lakes near Bend dearly. Access to these Bend Oregon lakes is part of what makes this part of Oregon so special!
In this article, we’ve gathered our local knowledge to help you discover these sparkling lakes near Bend!
We’ll break down the best lakes near Bend for each activity, including hiking, swimming, paddling, boating, camping, and fishing.
Whichever lakes activities you prefer, we’ll help you plan a memorable central Oregon lake day.
Best Lakes Near Bend: Overview
With so many stunning lakes within an hour or two from Bend, it can be hard to decide which one is best for you.
Most of these lakes are along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, which is a great way to see multiple lakes and a variety of views.
However, some are also a few accessible on Highway 20, within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, and other parts of central Oregon.
Lakes Near Bend: Map
Use this interactive map of lakes Near Bend to get your bearings. You can also expand the map to open it in a new tab.
The table below breaks down our favorite lakes near Bend, including the distance from Bend, what activities they’re great for, and potential drawbacks.
| Lake | Typical Drive Time | Known for… |
| Todd | 35 min | A short hike around the lake with nice views. Fishing opportunities (mostly rainbow trout). |
| Sparks | 45 min | The stunning Ray Atkeson Memorial Trail. Amazing mountain views. Excellent paddleboarding and kayaking. |
| Devil’s | 35 min | Beautiful turquoise, cold water. Great for paddleboarding and kayaking. |
| Elk | 40 min | Great beaches, swimming, and paddling. Elk Lake Resort amenities. Nice mountain views. |
| Hosmer | 45 min | Excellent paddleboarding and fly-fishing. Nice mountain views. |
| Lava | 45 min | Camping and Lava Lake Resort amenities. Boating and fishing. |
| Little Lava | 45 min | Camping, paddling, boating and fishing. |
| Cultus | 1 hr | Water sports, fishing, Cultus Lake Resort. |
| Paulina and East | 50 min | Excellent hikes and campgrounds. Paulina Lake Lodge and East Lake Lodge amenities. Boating and fishing. |
| Scout | 50 min | A small lake great for swimming and families. |
| Suttle | 50 min | Suttle Lake Lodge amenities. Camping, hiking, paddleboarding. |
| No Name | Various trailheads | A stunning alpine lake worth the hike. |
In this article, we’ll dive into the details for each of these lakes in central Oregon.
Best Lakes Near Bend
The truth is, there are dozens of lakes in central Oregon, but some just stand out above the rest in terms of accessibility, activities, and beauty.
As central Oregon locals, these are our top lakes near Bend.
Sparks Lake
Sparks Lake is 27 miles from Bend and typically takes 45 minutes to drive to the Sparks Lake Day Use Area.
Sparks Lake is known for impressive mountain views, providing a front and center experience with three iconic central Oregon peaks: South Sister, Broken Top, and Mt. Bachelor.
The primary activities at Sparks Lake include paddleboarding, kayaking, hiking, swimming, dispersed camping, and of course photography.
Sparks Lake has a nice day use area with some rocky beach access, which is suitable but not ideal for lake-side lounging.
In our opinion, the main draw of Sparks Lake is paddling due to the diverse mountain views as well as the numerous islands, inlets, and bays to explore.
In fact, we consider Sparks Lake one of the places near Bend for paddleboarding and kayaking.
Also, the Ray Atkeson Memorial Trail hugs the shoreline of Sparks Lake and offers incredible views. This is one of our all-time favorite hikes near Bend.
There are also a number of free dispersed campsites. Some accessible via car but there are lots of lakeside sites accessible by only by paddling.
Be aware: there is a 1.7-mile-long dirt road that connects the Sparks Lake Day Use Area to the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. This road is fairly bumpy.
Our take on Sparks Lake
Pros: Sparks is great for paddling, hiking, swimming, lounging lakeside, and dispersed camping. We would even go so far as to say: if you can only visit one of these lakes near Bend, make it Sparks Lake!
Drawbacks: Be prepared for a bumpy dirt road and high crowds on weekends with nice weather. Motorized boats are allowed but nobody really uses them. Fly fishing is the only type of fishing allowed. Also, be aware of low water levels in late summer and fall.
Check out the official USFS webpage for Sparks Lake.
Todd Lake
Todd Lake is a small lake 25 miles west of Bend and typically requires a 35-minute drive.
The main draw is a short and relatively flat 1.7-mile hike around the lake, which offers beautiful views of the lake, surrounding forest, and Mt. Bachelor.
However, the view of Mt. Bachelor is partially obscured by the Topology. Also, Broken Top is just barely visible from some parts of the trail.
Know that there is a short walk from the parking lot to the lake (around 0.2 miles) and much of the shoreline is forested, so it’s not as ideal for setting up a spot for the day.
