Beautiful Hosmer Lake near Bend, OR: Camping, fishing + paddling

Alpine vista? Check. Clear blue water? Check. Osprey, trout, otters? Check, check, check. These are just a few reasons why I love Hosmer Lake on Mt. Bachelor—and I’m sure I’ll discover even more on my next trip there.

I first visited Hosmer Lake, just off the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, on a moonlight canoe trip. We paddled under the stars thanks to our friends at Wanderlust Tours and Visit Bend. Even in the dark, this lake made me fall even deeper in love with Central Oregon.

If you’re planning a trip to the Bend, OR area, read on. If you’re not, I’m sorry. But you’ll want to continue anyway. The photos of mountains, still lake water and Central Oregon high desert are worth the scroll.

Below, find all the details you need to visit Hosmer Lake along the Cascade Lakes Highway. You’ll find how to get there, what to do when you arrive, and camping details.

Buckle up your life jacket. Let’s go.

Cascades scenery: Hosmer Lake

Hosmer is one of many alpine lakes on Mt. Bachelor near Bend, OR. On your drive up, up, up the mountain you’ll pass plenty of other lakes: Devils Lake, Sparks Lake and Elk Lake, to name a handful.

Hosmer Lake was renamed in the 1960s after naturalist Paul Hosmer, who lived in nearby Bend. (It has a much nicer ring than its former name, Mud Lake.)

The lake’s most distinctive characteristic: all the bulrush wands and other vegetation that grows along the shore. In fact, these aquatic plants grow in the water and make the lake just a little bit smaller every year.

This plant habitat and its shallowness also make it an incredible place to spot wildlife. Stay still and keep your eyes open. You may be rewarded with a sighting of ducks, eagles, osprey, crawdads and even otter!

(I spotted an otter playing and diving in the reeds on my most recent stand up paddle boarding trip to Hosmer. Pretty sure I squee-ed out loud.)

This is a moderately popular spot, especially for fishing. (More on that later.) That’s partly because this lake is just 45 minutes from Bend, OR and 40 minutes from Sunriver.

When I recently paddled here on a summer weekday, I had no problem finding a parking spot. And once I got on the water, I had plenty of space. Much of my time on the lake was spent with no one else in sight.

Paddling Hosmer Lake, Oregon

Only electric powered boats (i.e. no gas engines) are allowed on Hosmer Lake. But really, just about everyone paddles their own watercraft.

Do like we Oregonians do and go by canoe, kayak, rowboat, fishing catamaran or—my favorite—stand up paddle board. (Mine is similar to this SUP setup—affiliate link.) As long as you’re powering it with your own muscles, it’s ideal for Hosmer.

Oftentimes Hosmer Lake feels more like a river than a lake. The rushes that grow thick at the edge of the shore make it seem even more narrow than the fingers of the lake are.

(I couldn’t help but think of that scene in the 1951 movie African Queen, when Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart get stuck in the maze-like reeds!)

Hosmer Lake isn’t big, which is part of its appeal. You can explore every turn, inlet and channel in one outing.

The other day, I paddled my stand up paddle board from the boat ramp to the opposite end of the lake in about 40 minutes. With such a winding perimeter and little areas to discover, you can easily spend most of a day here.

Fishing at Hosmer Lake

Roughly half of the people I saw at this lake near Bend, OR were fishing. Fish love the buffet of water bugs, damsel flies and other insects that make Hosmer their home.

The result: Big, fat fish.

I saw rainbow fish longer than my forearm swim beneath my SUP. Hosmer Lake is also good fishing for brook trout.

You won’t be able to grill ’em, though. This popular fishing spot is catch-and-release on all fish species. You’re also required to use barbless hooks.

This is the kind of fishing my kids prefer anyway. Maxine and Edie are fascinated by the idea of fishing, but poor little Max freaks out when you even hint at eating one. (“I’m a friend to all animals,” she tells us resolutely.)

Swimming with a view of Mt. Bachelor

Swimming in the shadow of Cascade peaks? Sounds dreamy. Hosmer Lake isn’t the best place for swimming, though there are a few exceptions.

