Looking for more adventures near Paulina Lake?
Newberry National Volcanic Monument has so much more to explore, from hiking the Big Obsidian Flow to biking the Sun-Lava Trail.
LOCATION
Paulina Lake is located in Newberry National Volcanic Monument in Central Oregon. To reach the Little Crater Day Use Site, where this paddle trip begins, head south on Highway 97 from Bend. About 24 miles south of Bend, follow the sign for Newberry National Volcanic Monument and turn left onto Paulina Lake Road. From the turnoff, it’s a 14-mile winding uphill drive to reach the Little Crater Day Use Site on the shores of Paulina Lake.
LENGTH
- Paddle: 1.75-2 miles one-way from the Little Crater Day Use Site to the hot springs, depending on how straight you paddle
- Hike: 4.2 miles out and back from the Little Crater Day Use Site to the hot springs
DIFFICULTY
Easy/Moderate — As with most lakes, Paulina Lake is easy to paddle, but the trip can be more challenging in windy conditions. Although motor boats are allowed on the lake for fishing, the speed limit is 10 mph, so you won’t encounter speedboats.
WE WERE HERE
August, 2025, roughly three hours total, including 45+ minutes paddling each way and an hour at the hot springs
CURRENT INFO
More information is available on the Newberry National Volcanic Monument website and the Paulina Visitor Center website. A hiking 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
- This paddle trip starts from the boat launch at the Little Crater Day Use Site in Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Parking here is limited, and there were only a few available spots when we arrived in the late morning on a weekday. I expect summer weekends can be more crowded.
- To visit Newberry National Volcanic Monument, you must either pay a daily entrance fee of $5 or use the America the Beautiful pass (or other national parks or forest pass). You can purchase an annual American the Beautiful pass ahead of time online.
- Check ahead of time to see if you qualify for a free or reduced price pass — seniors, fourth graders and active military do! Fourth graders must print a voucher ahead of time to qualify.
- If you don’t have a pass, the $5 entrance fee can be paid by credit card at the entrance gate or in person at the Paulina Visitor Center. Important Note: The credit card reader at the entrance wasn’t working the first day we visited Newberry National Volcanic Monument, but I was able to buy a pass at the visitor center. They next day, the visitor center was closed, but the credit card reader was working! It was a little frustrating, but at least we got our passes.
- Don’t have your own kayak or paddle board? Rent one from the Paulina Lake Lodge. They have a wide range of boats available, including motor boats for fishing. The lodge also includes a restaurant, small general store, and cabins for rent.
- Prefer to hike rather than paddle? No problem! You can also hike from the Little Crater Day Use Site to the hot springs. The trail extends all the way around Paulina Lake if you prefer a longer loop hike. More information is available on AllTrails.
- Vault toilets and garbage bins are available at the Little Crater Day Use Site.
- Pets on leash are welcome.
- Bring water, hats for shade, sunscreen, and bug spray when paddling in the summer. We didn’t encounter too many bugs, but that can vary throughout the season.
- Always follow Leave No Trace principles.
HIGHLIGHTS
Although not as famous as its sister caldera to the south, Crater Lake, Paulina Lake offers something that Crater Lake does not: the chance to kayak in an honest-to-goodness volcano. The hot springs along the lakeshore are a reminder that volcanic forces still lurk not far below the earth’s surface. With its deep blue waters and dramataic Paulina Peak as a backdrop, Paulina Lake is a gorgeous place to paddle or hike.
SO, WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE PAULINA LAKE HOT SPRINGS?
When you think of natural hot springs, you probably envision a hot-tub sized soaking pool alongside a cascading river. You may imagine slowly lowering yourself into the steamy water, leaning back as the heat warms your aching muscles after an invigorating hike.
Well… that’s not quite the experience you get at Paulina Lake. Here, geothermally heated water bubbles up at the edge of the lake, mixing with the much larger and much colder body of lake water. To trap some of the heated water, people have dug out small pools in the lava rock beach at the edge of the lake. These pools create a shallow place to sit and enjoy the warmth. And despite sitting in only a few inches of water, you will definitely feel the heat. These hot springs are hot! I enjoyed soaking my feet, but couldn’t handle much more than that.
While the Paulina Lake Hot Springs may not be what everyone’s hot springs dreams are made of, it’s still a — how shall I say this? — cool experience. Whether you choose to paddle or hike, this geothermal wonder is definitely worth checking out when you visit Newberry National Volcanic Monument.
THE KIDS’ TAKE
The kids were pretty excited to paddle on Paulina Lake, especially when we agreed they could share their own kayak. The hot springs were a good motivator to stay on track once we got out on the water. When kayaking with kids, I find that having a destination is helpful when you want to encourage them to go a little further than they might naturally be inclined to go. Just keep in mind that the water at the hot springs can be quite hot, so test it before letting small children enter.
It took us almost an hour to reach the hot springs, but paddle times will vary depending on wind and your personal paddle prowess. For my kids, an hour on the water followed by a nice long break before the return trip is just about perfect. If your family is up for more, go for it! With a few extra hours you could circumnavigate the entire lake and stop by Paulina Lake Lodge. But even with less time, Paulina Lake is worth a quick stop.
