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    Sparks Lake

    4.4 (14 reviews)

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    Chipmunk
    Gabrielle B.

    One of my favorite places on earth and the most romantic of the cascade lakes. The road to get in is pretty bumpy but so worth it. There's nice walk trails around the lake, camp sites, lake access, cute animals and an unforgettable Mountain View.

    Frank W.

    We exited off the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway onto a gravel road that led us to the Ray Atkenson Memorial trail and Sparks Lake. There were several campers and fisherman along the road which terminated at a parking lot with access directly to the lake for kayakers. A universally accessible trail leads directly to the lake, but we took the longer section that went through the forest and ultimately led us back to the lakeside. Along the say we enjoyed the views offered of the pristine lake, marsh and meadow as well as South Sister and Broken Top mountains.

    Engagement session standing on ice
    Stunning Portrait Photography J.

    One of my most favorite spots to take portraits.Photographed an elopement here, summer 2019 and engagement session, winter 2019. The winter session we were able to stand on one part of the lake because it was iced over. As the photographer, I didn't encourage it BUT secretly I was overjoyed that they did that one on their own! If you are looking for an intimate wedding or elopement photographer, please visit stunningportraitphotography.com

    Shallow, muddy, not a good lake to swim or stand up board. Rough terrain getting to parking area.

    Christopher C.

    For years I have heard great things about this lake and not once felt tempted to check it out. That is until I drove out here with a kayak for the first time. This is the first Cascade Lake that you see when you drive in from Bend. It looks like a shallow marsh from the road, but when you get out onto the water you soon realize that this lake has many hidden secrets to amaze you! The first time I camped out here I got real bored real quick, so I took off toward the lake to explore. I found this random little creek that looked like fun to kayak. When launched off into the creek I was soon surprised by how unbelievably fast it was. The creek is literally fresh off the mountains very cold and depending on the time of year you are out, very swift. The little creek has many bends that keep you on your toes. You will want to be paying attention because if you don't, your kayak might get pinned and through you into the creek. This little creek is a blast but should be traveled cautiously as you can get pinned in debris if there happen to be any. I recommend scouting ahead to make sure there are not branches or any strainers. Once you make it out to the lake you will be dazzled with a beautiful view. The back side of sparks lake is filled with some stunning volcanic features. There is a large ridge that towers out of the lake out of the middle of nowhere. I have camped in the back and witnessed a Pine Marten which can be a rare sight. You will want to be cautious as there are indeed leeches in this lake. I have not been bitten by any myself, but we have caught one. Overall this lake is a great place to camp, but even better to explore with a canoe or kayak. Here is a link to the land management agency that manages this area https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=71876

    Lindsay R.

    This lake is wonderful unless there's tons of people. We normally turn away when we see multiple people parked on the side of the road. It's a favorite kayak spot and paddle board. Not much beach area and a lot of over 55's there enjoying their kayaks. The view is gorgeous and totally worth a visit.

    Paddler with dog

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    Review Highlights - Sparks Lake

    The gravel road leading up to the lake is quite bumpy but I saw plenty of smaller vehicles maneuvering through it - slowly but surely.

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    Sunriver ToyHouse

    Sunriver ToyHouse

    4.6(30 reviews)
    18.5 mi

    Convenient, affordable, and great service! We found this place last minute when we decided to…read moresnowshoe. I took a chance and called the number on Christmas Day, and they were working. The person on the phone was very accommodating and patient. We let them know when we were planning on arriving, and they said they would make sure the store was open. Snowshoe rentals were only $15 each, and they included poles, goggles, and a balaclava. I believe the snow pants and snow boots were also only $15 each. The teal pants were SO cute. The person in the store was also very patient and helpful. There was a cute little hot cocoa station that included marshmallows, tea, Vitamin C, and apple cider packets. The only things missing were candy canes! But they made up for it with sweet treats (sugar cookies, fudge, and more). While we were there, we realized that we forgot our hand warmers. The person overheard us and gave us some for free!! What makes this place so convenient was that it was 6 minutes from our AirBnb in Sunriver AND they have a return box outside of the store if we get there after hours! I was also pleasantly surprised that we didn't have to return the rentals under the next morning at 9:00. Will definitely come back for more rental needs!

    We had a great time renting snow mobiles from Sunriver…read moreToyHouse! They anticipate every possible need. From helmets to heated vests to warm drinks and snacks. They gave thorough instructions to get us safely on the trail. When a belt broke on one of the machines, they walked us through repairing it and we were quickly back on the road. We would definitely recommend them and will be back for another adventure!

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    Sunriver ToyHouse
    Sunriver ToyHouse
    Sunriver ToyHouse

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    Oregon Whitewater Adventures - Umpqua River Rafting Trip

    Oregon Whitewater Adventures

    4.9(16 reviews)
    63.5 mi

    Great experience for my 3 generations of family! We took a full day trip with my son, grandson, and…read morehusband. Dave, our guide, was friendly and knowledgeable. Reservations were easy to make and changes were accepted. Questions were promptly responded to.

    Our group of 7 had a really great full-day rafting trip on the McKenzie with Kamis and Ariel at…read moreOregon Whitewater Adventures! We arrived to the meeting spot around 10am and got back to the cars around 3:15pm. Reservations were easy to do online, and I received the confirmation email shortly after with details on timing, meeting location, and what to expect for the day. This was the only communication we received, so if you're someone who finds reminder emails helpful, you may not get it with OWA. We were split up between two boats with one additional solo guest. The shuttle ride was quick to Paradise campground, leaving the meeting point around 10:10am. The guides set us up with life jackets and paddles, provide us with instructions for paddling and safety, and after hopping in the boats and doing some practice strokes, we were on our way. The deli-style lunch was set up for us about 2 hours into the trip (12:30pmish). We ate at a campground with bathroom access. The lunch spread consisted of bread, deli meats, cheese, sauces/condiments, melon, veggies, chips, cookies, PB/jelly, sodas - a surprisingly vast assortment and was a treat after a few hours on the water. The entire trip was really fun. We enjoyed chatting with our guides, paddling into the rapids and enjoying the scenery. Our boat hit a rapid "just right" and two members of our raft fell out, but we moved quickly to get them back in the raft and all had a good laugh about the rapid. The only thing I wish is that OWA would offer photos (just cell phone, nothing fancy). As they carry a dry bag and phones, it would have been nice to have a photo of our group that could be emailed/texted after the trip. Or from the staff member who sets up the lunch. We all really enjoyed our day and would definitely be interested to do another trip with OWA. And as the email says, "And remember, a guide can over tip your boat, but you can't over tip your guide."

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    Oregon Whitewater Adventures - Logo

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    Oregon Whitewater Adventures
    Oregon Whitewater Adventures

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    Sparks Lake - lakes - Updated May 2026

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