Little Lava Lake

Facility · Oregon ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Deschutes National Forest (NF) · Open Access

4,743 ft
Elevation

Little Lava's biggest claim to fame may not be it’s fishing, but that it is the source of the mighty Deschutes River. The state record brook trout, weighing at 9 pounds, 6 ounces, was taken from the river below the lake in 1980.

Little Lava Lake is a small, forest lake about a half-mile south of "Big" Lava Lake. This 130-acre lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet and supports planted rainbow trout average of 6 to12 inches, some brook trout, and self-sustaining populations of whitefish and tui chub. The fishing here is not as good as at Lava due to competition from the tui chub population. However, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife started control of the tui chub in 1997.

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

For boat launch information see Little Lava Lake Boating Site. 

Getting there

43.91025, -121.75629 · 43°54'36.9"N 121°45'22.6"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F————————————
Low °F————————————
Precip in9.87.17.76.04.22.70.70.82.15.19.711.4

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 12.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Member photos

Common questions about Little Lava Lake

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

Camping near Little Lava 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.