Firstly, know that Hosmer Lake is shallow. With an average depth of just three feet, it’s paradise for aquatic plants. It probably won’t surprise you, then, that much of the lake bed grows underwater plants.

I personally don’t love the feeling of an underwater plant wrapping around my ankle. It reminds me too much of the Creature from the Black Lagoon movies I used to watch as a kid. (And yes, I grew up on black and white movies. Ha!)

That said, I did find a little spot tucked away at the far end of Hosmer Lake that was great for swimming. This little beach was rock—no sinking in mud with every step.

(I did my best to approximate the location of this little cove. I think this star will at least get you very close to a good swimming spot!)

Here, the water was so clear that I spent about 20 minutes watching nature’s soap opera unfold. Water bugs glided, butterflies were chased off by dragonflies, and a crawdad hunted critters too small for me to see.

Hosmer Lake Campground

There are technically two Hosmer Lake Campgrounds, but they’re practically in the same spot.

South Lake Campground is directly next to the day use area and boat launch. Mallard Marsh Campground is a bit farther away, which could be inconvenient if you just want to launch your kayak but preferable if you want more privacy.

Folks who want to stay at this cascade lake can reserve camp sites here. A handful of walk-up sites are also available, though you can stay only one night. Camp sites average $16 per night.

Expect Hosmer Lake camping to be pretty standard: The sites are medium-sized and every spot has a picnic table and fire pit. Vault toilets (i.e. not flushing) were well maintained and clean when I visited. These campgrounds do not have potable water, though, so bring your own.

Must-know details to visit Hosmer Lake

Day use

Even if you’re staying at the Hosmer Lake campground, you’ll need to pay the day use fee if you park next to the boat ramp. The fee is $5.

Make sure to bring cash and exact change. This day use area doesn’t have a machine to process credit cards. Don’t forget to leave the proof of payment stub on your dashboard.

A handful of other passes are valid (though not the Oregon State Parks pass). List of valid park passes for the Hosmer Lake day use area

If you’ve already paid the day use fee that same day elsewhere, you do not need to buy an additional one for that site. The pass is valid for the entire day, wherever the parks are valid. So if you go from Elk Lake to Hosmer, you don’t have to pay twice.

Directions to Hosmer Lake

From Bend, OR, drive south on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. You’ll wind around Mt. Bachelor and pass other Cascade lakes. After 34 miles, turn left onto Mud Lake Rd., which has a sign for Hosmer Lake. Expect a 45-minute drive from Bend.

From Sunriver, OR, drive west on Conklin Rd./NF 40. Take a right on Century Dr., which takes you to the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. Take a right. After 5 or 6 miles, you’ll see a sign for Hosmer Lake on your right. Expect a 40-minute drive from Sunriver.

When to visit

Hosmer Lake tends to be closed October through May because of snow. The Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway is snowed in until warm summer months melt the snow.

So visit Hosmer Lake June through September. Check road conditions and closures before your drive.

Amenities

The day use area has a well maintained vault toilet—it was quite clean when I recently visited. You’ll see a garbage can near the spot to pay the day use fee. (Garbage cans are such a welcome perk when you’re on a road trip!)

One picnic table sits to the side at the day use area. This is where I sat and ate lunch after my SUP paddle on the lake. It has a nice view of the area around the boat ramp. I watched a few men fish (one unsuccessfully, as he lamented loudly) and someone take macro photography of insects.

Speaking of, insects can be plentiful at Hosmer Lake. I’ve never had an issue with bugs, but be on the safe side and bring insect repellant just in case.

Don’t miss this beautiful lake near Bend, Oregon

Hosmer Lake will always hold a special place in my heart after Hubs and I paddled it by moonlight on our 11th wedding anniversary. (I mean, how romantic can you get?!)

I grow fonder of this scenic spot near Bend every time I visit.

Especially now that my SUP is pretty much my favorite thing ever, I’m always on the lookout for gorgeous spots to paddle. Whether you go by canoe, kayak, SUP or something else, you’ll love exploring Hosmer Lake.