Odell Lake, Oregon, USA

Six miles long and one and a half miles wide, Odell Lake sits under the scenic shadow of Diamond Peak in the Deschutes National Forest, offering wonderful outdoor recreation and fantastic fishing. Both summer and winter outdoor diversions can be enjoyed by visitors. Odell Lake is more than 280 feet deep with many bays, inlets and coves. It provides an ideal habitat for trophy sport fishing, great…
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    • All About Odell Lake, OR

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

    Six miles long and one and a half miles wide, Odell Lake sits under the scenic shadow of Diamond Peak in the Deschutes National Forest, offering wonderful outdoor recreation and fantastic fishing. Both summer and winter outdoor diversions can be enjoyed by visitors. Odell Lake is more than 280 feet deep with many bays, inlets and coves. It provides an ideal habitat for trophy sport fishing, great boating, superb cross-country skiing and great wildlife viewing. Some of the outdoor activities available are:

    Swimming, Water-Skiing and Windsurfing
    Boating: Moorage, Motorboat, Canoe and Rowboats Rental
    Fishing: Lake and Stream, Fly Fishing, Pole Rentals
    Bike Rentals & Hiking: Trail System and Maps Available
    Ski on groomed cross country ski trails
    Downhill skiing, Willamette Pass Ski Area (six miles)
    Bird watching: Bald Eagles, Ospreys, Herons
    Hunting: Excellent location for fall hunting deer/elk
    Quiet Relaxation

    Odell Lake is a trophy trout fishery treasure of the U.S. Forest Service who manages the lake primarily as a fishery and for outdoor recreation. The Lake covers 3600 surface acres and reaches a depth of nearly 300 feet. Located a little over an hour’s drive southwest of Bend, Oregon, Odell Lake is open from late April to October 31. Fishing is prohibited within 200 feet of the mouth of Trapper Creek from September 1 to October 31.

    For the angler pining for a trophy, Odell Lake is THE place. The last two Oregon State record lake trout were caught here, with the current record of 40 pounds, 8 ounces. Now that’s a fish! Kokanee Salmon, Mackinaw Lake Trout, and native Rainbows are high on most angler’s list. Bull Trout reside in the lake, but as a threatened species, cannot be caught. Be sure and check with the Oregon Department of Fishing and Wildlife for the current regulations and catch limits. Moorage, launch and boat rentals are available at the resorts, as boating is the most effective method of fishing (watch for high winds). There are five boat launching points on the Lake.

    Beautiful campsites in secluded forests are the norm at Odell Lake. There are four campgrounds that are open from May through October (Trapper Creek, Princess Creek, Sunset Cove, and Odell Creek), some with water and some without water. There are toilets and boat launch areas at all. In addition to the campgrounds, there are two year-round resorts on Odell Lake (Odell Lake Resort and Shelter Cove Resort) offering supplies, lodging, boat rentals and resort activities. For the avid geocachers, there are many caches in a five mile area; this activity is a great way to explore the outdoor areas.

    For the intrepid angler, Odell Lake is a jewel in central Oregon. Plan on stopping there for your attempt at a record lake trout!

    Things to Do at Odell Lake

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

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Canoeing
    • Water Skiing
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Hiking
    • Downhill Skiing
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • National Forest

    What Kind of Fish Are in Odell Lake?

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

    • Bull Trout
    • Kokanee Salmon
    • Lake Trout
    • Salmon
    • Trout
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    Find Places to Stay at Odell Lake

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    More Sites to Book a Odell Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Odell 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:

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    Odell Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: U.S. Forest Service

    Surface Area: 3,562 acres

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 4,786 feet

    Average Depth: 132 feet

    Maximum Depth: 282 feet

    Drainage Area: 302 sq. miles

    Odell Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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