Finally, don’t forget the three S’s of summer fun: sunscreen, snacks, and swim gear! Paulina Lake is a great place for a dip on a hot day.
WHILE YOU’RE HERE
There is much more to explore at Newberry National Volcanic Monument. While visiting Paulina Lake, you can hike the Big Obsidian Flow Trail, drive to the top of Paulina Peak, and admire the lovely Paulina Falls. More information and a small gift shop are available at the Paulina Visitor Center, but take note that the visitor center hours are limited. For food, boat rentals, or a lakeside cabin stay, head to Paulina Lake Lodge.
Just outside the national monument at McKay Crossing Campground, the Peter Skene Ogden Trail leads to a natural waterslide. The campground also provides access to McKay Falls, another fun place for a summer dip.
We visited this area while camping at LaPine State Park Campground. Located half an hour west of Paulina Lake, it’s a great home base for exploring. The park includes access to the Deschutes River, and there are some beautiful hiking and biking trails. I recommend the Fall River Falls loop.
Further north along Highway 97, the Lava Lands Visitor Center showcases another area within Newberry National Volcanic Monument. For a short but fascinating hike, check out the Trail of the Molten Land. We also enjoyed biking the Sun-Lava Trail to Benham Falls. Check the schedule for ranger talks, and pick up a Junior Ranger booklet if you have kids. Head to the Century Commons Taps & Trucks in nearby Sunriver for delicious food and drinks.
Just south of Bend and north of Lava Lands, the High Desert Museum is another worthy stop. Allow several hours to visit this fascinating museum with a wide range of indoor and outdoor exhibits.
Our Experience
White puffy clouds dotted the sky as we pulled into the Little Crater Day Use Site at Paulina Lake. Unsurprisingly, the lot was nearly full, but luckily we managed to find a parking spot. Fortunately for my back, the boat launch at Little Crater also allows boaters to park by the water temporarily while they unload their gear.
With the kids eager to get out on the water, we got to work inflating the kayaks. All was going great until I made a tragic discovery… one of the kayaks was missing the tiny screw used to attach the skeg to the stern.
If you just read that last sentence and have no clue what I’m talking about, let me explain. The skeg is a narrow fin that attaches to the bottom of the boat near the stern (aka the “back end”). This simple device is instrumental in keeping the boat on track. Without it, the kayak is easily turned by the wind or current, and paddling in a straight line becomes a monumental task.
I’ve paddled without the skeg before, and I can’t say it was easy. But I was so determined to paddle across Paulina Lake to the hot springs, what choice did I have? After coming to terms with our loss, I told Michael we would paddle without the skeg. As usual, he would take a seat in the bow, and I, from my seat in the stern, would be responsible for steering.
We eased onto the lake, and let’s just say that our first few minutes paddling were not our finest. A few heated words were exchanged as we attempted to figure out a workable system. But soon, we were on our way, and doing remarkably well, all things considered. I had to back paddle almost constantly to keep the boat from spinning to the left, but we were making real progress.
En route to the hot springs, we admired the pine covered slopes that surround Paulina Lake. With blue skies overhead, it was perfect weather for paddling. As we neared the hot springs, we caught a glimpse of an osprey atop a silver snag at the water’s edge.
Our friends were waiting as we pulled up by the rocky beach at Paulina Lake Hot Springs. They had chosen to hike the lakeside trail to the springs, and arrived shortly before we did. Along the beach, a row of small pools were mostly occupied by other hikers, but there were still a few open spots. We beached the kayak out of the way of the springs, being careful not to scrape it on the lava rocks. By this time, the kids had also made it to shore.
After grabbing our picnic supplies, I headed to the hot springs and dipped a foot in the shallow water. Wow! It was hot. For some reason, I’d been under the misguided assumption that the Paulina Lake hot springs were merely warm, but this was not the case. Of course, different pools may have different temperatures, and we may have chosen one of the hotter ones. I found myself stepping between the hot pool and the cool lake to balance out the heat.
We soon settled in for a picnic lunch, admiring the views of Paulina Peak across the lake. After our meal, I noticed a flock of mergansers on the water nearby. These distinctive-looking ducks have a crest of russet-colored feathers sticking out from atop their heads. As I watched, one by one the heads popped suddenly into the water and out of sight. A few seconds later — pop! pop! pop! — like avine jacks-in-the-box the heads reappeared. We watched this curious display multiple times, wondering at how the birds managed to stay in synch with one another. Nature: it’s incredible!
By now, grey clouds had overtaken much of the sky, and we realized we needed to head back quickly if we were to outpace the rain. Our friends’ son decided to hike back with them rather than paddle, so Michael and I each took a different kayak with one of our kids. I joined my older son in the boat without the skeg. We made a good team, and thankfully the paddle back to the boat launch went smoothly.
We pulled ashore under darkening clouds, grateful to have made it back before the heavens burst. As we finished packing up, a few scattered drops began to fall. By the time I jumped in the car, they were falling much faster. Perfect timing!
Even with the threat of rain and a missing skeg, our kayak trip on Paulina Lake was a success. Next time, maybe I’ll give the hike a try. Or, with a few more hours, why not paddle all the way around the lake? There are truly no bad choices at the this beautiful gem in the heart of Central Oregon.
