Oregon's Pristine Glacial Lake Offers A Mountain Getaway For Camping And Boating

East of Oregon's Cascade Mountain Range is a volcanic landscape peppered with sparkling alpine lakes and winding rivers that bring countless nature enthusiasts to their shorelines. The area is a premier destination for outdoor recreation, and one of the best places for boating, fishing, and camping is Cultus Lake. It's just an hour's drive from Bend, Oregon, one of America's top mountain towns to visit year-round.

The Deschutes National Forest lays claim to the glacier-carved Cultus Lake, which spans almost 2 miles and reaches depths of over 200 feet. It is surrounded by a variety of native trees like Douglas fir, spruce, sugar pine, and old-growth ponderosa, and at 4,688 feet of elevation, you can breathe cool mountain air all summer. Average high temperatures hover around the low 80s.

To get to Cultus Lake, drive about 50 miles southwest of Bend along Cascade Lakes Highway (aka Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway) through dense woodland. Visitors flying in can arrive through the Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) just 20 minutes north of town, which offers numerous domestic flights to major cities like Seattle, LA, and Denver. Alternatively, Portland International Airport (PDX) is a three-hour drive away, and the trip can make for a wonderful scenic road trip in Oregon. The Cascade Lakes Highway is closed during the winter, and the campgrounds typically open in late May and close by mid-October. This place is best during peak summer, when the temps are hot and the lake truly shines.

Cultus Lake is unique in that it is one of the few lakes in the area that allows high-speed motorized watercraft, making it a prime location for those keen on waterskiing, wakeboarding, and jet skiing. There are two boat ramps and a dock in the lake's day-use area, and the Cultus Lake Campground has a walk-on boat launch as well. If you don't have your own equipment, you can rent pontoons, ski boats, kayaks, paddleboards, and more from the Cultus Lake Resort Marina. Aside from the motorized boating opportunities, you can also paddleboard, windsurf, and find areas with beaches suitable for swimming.

Fishing is another huge draw here. The lake is known for its healthy stocks of rainbow trout, mackinaw (lake trout), brook trout, and mountain whitefish. Anglers have been known to reel in impressive catches, including trophy-sized fish exceeding 10 pounds. Visit in May, June, September, or October for peak fishing conditions and fewer people out on the water. Nearby Little Cultus Lake is a quieter alternative just a few miles away for those looking to avoid the noise of busier Cultus Lake.

The Cultus Lake Campground provides direct access to the water and the surrounding wilderness area with more than 50 sites suitable for both tents and RVs. Many sites sit directly on the shoreline or are just a short walk away, and most are well shaded. You'll find basic camping amenities like picnic tables, firepits, and vault toilets, and the sites are pet-friendly. Reservations are recommended during the peak summer season.

Three hike-in or boat-in campgrounds on the lake provide greater seclusion. The Big Cove, Little Cove, and West Cultus campgrounds offer primitive experiences on the lake's northern and western shores and are reservation-only. There are 12 or fewer sites at each campground, providing a true wilderness feeling. A designated parking area within the main campground supports these sites. Mosquitos are frequent flyers here, but you can camp in peace with these tips for mosquito prevention.

If your definition of camping includes staying in a cabin, then the Cultus Lake Resort has you covered. The resort has 23 rustic cabins, some lakeside and others tucked amongst the trees. It's also home to a general store and a BBQ restaurant if you don't feel like cooking. Visitors can moor their boats at the marina, rent various watercraft, and use the public or private guest-only beaches available.