Elk Lake (Oregon)
| Elk Lake | |
|---|---|
The lake with South Sister in the background | |
| Location | Deschutes County, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 43°58′27″N 121°48′09″W / 43.97417°N 121.80250°W |
| Lake type | Natural, oligotrophic |
| Primary inflows | Snowmelt, seepage |
| Primary outflows | None on the surface |
| Catchment area | 13 square miles (34 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 405 acres (164 ha) |
| Average depth | 12 feet (3.7 m) |
| Max. depth | 62 feet (19 m) |
| Water volume | 7,000 acre-feet (8.6×106 m3) |
| Residence time | 1 year |
| Shore length1 | 5.1 miles (8.2 km) |
| Surface elevation | 4,882 feet (1,488 m) |
| Settlements | Bend |
| References | |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Elk Lake is a natural body of water in the central Cascade Range in the U.S. state of Oregon. Nearly 4,900 feet (1,500 m) above sea level, the lake is part of a volcanic landscape about 25 miles (40 km) west-southwest of Bend along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway.
Elk Lake is about 6 miles (10 km) west of Mount Bachelor in Deschutes National Forest. Nearby lakes include Hosmer, Sparks, Blow, Doris, Devils, Lava, and Little Lava.
Heavily used for recreation, the lake is among the most popular of the Cascade Lakes. Its name stems from the large number of elk that formerly frequented the area in summer. During winter, Elk Lake freezes, and access roads are usually closed by snow until late May.
The popular fishing game Russian Fishing 4 added Elk Lake as its first non-Russian fishing map in June 2025, featuring a variety of bluegills and gars.