Looking for more to explore near Clear Lake in the Oregon Cascades?
Check out the McKenzie River Trail, which passes along the shores of Clear Lake, and also features hikes to stunning Sahalie and Koosah Falls and the incredible Tamolitch Blue Pool.
LOCATION
Clear Lake is located in the central Cascades of Oregon off Highway 126 (aka the McKenzie River Highway). You can access the boat launch from Clear Lake Resort near the Clear Lake Day Use Area. The turnoff for the resort lies seven miles south of Santiam Junction, where Highway 126 merges with Highway 20 to the east and Highway 22 to the west.
DIFFICULTY
Easy — Clear Lake is small enough that you can explore most of the lake in an hour. With no motorized boats allowed, you can freely paddle where you like, or just take it easy.
WE WERE HERE
August, 2025, about two hours total, including an hour paddling on the lake
CURRENT INFO
Information about Clear Lake Resort is available on the Linn County Parks website. Additional information about the day use area is found on the National Forest Service website. You can also hike around the lake; a trail map and reviews are available on AllTrails.
IMPORTANT NOTE: As of January 2026, all paddlecraft in Oregon must purchase and carry a Waterway Access Permit.
Currently, boats over ten feet in length, including inflatable kayaks and paddle boards, must purchase a permit. A 7-day permit costs $6.50 including fees, while an annual permit costs $18.50 including fees. Visit the Oregon State Marine Board website for more information.
Unfortunately, this can be difficult to manage as the permits must be purchased online (they are available in person only at a few limited locations), and the 7-day permit can’t be purchased in advance. This is a problem when visiting places with little to no cell service. Although information about the pass and a QR code is posted at many lakes and rivers, I’ve never had success purchsing one on site. So, what to do?
Personally, I have yet to see anyone enforce this requirement. Regardless, I encourage everyone to purchase any required passes and permits when using our public lands. To make things easier, you may want to buy an annual pass. As the new regulations go into effect, hopefully it will be easier to purchase permits in the future.
GOOD TO KNOW
- There is a $9.00 fee to park at the Clear Lake boat launch at Clear Lake Resort.
- Free parking is available at the day use area run by the National Forest Service. It’s near the resort, but less convenient for accessing the boat launch.
- Restrooms are located in the restaurant at Clear Lake Resort as well as the day use area.
- No motorized boats are allowed on Clear Lake.
- Don’t have your own boat? You can rent kayaks or rowboats from Clear Lake Resort.
- Plan to stay on shore? You can also hike around Clear Lake! A 4.8-mile trail loops around the entire lake. The eastern portion of the hike includes a short section along the 24.5-mile McKenzie River Trail.
- For a longer hike, follow the McKenzie River Trail south form Clear Lake to Sahalie and Koosah Falls. There’s a trailhead at Sahalie Falls, so you can also do this as a separate shorter hike. For a much longer hike, head south to Tamolitch Blue Pool (but don’t worry — you can do this one as a separate hike, too).
- Swimming is not recommended at Clear Lake. With water typically hovering between a chilly 38 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit, there’s a real risk of hypothermia.
- You can go fishing at Clear Lake. The lake is regularly stocked with trout.
- Clear Lake Resort is open year round, but services are more limited in winter. They do rent snowshoes, though!
- Food and drink are available at the Clear Lake Resort restaurant in summer.
- Cabins and yurts are available for rent at the resort. Dogs are allowed in cabins for an extra fee.
- Pets on leash are welcome.
- Bring water, hats for shade, and sunscreen. Perhaps this goes without saying, but the glare from the water on a sunny day is intense.
- Always follow Leave No Trace principles.
HIGHLIGHTS
The name pretty much says is all: Clear Lake is remarkably clear. We visited on a breezy late afternoon as the sun was starting to sink behind the trees, so believe me when I say these photos don’t do justice to the incredible clarity of this spring-fed lake. But regardless of any ripples, this is a stunning place to paddle. The water shifts from sapphire to aquamarine to emerald depending on where you go.
A couple of cool places to check out include the underwater forest, where you can spot ancient submerged tree trunks, and the Great Spring, where water bubbles up from underground, creating some of the clearest conditions in the entire lake. Both are located on the eastern side of the lake, with the Great Spring just north of the resort, and the underwater forest to the south.
THE KIDS’ TAKE
After catching a glimpse of Clear Lake’s improbably blue water, my older son couldn’t wait to get out in the kayak (and I felt much the same). My younger son and husband, on the other hand, were ready to relax after having hiked nearly seven miles, and were happy to remain on shore. No problem! At Clear Lake, you can paddle, hike, or simply enjoy your best life reading on a lakeside bench with an ice cream sandwich. It’s all good.
