East Lake

Facility · Oregon ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Deschutes National Forest (NF) · Open Access

6,380 ft
Elevation

East Lake is a popular recreation lake in a setting of wooded shorelines, sandy beaches and brilliant blue-green water. The lake is one of two exceptional trout lakes nestled in the caldera of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, the largest ice-age volcano in Oregon. In addition to fishing for kokanee, rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, chub, and brown trout, people come to this lake to picnic and camp. East Lake shares this outstanding geologic area with Paulina Lake and both lakes are well known for their large brown trout. East lake is one of the finest and most traditional fisheries in Oregon, regularly producing brown trout over 10 pounds. The lake record for brown trout is a 22.5 pounds. Brown. Rainbow trout are also popular using all kinds of angling techniques. East Lake is 6,381 feet above sea level, is approximately a mile in diameter, and the average depth is just over 67 feet. The lake is fed by snowmelt and underground springs.

Covering over 500 square miles, Newberry Volcano is one of the largest shield volcanoes in the lower 48 states. The area was named after J. S. Newberry, a scientist attached to the 1853 railroad surveying party. The volcano's summit contains a seventeen square mile caldera, also referred to as Newberry Crater, formed as the top of the volcano collapsed when the magma chamber beneath emptied out. The caldera may have Originally contained one large lake, like Crater Lake. However, more recent eruptions divided the crater into two crystal clear lakes, separated by pumice, ash, and lava flows.

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

For boat launch information see East Lake Boating Site, Cinderhill Boating Site , Hot Springs Boating Site and East Lake Resort. 

The facts

  • Season: Late May — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026

Recreation.gov's own page

Getting there

43.72378, -121.21390 · 43°43'25.6"N 121°12'50.1"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 84°F in Jul, down to 38°F in Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F404350576572848376624638
Low °F202124253337414034282419
Precip in2.91.91.51.21.71.10.50.60.81.42.43.2

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 15.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Member photos

Common questions about East Lake

Can you reserve a site at East Lake?
No. East Lake is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near East Lake

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.