There’s Almost Nothing In Life A Day On Oregon’s Clear Lake Can’t Cure
Oregon’s lakes are peak #pnwonderland: clear-blue and shockingly cold, placid and pristine, superlative and world-renowned. While there are so many beautiful lakes to escape to when a case of wanderlust (or The Mondays) strikes, today we’re visiting a favorite that never fails to turn our proverbial frown upside down. In Cascadia, Oregon, Clear Lake is the source of the famous McKenzie River, formed more than 3,000 years ago when volcanic lava flow blocked a stream bed. True to its name, Clear Lake is as transparent as glass, with visibility to the bottom more than 100 feet down in some spots. The perfect place for a long, languid float or afternoon paddling trip, there’s almost nothing a day on Clear Lake in Oregon can’t cure.
Nested in the high Cascades of Central Oregon, there is a lake that is breathtakingly beguiling and unbelievably beautiful.
This is Clear Lake, and it's wholly deserving of this name. The lake covers 142 acres and lies at an elevation of just over 3,000 feet, and it is one of the most pristine alpine lakes in Oregon.
One of the reasons the lake remains clear and pristine is by limiting boat traffic to muscle power (read: good, old-fashioned oars and elbow grease!) only. There are very few contaminants introduced into the lake, keeping it clear and ecologically sound.
This is an excellent destination for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing; the lake is rife with several varieties of trout, in fact!
Clear Lake is especially lovely in the autumn, when the bold oranges and golden yellows of the surrounding forests frame the lake in vibrant fall foliage.
In fact, the autumn colors along the McKenzie River Trail make for a totally enchanting fall day hike! The Clear Lake Loop Trail is a five-mile loop that's the perfect day hike. It's considered easy and accessible for hikers of all abilities.
Whether you enjoy the lake from a boot or from foot, Clear Lake is one of those rare places that always, always provides soul-filling, life-affirming R&R.
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