That said, paddling is possible if you can transport your watercraft from the parking lot. As with most sub-alpine mountain lakes, swimming can be pleasant.
Be aware: the short dirt road to the Todd Lake Trailhead is fairly bumpy, so you might have to walk a bit further if your car can’t handle it.
There are three walk-in campsites that are close to Todd Lake and about 10 minutes from the parking lot.
Furthermore, the parking lot is small and does fill up on busy weekends. Plan to arrive before 9 am for the best chance of getting a spot.
Also, it’s worth noting that the Todd Lake Trailhead is an access point for hiking to No Name Lake, which we’ll cover in more detail later.
Our take on Todd Lake
Pros: We like the easy hike around Todd Lake and the relatively close proximity to Bend. The three walk-in camping sites can offer a private lakeside camping experience.
Drawbacks: Todd Lake isn’t the best for paddling, swimming, and lounging because of the 0.2 mile walk from the car. The parking lot is small and there is a bumpy dirt road.
Check out the official USFS webpage for Todd Lake.
Paulina Lake and East Lake
Paulina Lake and East Lake are fairly large lakes nestled in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, about 50 minutes or 40 miles south of Bend.
Both of these lakes have a ton to offer including lakeside resorts, shoreline campgrounds, lots of hiking trails, beautiful viewpoints, and excellent boating and fishing opportunities.
If that wasn’t enough, there is even a hot spring you can hike or paddle to and a beautiful waterfall. As you can see, there are at least a weekend’s worth of activities in this area.
Paulina Lake Lodge and East Lake Resort are great options for folks who want a classic lakeside lodge experience. They both have lodging, restaurants, watercraft rentals, and other resort amenities.
We personally love the lakeside sites at Little Crater Campground. Also, we like the moderate but rewarding 2-mile Little Crater Trail.
Local tip: You can’t miss the incredible views from Paulina Peak. This has to be one of the best viewpoints in central Oregon. You can hike or drive to this viewpoint.
Our take on Paulina Lake and East Lake
Pros: The variety of activities, camping, lodging, and resort amenities make these lakes a great family friendly weekend retreat.
Drawbacks: In our minds, the only drawback is the lack of mountain views that some of the other lakes near Bend offer. However, you still get some nice views of the impressive Paulina Peak.
In fact, these are two of our favorite lakes near Bend. Learn more about this area in our full guide to the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.
Check out the official USFS webpages for Paulina Lake and East Lake.
Elk Lake
Elk Lake is along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway about 40 minutes and 32 miles from Bend.
Elk Lake has 3 campgrounds, 4 day use areas, and Elk Lake Resort. Needless to say, this is one of the more developed lakes near Bend.
While it can get crowded, Elk Lake is also very accessible, great for paddling, camping, swimming, lounging lakeside, and enjoying the amenities provided by Elk Lake Resort.
In fact, Elk Lake Resort is a great spot for families who want to take advantage of the convenient restaurant and watercraft rentals for a both single day and an overnight stay.
You can even rent a pontoon boat, and the swim platform is another nice touch. Also, ice cream!
In addition to Elk Lake Resort, other nice day use areas include the Sunset View Day Use Area on the east side of the lake and the day use area on the south side of the lake (which has the best mountain views).
Also, there is a nice hiking trail along the south and east sides of Elk Lake which has some great views.
For the anglers, there are some good fishing opportunities at Elk Lake.
Our take on Elk Lake
Pros: Accessible day use areas, campgrounds, and amenities at Elk Lake Resort make Elk Lake great for an accessible family friendly single or multi-day stay filled with paddling, swimming, lounging, and boating.
Drawback: Due to the easy accessibility and great day use areas, this is one of the more popular lakes near Bend and does get crowded on weekends with nice weather.
Check out the official USFS webpage for Elk Lake.
Hosmer Lake
Hosmer Lake is located along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway and is about 36 miles and 45 minutes from Bend.
Hosmer has 4 main draws: paddling, mountain views, fly-fishing, and camping.
In fact, we think Hosmer is one of the best lakes for paddling near Bend because of the unique shape of the lake and the mountain views.
The lake is super long and skinny with lots of different nooks and crannies to explore and get lost in.
In addition, the heavily vegetated shoreline makes it a great spot for fly-fishing.
There is not really a beach space, so don’t expect to spend much time not on the water.
Rather, the boat launch is where you park and launch. That is, unless you are camping at Mallard Marsh Campground or South Campground.
Both of these campgrounds are pretty nice for enjoying the activities at Hosmer Lake.
Our take on Hosmer Lake
Pros: Hosmer Lake is ideal for paddleboarding and fly-fishing with excellent mountain views.
