Love Elk Lake in both the summer and winter. In the summer it's an easy drive. They have beer and pizza. Nice spot to paddle board. In the winter it's a good spot to snowmobile to. They did just have new ownership and have redone the whole restaurant. It's a little fancier now, still very good. Excellent customer service. Cool spot to get out of the cold, couple of fireplaces. They just opened for the winter. The have some great cocktails and food. read more

See all

We go here for summer lake activities. Very affordable and staff are nice and welcoming. Food and drinks are also good. read more

Planned a weekend at beautiful elk lake resort. However, a freak cold front is predicted for the weekend. The resort is closing EVERTHING!! But they refuse to refund our deposit. No restaurant, no boat rentals, no NOTHING!! Where are we supposed to eat? The cabins are not set up for cooking, drive to Bend? If they had any conscience they would refund-but apparently they have none. All reviews indicate the cabins are dirty and in need of care, that's OK. But not refunding when they have closed everything is not OK. Avoid this place, they have no heart. read more

Horrific customer service. They charged $10.00 to park just to eat lunch at the restaurant and not once mentioned that the restaurant was closed for renovations. Do you think we got our money back on our way back out less than 5 minutes later? No we did not. The lake is stunning...the resort and staff ruin the whole idea of ever going back. Went to lunch at Cultus Lake Resort instead and the food and staff were amazing. read more

Absolutely beautiful lake, pristine day with sunshine and a lite breeze. This Lake is back behind (on the backside) of Mt Bachelor about 50 minutes West of Bend. It is an amazing lake and crystal clear deep blue water. It was surprisingly warm considering this is from snow melt. We will be back! The restaurant is meh, but with an ice cold beer there really isn't anything to complain about read more

See all

Stayed in basic winter cabins we brought at 56q cooler and 1 plastic tote and backpacks. Heater in cabin works good tried sorting up in loft first night actually was to hot second night down stairs in sleeping bag and sheet provided was enough. Bathroom is a good 5 min walk down to the shower/bathroom facility at the lodge. We brought a small grill for some food there is not cooking or eating things provided in cabin just bed heater table and lantern. Food at the lodge was much better than expected. There isn't any designated snowshoe or cross country ski trials we walked the road and hiked 6 lake trail to the first lake which was a good few hours spring like conditions. read more

See all

Taylor is the most amazing bartender I've ever had at Elk Lake Lodge and Lilly is the most attentive server I've ever had... I seriously LOVE the atmosphere here!! FAMILY!!! read more

My wife and I were so excited to visit this place. It ended up being the most frustrating part of the whole vacation. Here's our story and you can make of it what you will. We booked a snowmobile rental from Elk Lake resort in early December. The rental cost about 500$ up front. It would have been our first time snowmobiling. I spoke to a nice woman on the phone who walked me through the whole process. Shortly after booking I received several emails detailing the transportation process for getting to the lodge. The process was: - get a snow park permit from a ski shop in town - drive up the mountain to a special parking lot - meet a tank-like vehicle at a designated spot there - drive to the lodge in the tank The guy who emailed me required that I *TWICE* confirm that I understand the directions. I did so. They were remarkably up my behind about confirming I understood the setup. In the email (attached a photo of this) they said "if you have any problem on the day of transport, call this number". So far, so good. The day of the rental my wife and I started to make our way up the mountain, and we encounter fairly heavy snow. We're from a snowy albeit not mountainous area and are not really strangers to this, but it's bad enough that we can't see ten feet in front of us. We get to the snow park 45 minutes early as instructed and decide to call the number in the email to hopefully get a little information about how the snow would affect things for the day. What was going through my head was: - confirm they were still going to run that day - see if they knew anything about the road conditions, plowing, etc (basically making sure we'd be safe coming down the mountain) - ask what to do if we got stuck Essentially just get some advice to make us feel a little peace of mind around what to do if we got stuck. This is where it unraveled, because no one picked up the phone. The pickup was supposed to be at 9AM. We called the number 6 times between 8am and 9am and we just went to voicemail every time. This is the number it said to call. They put it in bold text and yellow highlight in the email. Around 8:50AM we were having trouble maneuvering our vehicle (a grand Cherokee). Since we couldn't get in contact with anyone, we elected to leave and get back down while we were sure we still actually could. Around 9:40 AM I finally managed to get a woman on the phone for the most asinine conversation I think I've ever had. She basically told me that she doesn't answer the phone outside business hours which start at 9AM (the same time as the pickup lol). She tried to tell me that it was my fault because I didn't think to leave a voicemail any of the 6 times I called, and that she would have called me had I done so. NOWHERE IN THE INSTRUCTIONS that they had me confirm MULTIPLE TIMES said to do this. At one point she drew an unbelievably bizarre analogy where she compared them to a hospital and tried to convince me that if I didn't expect a hospital to call me back, neither should I expect a lodge where I have a booking to call me back. Still not sure I understand where she was going with this. I offered on the phone to work out a deal with them where we got back half the rental cost due to there being a miscommunication. I accepted some responsibility for being perhaps overly cautious of the weather and asked them to accept some responsibility for not answering the number they specifically told me to call on the day of, if there were any questions. Needless to say she told me to kick rocks, referenced their cancellation policy. You know, generally gave me the finger. Thanks guys. Thats the story. You can decide for yourself if you think we're in the wrong or them. They still have our 500$ though so they can have this review too. read more

