crescent lakeCrescent Lake is a popular recreation lake in a setting of wooded shorelines, sandy beaches and brilliant blue-green water. In addition to fishing for kokanee, lake trout, rainbow and brown trout, people come to this lake for sailing, swimming, water skiing windsurfing and camping. Lake trout are caught here in the 5 to 10 pound range with an occasional 20 pounder. In 1993 a 30 pound lake trout was caught at Crescent Lake.

Crescent Lake is on the Deschutes National Forest in a naturally glaciated basin behind a moraine dam and lies just east of the summit of the Cascade Mountain Range in Northern Klamath County. It is located about 3 miles south of Hwy 58 via Deschutes National Forest Road 60 from Crescent Lake junction. In 1922, a small earth and wooding dam was built across the outlet to store water for irrigation in Bend via Crescent Creek, Little Deschutes and Deschutes Rivers. The Bureau of Reclamation constructed a 40 foot-high earth and concrete in 1956 bringing the lake’s surface area elevation at full pool to 4,847 feet where it has a surface area of 4,008 acres. Water is drawn off for irrigation throughout the summer, so by summers end the lake level could drop as much as 15 feet.

Motorized and non-motorized boats are allowed on this body of water. 

For boat launch information see Crescent Lake Boating Site or  Spring Boating Site.

Camping is available at the following locations:

At a Glance

Current Conditions: April 18, 2023
  • Odell Lake is still partially frozen. Sunset Cove Day Use, Princess Creek Day Use and Trapper Creek Boat Launch are still under 4+ feet of snow.
  • Forest Service Road 60 and the road leading to the Simax Beach Day Use Areas still have significant snow.

General Information

Directions:

See Crescent Lake Boating Site


Activities

Campground Camping

Camping is available at the following locations:

Lake and Pond Fishing

ODFW Management Policies for Crescent Lake

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife currently manages whitefish for natural production, introduced kokanee salmon, rainbow and brown trout at Crescent Lake will be managed for natural and hatchery production consistent with the Basic Yield Fish Management Alternative for trout. Introduced lake trout (mackinaw) will be managed for natural production consistent with Natural Production Policy under the Trophy Fish Management Alternative for trout.

What To Expect

  • Vehicle Access: Crescent Lake is approximately 75 miles southeast of Eugene off State Highway 58.
  • Fishing Access: Crescent Lake fishing map under construction
  • Boating Regulations:  See boating regulations.
  • Fish Species Present: Kokanee salmon, lake trout (mackinaw), rainbow trout, brown trout and mountain whitefish.
  • Physical Characteristics: Size: 4008 acres; Depth: 124'-265'; Elevation: 4,839'.
  • When/How to fish: Best months are June, July, and August. Get a weekly fishing report from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Another site with information.
  • Popular Fishing Methods: Bait, lures, and flies
  • Bait/Lure Fishing Method: Dropping bait off the underwater ledges near springs and Contorta Point can be effective. Before July most anglers troll with plugs and flatfish. After July fish deep with downriggers are used to go after the lake trout.
  • Fly Fishing Methods: Fly anglers usually fish with a 6-weight rod using a intermediate sinking line or a floating line.
  • Insect Hatch/Flies to Use:
  • Camping Information: Contorta Point, Crescent Lake Campground, Simax Campground, Spring Campground, Whitefish Campground, and Windy Campground.
  • Resort Information: Crescent Lake Lodge and Resort 

Source: Upper Deschutes River Subbasin Fish Management Plan, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Upper Deschutes Fish District, October 1996.

Horse Camping

Group Picnicking

Boating - Motorized

Boating - Non-Motorized

Recreation Areas

Recreation Activities

Related Links

Highlights

Location

 
  Latitude : 
43.48017681

  Longitude : 
-121.9799549