Drawbacks: There isn’t really a spot to hang out on the shoreline. The water level can be low during the late summer and fall. Also, the relatively small lake can be crowded on weekends.
Check out the official USFS webpage for Hosmer Lake.
Devils Lake
Devils Lake is a small and shallow lake along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway located about 27 miles west of Bend, with a typical drive time of 35 minutes.
Devils Lake earns a spot on this list of best lakes near Bend mainly because of its beautiful turquoise colored water.
There is no main day use area or beach space, but rather lots of easily accessible scattered hangout spots along the shoreline which can be great to set up for the day.
Be aware that the parking lot can get crowded during busy weekends, but you can usually find parking alongside the road.
There is a short hiking trail on the south side of the lake.
Also, there are 10 first come first served walk-in campsites at Devils Lake Campground. These sites are usually full during summer weekends, but if you get there Thursday night or early Friday you can likely get a spot.
Our take on Devils Lake
Pros: The stunning turquoise water, accessible shoreline hangout spots, and proximity to Bend make this a great spot for paddleboarding.
Drawbacks: The water can be quite chilly due to the close proximity to mountain snowmelt. Also, you don’t really get any mountain views unfortunately.
Check out the official USFS webpage on Devils Lake.
Lava and Little Lava Lake
Lava Lake and Little Lava Lake are located about 38 miles west of Bend and typically take about 50 minutes to drive to from Bend.
Lava Lake is a fairly large lake with some excellent mountain views, a campground, an RV resort, boating (including a boat ramp) and fishing, and a shoreline hiking trail.
Lava Lake Campground and Lava Lake Resort make this a great lake near Bend for overnight stays.
Lava Lake Campground has large and fairly private sites, while Lava Lake Resort has RV sites, watercraft rentals, and a small store. This is a great place to rent a boat or a paddleboard.
Little Lava Lake is the source of the mighty Deschutes River. There is a small campground and a small beach area that is also used as a boat ramp.
We love Little Lava Lake for paddling because it has great mountain views.
In addition, Little Lava Lake is known for its fishing. Both motorized and non-motorized boats are allowed. Launching is done via a gravel boat ramp.
Our Take on Lava and Little Lava Lake
Pros: The nice mountain views, variety of camping options, boating and fishing, nearby hiking trails, and amenities of Lava Lake Resort make this an ideal spot for an overnight stay for the whole family.
Drawbacks: There isn’t a great beach day use area that is nice for lounging at either of these lakes. Also, it can be hard to get a campsite during busy summer weekends.
Check out the official USFS webpages for Lava Lake and Little Lava Lake.
Suttle Lake
Suttle Lake is right off Highway 20, about 37 miles and a typically drive time of 50 minutes from Bend.
The main draws of Suttle Lake include Suttle Lodge, three campgrounds, and a day use area with a nice beach.
The Suttle Lodge is one of the nicer resorts near Bend and an ideal option for an elevated lakeside resort experience.
Even if you’re not staying overnight, you can rent watercrafts and enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Suttle Lodge boathouse.
All three of the campgrounds at Suttle Lake have many sites close to the lake with nice views and easy lake access.
Furthermore, there is a nice hiking trail around the lake which is about 3.5 miles and totally flat. This is an awesome way to see the entire lake on foot.
Fishing at Suttle Lake is pretty good, motorized and non-motorized boats are allowed, and there are several boat launches at each of the campgrounds and the day use area.
Our take on Suttle Lake
Pros: We love the amenities that Suttle Lodge provides, whether you’re staying overnight or eating and renting watercrafts at the boathouse. The day use area and campgrounds are top notch! For these reasons, Suttle earns a spot on this list of best lakes near Bend.
Drawbacks: The main drawback to Suttle Lake is the lack of mountain views.
Check out the USFS official webpage for Suttle Lake.
Scout Lake
Scout Lake is right next to Suttle Lake, about 37 miles from Bend.
Scout Lake is super tiny and ideal for swimming, lounging, and picnicking on the shoreline.
In fact, it’s so small, think of Scout Lake as more of a huge natural swimming pool rather than a lake.
There is a ton of beach space for kids to run around and usually logs in the water for them to swim on.
Plus, the water is fairly warm as the lake is relatively shallow and small.
Be aware: Dogs are not allowed at Scout Lake for sanitary reasons.
For overnight stays, check out Scout Lake Campground.
Our take on Scout Lake
Pros: The warm water, ample shoreline access, and short walk from the car make Scout Lake perfect for families with kids.
Downsides: Keeping in mind that Scout Lake is really only good for swimming and picnicking, the only downside is that in the late summer and fall the water can get a little dirty and even have swimmer’s itch.