Elk Lake Resort - The number they told me to call the day of, which it turns out they don't answer until after the pickup vehicle has already departed. - Lakes Near Me - Bend, Oregon

Sitting by the lake on a sunny warm day, munching on an elk burger! It doesn't get much better than that. Juicy generous burger, crispy fries and for us, a cocktail or two. Friendly and helpful waitstaff, fairly quick service, and priced right. We'll be back!! read more

Warm, cozy, rustic cabin. Delicious burger, wings, chili and cornbread. And best of all the staff! Michele, at the Front Desk, was awesome getting us a cabin, she was friendly and made you feel like you were welcomed. Rob, Behind the Bar, did a great job serving us in the evening and Brenda Mae, Server, suggested the Chili and Cornbread for lunch, that was out of this world good! Especially on a cold wet day. Elk Lake Resort is a great place to stay or to come out to for a delicious meal! read more

Shout out to Katie.... I had some issues with booking. She worked thing out and made a customer happy. Elk Lake is an awesome spot, they deal with a lot of people (and crazy ones-like me) Matt Foster Bend,OR read more

The staff Cynthia who working in the general store is very helpful. She also provided us some pasta that she made is very delicious. PCT hikers are always hungry! Thank you very much Cynthia! read more

This afternoon we took the snow cat to the Elk River lodge for dinner. The snow cat ride was terrible. There were so many ruts in the snow that we were bumped around to the point of getting car sick. The road was not groomed at all. The snow cat could have used better shocks. The driver said he had to keep the inside at 82 degree heat otherwise the engine would overheat. All around a very unpleasant experience. Would not recommend. The food was okay, your basic pub fare. The only positive was the bar tender/ waitress who did everything by herself but was still attentive. read more

Bad experience.Toilets full of crap almost to seat!!!!People in cabin next to us,loud,drunk,yelling,dog not on leash n they did not pick up dog shit!!!!Will not return. read more

We spent two nights at Lake Creek in March 2023 and it was almost perfect. It dumped two feet of snow while we were there which was amazing. Half of our group of 11 cross country skied in and half took the CAT. The skiers felt it was difficult but doable ( only 2 skied out. The CAT ride was beautiful but not for the weak. Depending on road conditions it can be very bumpy and they do blast the heat so the engine doesn't overheat. The only reason I am not giving Elk Lake a perfect score was because of one particular driver both out and back. NOT the head guy who drove the truck with the gear but the young man who drove most of the guests. Probably one of the rudest people we have ever encountered in the "service" industry. The f bombs, rude remarks, curt answers. He was awe full and we got to endure him both ways. Not sure why Elk Lake keeps him on the payroll because everyone else we came into contact was delightful! I would highly recommend a winter trip out to Elk Lake just no that if you are going to use their transportation bring patience and be ready for a bumpy ride. read more

See all

Disappointing. Had the Reuben and was nearly only two lonely slices of bread. Waitress knew nothing about the food or wine or beer. Because we were a party of six they added a 20% gratuity and they tried for a second gratuity of 20% when signing the bill. Unfortunately others fell for the trick. Won't be back. read more

Absolutely the filthiest place I've ever stayed (and we backpack and travel the world). For $200+ a night, mouse shit and pubic hairs shouldn't be part of the decor. This is beyond rustic; it's dirty. And the staff snowmobiles firing up at 3 am outside the bedroom is not relaxing. Great place to stay in the summer. I'd never stay there again. read more

Food: 7/10 Service: 7/10 Cleanliness: 6/10 Yeah, not bad, not bad. I liked the whole experience of this place. Its kinda out in the middle of nowhere on a lake. Might I recommend that you make a Sunday drive out here to experience this place. My favorite thing here is the buffalo wings. They smoke them in house and make their own sauce. They are indeed delicious. Relaxing place to grab lunch and walk around the lake a little bit. There is some other random stuff to do in the area during the warmer months like hiking, boating, and trail driving. read more

Elk Lake Resort - There is a chipmunk in this photo of the marina from the restaurant - Lakes Near Me - Bend, Oregon

See all

We drove up to Elk Lake and ordered cheeseburgers...great.!.! Just a little windy as they were only serving outside

We did the snowcat up to the lodge for the day and had dinner and drinks. The whole day was magical. From the ride up and back on the snow cat to the great staff there that made the day very special. I would recommend doing this little adventure to anyone. Food was also outstanding! We will be back! read more

We enjoyed a nice lunch today, Quite busy, we split a French Dip with Cheese Pepperjack, and split a caesar salad. Pretty ordinary stuff, Opps add fries, We were prepared for a long wait. Well here comes our food in no time. We laughed how good this French Dip was , I would say its as good as I have had. The caesar was perfect right amount of dressing very tasty. So for us as good as good can be. Coarse weather was 80 ish, Looking at the nice lake. I would say come, for its worth the drive. read more

