Big Lake Campground in the Willamette National Forest is the perfect place to mix camping, water recreation, and mountain fun.
Located near Hoodoo Ski Resort at the top of Santiam Pass, Big Lake Campground holds 49 campsites with lake and mountain views. Sixty campsites if you count Big Lake West Campground, which is right next door.
Reservations are $24 per night.
Both campgrounds have a day use area and boat launch facilities. At 225 acres in size, the lake is large enough to handle a good amount of boat traffic, while shallower areas are safe for swimming and paddle boarding. It’s even big enough to allow for water skiing.
Some campers are there for the Santium Pass Summer Motorized Recreation Area, an OHV park that stretches into the forest from the lake.
Hikers will find happiness with a number of trails to choose from. Among them is the Pacific Crest Trail which crosses beneath Mount Washington – a dormant volcano with a bare, craggy peak – on the southern edge of the lake.
The campgrounds – closed during the winter months – get busy during the summer. It’s within two hours of Bend, Eugene and Salem, and within 2.5 hours of Portland.
BIG LAKE CAMPGROUND INFO
- Forest Service Campground Website (with link to reservations)
- Google Maps
- Campground Map
- Willamette National Forest
Because of the all the boating and OHV activity, Big Lake isn’t going to be your tranquil, quiet mountain getaway. It’s better suited for those who aren’t going to be bothered by some noise.
A calmer lake experience can be found at Clear Lake, about a 15-minute drive away.
