Lakes in Oregon with vacation rental cabins and resorts
Looking for the best lakes in Oregon for paddlers? The Beaver State has some of the most pristine lakes surrounded by the expansive Cascade Mountains.
Five lakes in Oregon are beloved for incredible fishing, hiking, and kayaking conditions, and some of the most rustic, cozy vacation rentals in the state: Upper Klamath Lake, Paulina Lake, Waldo Lake, Odell Lake, and Sparks Lake.
Read on to discover where to plan your next kayaking vacation…
Paulina Lake in Bend, Oregon offers great kayaking, kayak rentals, and even natural hot springs.
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Important note: In Oregon, some lakes are frozen over in the winter season – and some don’t thaw until late Springtime. Keep the weather and season in mind as you’re looking to find the best cabin or vacation rental lodge experience, if bringing a kayak or renting a kayak is in your plans.
Upper Klamath Lake
While kayaking isn’t allowed on the pristine Crater Lake, a lake 50 miles away offers an incredible location for kayaking.
Upper Klamath Lake is a large, shallow freshwater lake just east of the Cascade Mountains and is the largest freshwater lake in Oregon.
The lake is 25 miles long and 8 miles wide, extending northwest from the city of Klamath Falls. It’s such a popular place for paddling that there’s something called the “Upper Klamath Canoe Trail” – a 9.5-mile route stretching from the Rocky Point and Malone Springs launching point on the west side of the lake.
Besides being a great place for watersports, Upper Klamath Lake is one of the nation’s best birdwatching, fishing, and hiking areas.
Two incredible locations around the lake offer vacation rentals:
Rocky Point Resort
Rocky Point Resort is nestled in the Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, offering five types of rental accommodations—rustic cabins, hotel rooms, full and partial RV hookups, furnished RV rentals, and tent sites.
The cabins are fully furnished with full kitchens and bathrooms. And the tent sites are close to shared bathroom facilities, including hot showers, sink stations, water, and a laundromat.
This resort also offers kayak rentals and an onsite restaurant.
Visit the Rocky Point Resort website for more information.
Running Y Resort
The Running Y Resort is located in Klamath Falls, just southwest of the lake. You can stay in The Lodge, choosing from three types of rooms (king, queen, or one-bedroom suites). All rooms are equipped with TVs, spa-style bathrooms, and kitchenettes. The other option is to rent one of the resort’s vacation homes: cozy chalets, townhomes, three-bedroom homes, four-bedroom homes, or nine-bedroom home.
There are also four dining options, a 16-hole golf course, mini golf, and a luxury spa.
Paulina Lake
Paulina Lake Lodge also offers kayak rentals, whether you’re a lodge guest or not.
Paulina Lake was created from a collapsed caldera of the Newberry Volcano, about 25 miles from Bend, Oregon. This 1,531-acre lake is fed by snowmelt, groundwater, and hot springs, which creates a highly productive ecosystem.
Fishing is a popular activity on the lake, especially since it holds the record for the largest trout caught. In 2002, a 28-pound, 5-ounce brown trout was pulled ashore by fisherman Ronald Lane. Beisdes brown trout, the lake is full of kokanee, chubs, and rainbow trout.
Places to stay on Paulina Lake:
Paulina Lake Lodge
The lodge is located in the Deschutes National Forest on the shore of Paulina Lake. It boasts thirteen rustic cabins with full kitchens and bathrooms, sleeping between 3 to 10 people—they even provide fresh linens and firewood to ensure you’re comfortable throughout your entire stay.
Paddleboards and kayaks are available for rent at the lodge by the hour or day. We here at Flatwater Kayak Club can attest to a great Paulina Lake Lodge kayak rental experience, as we did this one recent summer, and loved our experience kayaking on the lake!
Paulina Lake hot springs from a recent visit
And, an added bonus to Paulina Lake, is that there’s a gorgeous ~8-mile round trip hike around it, where you can dip your tired feet in natural hot springs pools and travel through stunning black obsidian rock formations. For those of you who love summer kayaking, hiking, and Oregonian hot springs, this is a definite trip to plan. I enjoyed this experience solo a couple summers back (including a kayak rental from Paulina Lake Lodge), and it was truly an epic Pacific Northwest outdoor weekend experience!
We highly recommend this lake for flatwater kayak and hiking fans. (Also, if you like beer and mozzarella sticks. Shout out to the Paulina Lake Lodge grill and the lovely picnic table seating outside by the lake on a warm summer day).
U.S. Forest Service Campgrounds
The Paulina Lake Campground is nearby the Paulina Lake Lodge. It’s one of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument campgrounds on the lake’s southwest shore. The boat launch within this campground is perfect for paddlers.
The Little Crater Campground offers 49 campsites on or within a minute’s walk to the water. Being so close to the water allows easy access for paddlers to jump into the kayaks from their campsites. All tents, RVs, and trailers are welcome.
Waldo Lake & Odell Lake
Waldo Lake is considered the recreation gem of the Cascades. It’s one of the largest natural lakes in Oregon, and one of the purest since there are no inlet water sources proving nutrients to sustain plant growth. And because there’s no plant life, you’ll be able to see 120 feet under the water.
Only electric motors or non-motorized watercraft are allowed on the lake, making Waldo Lake an incredible spot for kayakers and paddlers of all kinds.
There are three developed campgrounds—North Waldo, Islet, and Shadow Bay—surrounding the lake that offer over 200 sites with toilets, picnic areas, and boat ramps.
While there aren’t many cabins or resorts nearby, Odell Lake (a short 23-minute drive away) is cluttered with rental accommodations and resorts.
Odell Lake Lodge & Resort
At this lakeside resort, you’ll be able to stay in one of their lodge rooms and suites or their rustic cabins. These cozy cabins can sleep up to sixteen people, making them an excellent location for a family reunion, small weddings, or a weekend getaway with friends. All cabins are outfitted with full kitchens, bathrooms, and living spaces.
The best part of this resort is that the cabins are pet friendly.
If you’re interested in fishing, Odell Lake is swimming with Mackinaw trout, Kokanee salmon, and rainbow trout. The resort provides fishing gear and boat rentals. There’s also a wide selection of kayaks and canoes available for daily rental.
Sparks Lake
Within the Deschutes National Forest lays Sparks Lake, a 360-acre lake located 30 miles west of Bend, Oregon. You’ll have a breathtaking view of the South Sister while you’re paddling through its blue waters.
Fly fishing is one of the many recreational activities that people love to do on the 400-acre lake. Many come far and wide for the large Brook trout.
Kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and any boat that goes under 10 miles per hour are welcome. Only fly fishing is allowed on the lake.
As for hiking, the Ray Atkeson Memorial Hiking Trail begins at the boat ramp, crossing through lava flows and lodgepole pines.
The Sparks Lake area doesn’t have any single designated luxury resort, but there are tons of cabin rentals available on Airbnb and Vacation Home Rents.
Explore more top-read kayaking resource articles on Flatwater Kayak Club:
Paulina Lake: why you should plan a trip to Bend, Oregon in 2023
How to choose a kayak that’s right for you
Kayak racks: what buyers need to know.
What is flatwater kayaking, and more answers to frequently asked questions.