This is an excellent place to venture in the Fall. On a clear day you can catch vivid Fall colors reflecting off the crystal clear lake. It is just a short stop off the highway.
This lake is very, very clear. You can see trees lying in the bottom of the lake. The water is a beautiful green/blue color. We went because the surrounding foliage was in fall colors. Everything was simply gorgeous. We kayaked around the lake. It is a small lake, we could have paddled around it twice. The scenery would be incredible in either direction. There were many hikers out, specifically for the fall colors. This is the right time of year to enjoy the colors. We picked a perfect day, warm, no wind and the lake was flat! Easy paddling. The Clear Lake Resort was open, but, I don't think they were serving any food. We had brought our lunch,so we didn't need to buy anything. When the lodge is open, their Marion Berry Pie is to die for.
Every year we go to Clear Lake in the fall when the colors are changing, and kayak around the lake. It's amazing to witness the clarity of the water. These truly are the headwaters to the McKenzie River.
Great lake for kayaking or canoeing but the lake is extremely cold. One side of the lake is so clear you literally can see to the bottom. There are tree snags so be careful if you are in an inflatable. Other side of the lake tends to be choppy, dark and colder. More of a workout for sure. Highly recommend.
The lake is very clear and blue. There are not motorized boats allowed, which makes the lake very quite and serene. We rented a boat for an hour $15, and it was worth the it to see the lake from above.
In much of this Clear Lake. Row boats available to rent. A small restaurant with homestyle food and RUSTIC cabins for rent. Cabins have minimal electricity availability which is limited by blackout periods. There is a petrified forest which is really only visible for divers. Ice cold lake even in the summer. Beautiful, calm day trip. Lake is small so can see it all easily. There is a trail that circles the lake which winds through lava fields in some parts.
This was another accidental stop on a ten day roadtrip. We are so glad we found this incredible place. Really, there is not a more gorgeous lake. We're looking forward to returning to stay a few nights.
Worth a stop!!! There's so much to do- hike, bike, rent a row boat, bring your paddle board or kayak! Eat there or bring a picnic!! The clearness of the lake is amazing!!
What a beautiful lake! We came to Clear Lake to begin our hike to Koosah Falls. I am so glad we did! The lake is just breathtaking! On our way to the falls, we were able to walk along the lake for quite a while. The color of the water was a brilliant aqua mixed with many other shades of blue. We did see people in row boats and kayaks exploring the lake. I would like to try this next time. It is the perfect place to bring your family for a day of exploring!
I've lived in Oregon most of my life but had never taken the turn off on Hwy 126 to Clear Lake even though it's just an hour and a half from my home. In June 2013, a couple of my photographer friends and I set off on a Saturday morning to take pictures up on McKenzie Pass because we heard that the bear grass was blooming. My friends suggested stopping at Clear Lake as they had found bear grass there before.We turned off the main highway and the parking area for the county-operated park was just a short distance away. We immediately spotted some blooming bear grass right in front of the little cafe. After I photographed the bear grass I walked down to the dock. I was simply awestruck by the brilliant turquoise water that was so clear you could see right to the bottom of this glacial spring-fed lake. The lake was formed over 3,000 years ago when a lava flow dammed the McKenzie River. It flooded the forest that, due to the lake's frigid temperature, can still be seen today. These submerged trees make the lake a popular spot for divers and I could see two scuba enthusiasts swimming along the lake bottom.Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the lake so there are no noisy outboards leaking oily slicks around to ruin the view or the tranquility. Visitors can rent a row boat for $30 a day or you can bring your own canoe or kayak. Several colorful kayaks were already paddling around when we arrived and added a nice splash of color to our photographs.The lake is stocked with trout so visiting fishermen can try their luck at catching their supper and the resort offers a selection of cabins for rent, some sleeping up to 8 people.It was soon time for lunch so we decided to try out the little restaurant. They had a nice selection of sandwiches and gave you a choice of fries, potato salad or a cup of soup or chili for your side dish. I decided on a hamburger with a cup of chili. It was very tasty with a juicy patty that was quite generous in size and stuffed with all the trimmings. The chili was quite good too and was a nice change from the usual fries.We enjoyed ourselves so much we returned to Clear Lake in October to photograph the autumn leaves which were really spectacular! I even ventured a little ways down the 5-mile-long trail that circumnavigates the lake. The trail is open from late spring until the first snow although you should check with the park ranger as the west side of the trail is closed periodically to protect nesting bald eagles. You also need to keep a sharp eye out as the twisting trail is used by both hikers and mountain bikers and some of the mountain bikers pedal along quite fast.Although you can rent a cabin in the winter, the restaurant closes during the winter and doesn't reopen until Mother's Day in the spring. I noticed that up to two pets are allowed per cabin too.