Stayed here for a girlfriend's wedding, and it was an overall good experience. They have a really cool floating dock just off the side of the lake which can be rented out for a variety of different events. My friend chose to hold her wedding reception here, and it was absolutely perfect. Easy to get a nearby caterer (Bleu Bite was awesome!), and they let us decorate how we wanted and set up as appropriate. Parking is fairly easy, although in the mid-summer during the afternoon it gets crazy as everyone heads down to the lake. Perfect location for kayaking, paddle boarding, or just lounging/swimming with the family. The campground itself was easy to navigate and overall served its purposes well. The bathrooms were disgusting, but fairly par for the course for these types of places. The biggest problem is that there is only 1 shower for the entire campgrounds. ONE SHOWER. We had to twist the arm of the person at the front desk to get her to keep a list for the shower as well, as we were all trying to get ready for a wedding. A few of us ended up just jumping in the lake and wearing our hair up. Oh well, I guess for more hardcore outdoorsy people this is a minor issue, but I was kind of sad about it. read more

Easy spot to rent a pattle board with amazing views. Went on a morning weekday was not crowded at all and there was plenty of parking.

We decided to drive out from Bend to listen to some live music and enjoy dinner by the lake. The restaurant was nearly empty. The bartender was a complete jerk. He barked at us when we tried to move closer to the outdoor heaters, and then barked again at us as we gathered to leave at the end of the evening. Regardless of his attitude, we enjoyed our dinner, food was good, and the music was great. Perhaps he needs a different job where he doesn't have to interact with people. I suggest cleaning toilets. read more

Yesterday I took family and friends to enjoy what I thought would be lunch and boating on the lake. No sooner did I turn into their driveway and I noticed someone collecting $5 in order to park my vehicle on their premises. Really? I have NEVER paid anything to park vehicles at a resort in Central Oregon, and not starting now. YOU just lost about $200.00 in revenue. I went to another resort down the road and no parking fees, much better food, and less crowded! read more

Last sept. we came hear for an afternoon concert. It sucked because we COULD NOT HEAR the vocals. Imagine our surprise when we returned this year to see a band....and the SAME THING HAPPENED!!!! Not like it's after dark!! It's 6:30 pm and sunny....and people are ready to have fun. We won't be back. read more

Food is standard bar food but good. Burgers and salads are the standard. Luckily they do have gluten-free buns if you need one. Pricey since they are in the mountains but large portions. Staff is helpful and friendly even though very busy. read more

Do not rent here or even bother to visit this lake. We had a terrible experience renting here and the boat was absolutely filthy. Hit Coltus Lake instead. It's the real deal. read more

fantastic place to relax and enjoy some great local micro brews and great food. pretty hard to beat the view of the lake and the east side of Mt. Bachelor. read more

See all

Felt like we were nickel and dimed here. Called the week prior about getting a package delivered. Lady on the phone said no problem. When I went to pick it up this morning they wanted $5 for the package or they wouldn't release it. Frustrating because they never said anything about the fee on the call. Basically they were practicing entrapment with this. Also, they want $5 for a shower for a staying guest. Nice place overall but the feeling of getting charged for little things is ridiculous! read more

Love this place for the views and outdoor music. But the restaurant's food isn't what it used to be. Hope they get a new menu and chef.

I am so disappointed ! Their menu changed. No healthy choices. Just bar food! Never again!!!

Thoroughly enjoyable breakfast, with a picture-postcard view of the lake. Mediocre cafe latte from a dispenser, but great coffee with free refills. Service is excellent. read more

Don't order the $15 nachos. They're disgusting. Unless you enjoy "cheese product" from a can and a sloppy mess of inedible toppings.

Terrible and unemphatic employees that care more about making money than being understanding of safety concerns. Would highly advise not to rent boats from this resort. The most unprofessional experience our group has ever had. read more

Epic Bloody Mary. Margaritas usually rock, tho every once in a while they are off. Great sweet potato fries. Hummus plate is also really good. If you are really lucky you will get Jamie for your server. This place is worth going out of your way for!! read more

Beautiful setting for a great lunch with convenient kayak rentals for an afternoon paddle. Loved the Smoked Steelhead (trout) wrap, which I was told they smoke on-site. Good rotating selection of Oregon small batch beers on draft. Overall, a perfect day on the lake. read more

I love Elk Lake Resort! Their food, their staff, their marina, their prices, their rental sites and especially the owners. The owners Pat and Wendy are very down to earth and all around friendly folk to speak with. You can tell that they care very much for their staff and guest! I love that they provide pontoon boat rentals as well as paddleboards, kayaks, row boats ect. They have a wonderful variety of food at the restaurant for any type of eaters. I have went many times and definitely will go back again! read more

Do yourself a favor, just bring your lunch from home. The food fine, but the kitchen is so slow.

My husband and I shot a wedding there on Saturday. We just wanted to say the staff was Amazingly helpful! The wedding menu was as well off the hook...best seared Tri-tips I've had! To top it all off...the setting was hands down beautiful! read more