East Lake, Oregon, USA

East Lake is one of two lakes that sit in the caldera of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument within the Deschutes National Forest in central Oregon. Covering 1,050 acres, this snowmelt and spring-fed lake is an excellent trout lake and a popular spot for camping and picnics. East Lake shares its unique geologic home with 1,531-acre Paulina Lake. Both lakes are well known for their trophy-size brown…
Keep scrolling to read more.

Welcome to the ultimate guide to East Lake! Article topics include:

Looking for East Lake cabins or other accommodations? Save time and use this interactive map to find, compare and book at the best rates. Or explore more of our favorite travel partners.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase, we may earn a small referral fee at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure.

Explore Area Hotels

Nearby offer more hotel accommodations:

  • Check TripAdvisor
  • Check Expedia
  • Check Hotels.com
  • Check Booking.com

    • All About East Lake, OR

    Lake Locations: USA - US West Region - Oregon - Central Oregon -

    East Lake is one of two lakes that sit in the caldera of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument within the Deschutes National Forest in central Oregon. Covering 1,050 acres, this snowmelt and spring-fed lake is an excellent trout lake and a popular spot for camping and picnics.

    East Lake shares its unique geologic home with 1,531-acre Paulina Lake. Both lakes are well known for their trophy-size brown trout. East Lake regularly produces brown trout over 10 pounds; the lake record for brown trout is a 22.5 pounds which is proudly on display in a cafe near the lake. There are a number of boat ramps on East Lake that allow anglers a chance at an Atlantic salmon, kokanee salmon, brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout. Rainbow trout are the mainstay at the lake and can be readily caught by anglers of all ages. Because of East Lake’s high altitude and ice-cold water, these fish stay active throughout the year. Fly fishing is also very popular. East Lake differs from Paulina Lake in that 20 to 30 percent of the lake is fairly shallow. Weed beds along the shoreline are perfect for young baitfish that attract big browns. Fly fisherman do extremely well in these weedy areas.

    Stocking of East Lake and Paulina Lake began in 1912 when a local citizen group wished to turn the area into fishing lakes. Horse-drawn wagons brought buckets full of rainbow trout to the lakes. In 1916, when the road to the lakes was slightly improved, brook trout were introduced into the crystal-clear lakes. Today, the lake is well known for its big fish. Note: Although most fish taken from Oregon lakes and streams are safe to eat, refer to the Oregon Fish Consumption Guidelines (link below) before eating fish caught from any Oregon waterway.

    In addition to fishing and boating, visitors to East Lake enjoy camping at several campgrounds on the lake along with swimming, wildlife watching, cave exploring, mountain biking, hiking, and horse trails. There is also a small resort and RV park on the lake that offers lodging, dining, showers, boat rentals and a general store. In addition to campsites, visitors can pick from many private vacation rentals and real estate in the surrounding area.

    Covering over 500 square miles, Newberry Volcano is one of the largest shield volcanoes in the lower 48 states. The area was named after J. S. Newberry, a scientist with an 1855 railroad surveying party. The volcano’s summit contains a 17 square-mile caldera, referred to as the Newberry Crater. East Lake and Paulina Lake may have started out as one lake, but were divided by lava and ash to eventually become two separate lakes. The Newberry National Volcanic Monument contains over 50,000 acres of lakes, obsidian fields, lava formations and waterfalls. In summer, naturalists lead walks and campfire programs take place at a small outdoor amphitheater. Although the road to the monument’s highest point, Paulina Peak at 7985 feet, is narrow and unpaved, it is the showcase of the crater of the Newberry Volcano. In the winter, the crater offers more than 100 miles of snowmobile trails for the snowmobile enthusiast.

    Wildlife and bird watchers will be delighted with the number of bald eagles that fly over East Lake, which is also home to osprey, migrating ducks, geese, and tundra swans. Dozens of song birds live in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, and mammals making the area their home include pine martens, badgers, deer, elk and bear. The entire Monument area has been set aside as a wildlife refuge to protect these animals in their natural habitat.

    For additional outdoor activities, the Deschutes National Forest offers over a million acres for exploration. Within the Forest there are five wilderness areas, six scenic rivers, the Metolius Conservation Area with its rushing streams, cool springs, lush forests, abundant wildlife, and mountain views, and the Oregon Cascades Recreation Area, the largest unprotected, roadless area left in the Cascades. Over seven million people visit the Deschutes National Forest every year.

    East Lake is approximately 35 miles southwest from the city of Bend, a friendly and inviting town nestled against the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Known for its year-round outdoor activities, visitors to Bend can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, golfing, fishing, hiking, biking and rafting. The city of La Pine is located west of the lake and is named for the towering pines that surround the rural community. At 4,235 feet, La Pine has the highest elevation of any community within the Central Oregon region, making it a winter wonderland for all types of snow-related recreation. The town of Three Rivers is located just north of La Pine and is a mix of residential and vacation homes as well as open land for hiking and exploring. Vacation rentals, shopping and all the latest amenities can be found in all three towns. For golfers, there are several top-rated courses nearby to choose from.

    For some excellent fishing in a unique area, East Lake offers vacationers a beautiful location for endless outdoor activities. World-class climbing routes, mile upon mile of beautiful hiking trails, and over 3,000 skiable acres are just some of the attractions in this outdoor sport paradise.

    Things to Do at East Lake

    These are some activities in the East Lake, OR area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Snowboarding
    • Snowmobiling
    • Horseback Riding
    • Waterfall
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • National Forest
    • Shopping

    What Kind of Fish Are in East Lake?

    East Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Brook Trout
    • Brown Trout
    • Kokanee Salmon
    • Rainbow Trout
    • Salmon
    • Trout
    divider

    Find Places to Stay at East Lake

    If you’re considering a East Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a East Lake Vacation

    Our interactive East Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

    Check TripAdvisor
    Check Expedia
    Find a Campspot
    All Travel Resources

    East Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

    divider

    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Surface Area: 1,050 acres

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 6,381 feet

    Average Depth: 67 feet

    Maximum Depth: 180 feet

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    East Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

    More local lakes to explore in this area:

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Paulina Lake, OR

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Lucky Peak Lake

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Hells Canyon Reservoirs

    We strive to keep information on LakeLubbers as accurate as possible. If you’ve found something here that needs updating, please touch base by filling out our Content Correction form.

    Shop East Lake Gifts

    Custom Lake Tumblers

    Create Your Own Captain / First Mate Custom 20oz Tumbler

    ORDER HERE
    Custom Lake T Shirt

    Create Your Personalized My Boat My Rules Unisex T-Shirt

    ORDER HERE
    Custom Lake Coffee Mug - On Lake Time

    Create a Custom Coffee Mug – 11oz or 15oz

    ORDER HERE
    VIEW ALL CUSTOM LAKE PRODUCTS

    More East Lake news from LakeLubbers.com

    • Advertise your vacation rental property or local business: DETAILS HERE
    • The East Lake forum has been discontinued: HERE’S WHY
    • New East Lake photos coming soon!
    • You’re invited to join our lake-lovin’ community on Facebook and Instagram!
    • Share this East Lake article with your fellow LakeLubbers: