Clear Lake (Or)

Pacific Northwest

CLEAR LAKE (OR) in Pacific Northwest — photo 4

Clear Lake (Or)

Pacific Northwest

About this campsite

Overview

Clear Lake Campground is a shady outdoor paradise ON Clear Lake in the mountains of northern Oregon. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing, swimming and sailing on the lake, and hiking and exploring the nearby hills and terraces. Winter recreation opportunities are available in the area when it snows.

Recreation

Boating is popular on the lake, however speeds are limited to 10 mph. A steady breeze keeps bugs away at the campground, and also propels sailboats on the lake. Swimming and fishing are available. Anglers can expect to find a variety of trout.

Visitors enjoy picnicking in the day use area near the boat ramp. A hiking trail begins near the north end of the lake, connecting to the Pacific Crest Trail.

In the winter, miles of snow-covered roads and trails crisscross the forest. Shellrock Creek and High Rock, off Forest Road 57, are open to cross-country skiers and snowmobile enthusiasts.

Facilities

The campground offers single-family sites for tent and RV camping. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided, but utility hookups are not available. Parking surfaces are gravel and dirt. Firewood can be purchased from the host.

Natural Features

The campground is located in a mixed conifer forest, just north of Warm Springs Indian Reservation, in Mt. Hood National Forest. It is situated on the eastern shore of the 560-acre lake, at an elevation of 3,600. Clear Lake is used primarily for irrigation purposes.

Wild mushrooms are abundant in the area during late summer and early fall. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the area.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (541) 352-6002.

Nearby Attractions

The small Mt. Hood village of Government Camp is 12 miles northwest of the campground. The area offers a visitor center, restaurants and year-round skiing, as well as scenic views.

Location

CLEAR LAKE (OR)•OR

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

TODAY☁️

23° / 11°

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TUE☁️

24° / 11°

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WED☀️

26° / 11°

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THU☀️

24° / 11°

—

FRI☁️

18° / 9°

💧 11%

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

3.1 km away

CLEAR LAKE CABIN LOOKOUT

Overview Clear Lake Cabin Lookout is situated on the southern slope of Mt. Hood, providing spectacular panorama views of snow-covered treetops, alpine lakes and rugged Cascade peaks. It also provides access to a variety of recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing, as well as winter sports. From December 1st through April 30th, and during winter driving conditions, the lookout can only be accessed by skiing, snowmobiling or snowshoeing 3.5 miles one way from a parking area at Skyline Sno-park. Winter driving conditions can occur in early fall and persist late into the spring. An ODOT Sno-Park permit is required to park at Skyline Sno-park and the trek takes about three to four hours. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation The surrounding area is popular among winter sports enthusiasts, as it offers access to miles of great cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. A ski tour is available around the spring-fed Little Crater Lake. Fishing is available in the various mountain lakes and streams, however, many may be frozen. Facilities The cabin is atop a 40-foot tower and is surrounded by a wooden catwalk. The 14-by-14 room is furnished with a small bed, a wood stove for heating and a table and chairs. It has a propane cook stove and solar-powered lights. There is no water on-site. An outhouse with vault toilets is located on the ground, as well as a shed stocked with firewood. A rope and pulley system is available to transport gear, as well as firewood, up and down the tower with ease. Guests will need to bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning purposes, as well as their own bedding, food and clothing, towels, toilet paper, among other necessities. Garbage bags are also not supplied and guests will need to carry out all trash and clean the facility prior to leaving. Natural Features The tower sits on Clear Lake Butte, a 4,454-foot gently sloped hillside covered with fir trees, on the south side of Mt. Hood. Of the nine peaks in Oregon's Cascade Mountain Range, Mt. Hood stands the tallest, at 11,239 feet. It is thickly forested and capped with glaciers and snow. The lookout tower is perched on the mountainside, near the northwest corner of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. It is one of three Forest Service watchtowers on Mt. Hood and it is still used to spot fires during summertime each year. Originally 100 feet tall when it was built in 1932, the tower was replaced with the current 40-foot building in 1962. It overlooks Clear Lake and Timothy Lake in the distance. A variety of wildlife make its home in the area. Contact Info This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (541) 352-6002.

5.0 km away

FROG LAKE

Overview Frog Lake Campground is a beautiful and somewhat rustic campground on Frog Lake. It provides access to enjoyable outdoor activities, including fishing and leisurely canoeing on the calm, mountain lake. Recreation Frog Lake covers 10 acres and is open to fishing, swimming, canoeing and non-motorized boating. Anglers can expect a catch of rainbow trout. Picnicking is available at the campground's day use area, which provides access to the boat ramp. A hiking trail leads east, up Frog Lake Buttes, as does an unimproved forest road, which is open to mountain biking and high-clearance off-road vehicles. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail passes just north of the campground, off Forest Road 2610. Facilities The campground offers nearly three dozen single-family sites for tent and RV camping, though RVs over 22 feet are not recommended. Utility hookups are not available. Parking surfaces are gravel and dirt and may be irregular in shape. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided throughout the campground. Firewood is available for purchase from the campground host. Natural Features The campground is located between the highway and Frog Lake at an elevation of 3,800 feet, just past the town of Government Camp in Mt. Hood National Forest. The small campground is situated in a heavily forested area, where the sounds of frogs are heard at night. Nearby Attractions The Sno-Park at Frog Lake is about 12 miles east of Government Camp. It provides trail access to Twin Lakes and Frog Lake Butte. The latter trail is closed to snowmobiles during February. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (541) 352-6002.

5.2 km away

LITTLE CRATER LAKE

Overview Little Crater Lake Campground is one of the most scenic spots in Mt. Hood National Forest and a very comfortable place to camp. It is not far from Little Crater Lake, a cold, crystal clear, spring-fed pond. Also nearby is Timothy Lake, where boaters and anglers enjoy recreating, all in the shadows of Mt. Hood, Oregon's highest point. Recreation A short path to view Little Crater Lake begins in the campground. It connects to the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which winds its way through the area, past Timothy Lake and up the slopes of Mt. Hood. The long-distance trail is popular among hikers and backpackers, stretches 2,650 miles through California, Oregon and Washington, from Canada to Mexico. Visitors enjoy fishing at Timothy Lake, which covers roughly 1,400 acres. Anglers will find Kokanee salmon and a variety of stocked trout. Facilities The campground offers more than a dozen single-family sites for tent and RV camping. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets are provided. A hand-pump water spigot is located near the campground's entrance and is the only source of water within the facility. Utility hookups are not available. Parking surfaces are grass, dirt and irregularly shaped. Natural Features The quiet campground is nestled in an evergreen forest at an elevation of 3,300 feet. Little Crater Lake is a geologic oddity, possibly formed by artesian water forcing its way through soft, volcanic rock. The beautiful, turquoise water is a wonder to see. The surrounding meadow is a great place for observing birds and other wildlife. The region is ripe for huckleberry picking as well. Nearby Attractions The Clackamas Lake Ranger Station Historic District is less than 10 miles from the campground. It was built to house forest service workers in the early 1900s. The rustic architecture and historic nature of the buildings and the surrounding area draws thousands of visitors each year. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (503) 622-3191.

7.2 km away

North Arm Campground (Timothy Lake, OR)

Overview The North Arm Campground sits on the shores of Timothy Lake, in the shadow of Oregon's Mt. Hood. The surrounding forest setting offers spectacular views, wetlands, trails for exploration, and abundant fishing. This campground is smaller and more secluded than the others on the south side of the lake. DRIVING NOTE: There are two routes to North Arm Campground—one is rugged and one is suitable for RVs and trailers. Recommended Route: From Sandy, Oregon, travel east on Highway 26 for approximately 40 miles to Skyline Road / FS Road 42. Turn right on Skyline Road, and continue south for about 9 miles. Turn right on FS Road 57, and travel west for approximately 3 ½ miles, crossing the dam at Timothy Lake. Take the 2nd right onto FS Road 5810. North Arm is approximately 5 ½ miles from here. Keep right at all intersections—the road becomes FS Road 5890. The campground is on the right. Recreation Proximity to Timothy Lake allows campers to enjoy a variety of water-related recreation, including boating and sailing, as well as swimming, windsurfing and fishing. Anglers can expect a catch of kokanee salmon and a variety of trout, as well as crayfish. This area has wonderful canoeing and kayaking opportunities. A variety of trails are located in the area. The Timothy Lake Trail is popular for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The 12 miles of relatively level terrain loops trekkers around the lake, providing scenic views of the area. It connects to the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, a lengthy hike that extends across three states, from the borders of Canada and Mexico. Portions of that trail also lead southwest to Clackamas Lake Campground and a historic site. The Little Crater Lake is only a short hike away. Little Crater Lake is a geologic oddity, possibly formed by artesian water forcing its way through soft, volcanic rock. The beautiful, turquoise water is a wonder to see. The surrounding meadow is a great place for observing birds and other wildlife. The region is ripe for huckleberry picking as well. Facilities The campground offers 14 campsites for tent and RV camping. There are four hike-to campsites available as well. Each site is equipped with a table and a fire ring. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. A campground host is also available onsite. The nearest gas station/convenience store is about 14 miles away, west on Hwy. 26. The nearest grocery store is in Government Camp, about 19 miles away, west on Hwy. 26. Natural Features The campground is situated on the northeastern shore of the roughly 1,400-acre lake, at an elevation of 3,400 feet. Timothy Lake was created in 1956 as a storage reservoir for the Oak Grove Hydroelectric Project. It is one of the larger lakes in the Mt. Hood National Forest. The campground is nestled in a dense mix conifer forest close to the shoreline. Most sites have a thick understory to provide privacy between sites. The wetlands nearby provide an opportunity to observe many species of wildlife. Nearby Attractions The Clackamas Lake Ranger Station Historic District is less than 10 miles from the campground. It was built to house Forest Service workers in the early 1900s. The rustic architecture and historic nature of the buildings and the surrounding area draws thousands of tourists each year. Contact Info Between 05/26/2023 and 09/09/2023 this location is staffed. Please call (503) 834-2215 to speak with local staff. From 11/22/2022 to 05/25/2023 this location is unstaffed. Please call (503) 464-8515 for general information. Charges & Cancellations A service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees. For full details see the Recreation.Gov, Rules & Reservation Policies.