When it comes to paddling, Clear Lake is an excellent place to take the kids out on the water. It was a little breezy during our visit, but the paddling was still easy. We took frequent breaks to soak in the sun and the beautiful scenery. You can paddle wherever you like, but I definitely recommend heading to the Great Spring. Located not far from the boat launch on the northeast side of the lake, the water here is exceptionally cold and clear. Look for bubbles rising to the surface as the springs continually provide Clear Lake with fresh, pure water.
The only downside is the fact that you can’t swim at Clear Lake. All this enticing blue water, and nary a chance to jump in. It’s too cold, cold enough for muscles to involuntarily freeze up unexpectedly. Go ahead and dip in a toe or two, but I recommend against full immersion. For swimming, check out Suttle Lake, Detroit Lake, or one of the many other beautiful lakes found in the Oregon Cascades. The water will still be cold, but much safer for swimmers.
WHILE YOU’RE HERE
Clear Lake is one of many beautiful sights along the 25.5-mile McKenzie River Trail. You can string two or more hikes together for one long trek (in which case I recommend bringing two cars so you can hike one way, then drive back to your starting point), or break it up into a series of short hikes. We opted for a couple of shorter hikes, including a 2.5-mile loop to Sahalie and Koosah Falls and a four-mile out-and-back trek to the incredible Tamolitch Blue Pool.
Does all this water leave you longing to take a dip? Suttle Lake is a short drive east on Highway 20. Here, the water is refreshingly cool on a hot summer day and much safer for swimming. The lake is also home to Suttle Lake Lodge, where you will find a few cute cafés and cabins for rent. Suttle Lake offers several campgrounds as well.
You can also camp right here at Clear Lake, or rent a cabin or yurt at Clear Lake Resort. Coldwater Cove Campground is located at south end of the lake and takes advance reservations. There is a wealth of other campgrounds in the area, and we spent three nights at the lovely Whispering Falls Campground, located 30 minutes north of Clear Lake.
Our Experience
It was late afternoon by the time we reached Clear Lake, the grand finale to a day spent exploring Oregon’s McKenzie River. We had hiked to Tamolitch Blue Pool, we had hiked to Sahalie and Koosah Falls, and we would finish with a nice, leisurely paddle at the river’s source.
We drove slowly down the one-lane road to Clear Lake Resort, uncertain of exactly what to expect. Would there be convenient parking for us to launch our kayak? Luckily, the answer was yes. There were several open spots in the small lot near the launch, and all we had to do was pay a $9 parking fee. To avoid this fee, you can park in the day use area instead, which we passed on our way to the resort. Here, parking is free, but it’s further from the boat launch.
My husband, Michael, and younger son, T, opted to stay on shore while my older son, J, and I took to the water. Michael and T were pleased to discover the resort restaurant sold popsicles and ice cream sandwiches, and found a bench ideally placed for enjoying a good read with a view. J and I inflated our double kayak, and he took the lead as we paddled south past the resort dock.
A light breeze ruffled the surface as we made our way down the lake. This, combined with the late afternoon shadows, made it difficult to appreciate the clarity of the water, but boy was it ever blue. We paused frequently to soak in the beauty of our surroundings, and even dipped our feet into the frigid water. It was, J said, probably the best place he’s ever paddled — high praise considering we’ve kayaked in some truly amazing places (Maligne Lake comes to mind).
We paddled alongside the shore, then floated lazily across the middle of the lake. On the eastern shore, gaps in the forest revealed barren lava rocks, the remains of ancient volcanic eruptions. We have lava flows to thank for Clear Lake’s existence today, as it was a lava flow that blocked the stream bed, causing the water to rise. At the north end of the lake, the Great Spring continually replenishes Clear Lake’s water supply, while at the south end it drains away into the McKenzie River.
Clear Lake’s volcanic history led to another interesting phenomenon: the underwater forest. We didn’t get a good look on our visit, but ghostly tree trunks can be seen below the surface on the eastern side of the lake. These well-preserved trees are roughly 3,000 years old, dating back to the time of Clear Lake’s creation.
After a leisurely float, it was time to start paddling again. Our goal was to reach the Great Spring, the source of all this wonder. We passed the resort, then hugged the eastern shore, looking for signs of a spring. Near a narrow inlet, we noticed bubbles frothing at the surface. This had to be it! The shallow water prevented us from drawing too close, but there was no doubt this was the place. Here, the water was shockingly clear, shifting from pale cerulean blue to a delicate green. I noticed a dark patch on the lake bed below us, then realized it was our own shadow, rippling in tandem with the waves on the surface.
Leaving the Great Spring behind, we paddled back to the boat launch. The water was now a dazzling apple green, so intense it gave off an almost radioactive glow. We pulled ashore, lingering a few moments to enjoy a last look before packing up.
Clear Lake is one of those places I first heard of years ago, but despite growing up in Oregon I had never been. Now that I have, I can say it was well worth the wait. Then again, why wait? This may have been my first visit, but with any luck it certainly won’t be the last.
