A Breathtaking Lake Hidden In Oregon's Deschutes National Forest Is A Crystalline Gem

Central Oregon is a natural wonderland, a high desert region that boasts deep canyons, snowy peaks, and idyllic spots for recreation — like this scenic state park where you can camp, hike, or swim. Unlike the often-soggy western part of the state, central Oregon sees more than its fair share of sunshine, which makes diving into its many outdoor gems all the more enjoyable. 

Situated in the heart of the Deschutes National Forest just 25-miles south of the stunning West Coast destination of Bend, Paulina Lake is central Oregon at its best. This 1,531-acre freshwater body sits in the caldera of the Newberry Volcano and boasts cool, clear, very deep waters. It's surrounded by a gorgeous, pine-blanketed shoreline, with the rocky spires of nearby Paulina Peak rising starkly from the forest.

Paulina Lake is perfect for either a day trip or a weekend getaway, with plenty of opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, and camping. The lake is also home to a natural hot spring that can be accessed via a short trek along the lakeshore, where visitors can soak in soothing waters while also soaking up the sublimity of Oregon's great outdoors.

The collapsed caldera that Paulina Lake calls home was formed by over 500,000 years of volcanic activity. With no feeder streams, the lake is only supplied by rain, snowmelt, and the water that comes up through its hot springs. Also, like many caldera lakes, Paulina Lake is quite deep, reaching depths of 250 feet in spots. This means that the water remains chilly year round, so even a plunge into the lake during the height of summer can be a bracing experience.

People come to Paulina Lake to enjoy an array of outdoor activities. Paulina — along with its sister East Lake — draws plenty of anglers throughout the year who troll the lake's surface in boats or cast from the shore in pursuit of kokanee (landlocked salmon), as well as both brown and rainbow trout. Visitors often come to swim, and kayaking along the placid surface is quite popular as well, with rentals available at the marina of the Paulina Lake Lodge.

For those wishing to spend more than one day at the lake, there's the rustic charm of the lodge as well as two camp areas on the shoreline: Little Crater Campground and Paulina Lake Campground. These feature nearly 120 sites in total, suitable for tents or RVs. While there are no hookups, the campgrounds do feature flush toilets and potable water, though the water systems are shut down from the end of September to early May to prevent damage from the cold temperatures common at 6,331 feet above sea level.

Paulina Lake is part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, which lies within the Deschutes National Forest. This 54,000-acre preserve features not only lakes, but lava flows and spectacular rock formations, as well as peaks offering dizzying views, making it the perfect spot for any hiker or biker.

While many visitors to Paulina Lake elect to hike around its lakeshore via the 7.1-mile Paulina Lake Loop, there are a number of other terrific trails that head away from the water. The Big Obsidian Flow Trail is a quick loop that features a spectacular 1.1-mile-long black glass lava flow that's just 1,300 years old. The Paulina Peak Trail is a 6.2-mile out-and-back route that takes you to the top of the 7,930-foot Paulina Peak, where you can take in gut-punching vistas of the caldera, surrounding high desert, as well as the looming Cascade Range — with Mt. Adams to the north and Mt. Shasta to the south.

One of the area's sweetest spots is Paulina Lake Hot Springs, a set of primitive pools dug out from the sand on the lake's northeastern shore. These springs are somewhat remote and only accessible by trail or by boat, which helps keep the crowds away. Each pool is reinforced by stones and wood and can only accommodate a single person, which is part of the charm. For more hot springs in the Beaver State, check out these pools surrounded by forest beauty.