Check out the official USFS webpage on Scout Lake.
Cultus Lake
Cultus Lake is a large lake near Bend located about 40 miles away and typically takes about an hour to drive there.
Cultus Lake is primarily known for boating activities, fishing, camping at Cultus Lake Campground, and Cultus Lake Resort.
One of the main draws of Cultus Lake is the motor boating sports like water skiing, wakeboard, and jet skiing that are possible due to the large size of the lake.
In fact, Cultus Lake is one of the handful of lakes near Bend that allow high speed watercraft.
Boats can be launched from the Cultus Lake Boating Site which is adjacent to the campground and has a dock and two boat ramps.
Cultus Lake Campground is a popular campground next to Cultus Lake with 55 campsites suitable for tents, campers, and RVs under 30 feet.
Cultus Lake Resort offers rustic cabins, a general store, a restaurant, watercraft rentals, and a scenic location.
A unique characteristic of Cultus Lake is the several wilderness campgrounds along the shoreline accessible only by boat. These are referred to as “boat-in campgrounds”.
Finally, there is a hiking trail that wraps around the north and west side of the lake.
Our take on Cultus Lake
Pros: Cultus is ideal for boaters (especially for high-speed watersports) and anglers that want convenient access to amenities provided by Cultus Lake Resort.
Drawbacks: The wake and noise produced by boats can be somewhat disruptive to the peaceful ambiance of the lake.
Check out the official USFS webpage for Cultus Lake.
Bonus: No Name Lake
No Name Lake is the only lake on this list that requires a long hike to access. Even so, we would be wrong to exclude it from the list of best lakes near Bend.
The reward for the long hike: unparalleled views of the Cascade Mountains and a stunning turquoise alpine lake.
A Central Oregon classic, No Name lake is popular for its alpine attitude.
Posing as foreground for rugged Broken Top Mountain and featuring glaciers year-round, you’ve probably seen its handsome aesthetics displayed on your social media feed.
There are two main ways to access No Name Lake: via a 14-mile round trip hike from Todd Lake or via the Tam McArthur Rim Trail which is 10 miles round trip.
Both of these hikes are beautiful, and we consider them to be two of the best hikes near Bend.
Learn more in our full article about No Name Lake.
Bonus: Waldo Lake
Even though it’s a bit far from Bend (about 1.5 hours), we had to include one of our favorite lakes in central Oregon: Waldo Lake.
The water is crystal clear and feels like you’re flying when gliding on a paddleboard. We love to explore the islands and claim one as our own for the day.
Plus, there is lots of space to spread out. It is one of the largest lakes in Oregon and has three campgrounds and two day use areas.
In fact, there are also 50 primitive dispersed campsites around the lake outside of the developed campgrounds.
Hiking and mountain biking is plentiful. The 20-mile trail around the lake is popular for both hiking and riding.
We are sad to report that much of the forest on the west side of the lake was burned in 2022. As unfortunate as that is, we hope it will still be worth visiting in the years to come.
Check out the official USFS webpage for Waldo Lake.
Other Tips for Visiting Lakes Near Bend
These are our tips for ensuring a safe and enjoyable trip to any of these lakes near Bend.
Check weather, road closures, and wildfires
For weather we use NOAA’s National Weather Service. Here’s the forecast for Sparks Lake. But you can click any location on the map.
For road closures and up to date road conditions, use ODOT’s Trip Check. If you’re visiting some of these lakes near Bend in the spring or fall, make sure the roads are open.
Unfortunately, summer wildfires are a big factor for air quality and access to lakes near Bend. Watch Duty is the most reliable and up to date source for wildfire information.
Prepare for all temperatures
Even in the summer months, temperatures drop rapidly once the sun sets in Central Oregon’s high desert climate. Take our word for it: pack warm clothes for when it gets cold.
Use Sun Protection
The sun in central Oregon is no joke! Due to the relatively high elevation, you will get burned quickly.
We highly recommend a sun hoodie such as this one, a good hat, and sunscreen when needed. Sunglasses are also a good idea because of the glare on the water.
Leave No Trace
Help keep these special lakes clean and inviting for others to enjoy. Pack it out.
Permits and Passes
Parking passes are required at most but not all of the lakes. Check the official government agency webpage before visiting.
If you do need a permit, we recommend the Annual Northwest Forest Pass, but day passes can also be purchased.
Conclusion
We hope this article helped you get a better idea of the best lakes near Bend.
Get out there and have fun! If you’re interested in learning more about Bend, check out more things to do in Bend.
Also, subscribe to our YouTube and follow us on Instagram for more inspiration for exploring the PNW. Happy roaming!
