Lost Lake is so magical! The crystal clear waters and perfect views of Mt Hood made this an incredible spot to camp. Camp site is very clean and well kept and it was really nice to have a store on site as well! It’s also really close to Multnomah Falls and Oneta Gorge which is a must do hike through water if you have the time
Note: This review is intended for the Lost Creek Campground at Crater Lake NP, not sure how it got filed here, and not sure why that campground doesn't even appear on the map.
We had to wait over an hour for a site to be vacated at this campground (I suspect this was partially related to a lot of Mazama being closed), but our persistence paid off and we were able to put our tag on site 3 as the previous occupant was packing up.
Upsides: inside the park, convenient starting point to go on a boat tour the next morning, good hammock trees at site, quiet (we hardly heard or saw any of the other campers), cheap!!
Downsides: not a lot of shade, no water at the campground unless you filter from the creek, bathroom building is closed (but the Porta-Potties were clean), lots of mosquitos
All the other loops are pretty cool as well
Beautiful campground. Amazing weather. Smells like green. Kind host. Very clean water. Dog friendly.
Took the kids camping here for the first time tent camping and we had a blast. Albeit a bit dusty and rustic, we couldn’t believe how beautiful the lake view was from atop the trailheads and how spectacular the views of the pinnacle rocks were on drive down towards the lake. The campground is clean, well kept and there is bear proof boxes to keep them hybrids of your things which was reassuring and helpful. We will definitely be returning.
The only thing missing from this amazing camping spot is electricity and running water. Otherwise, it’s perfect! Absolutely gorgeous view of Mt. Hood, tons of hiking, a beautiful lake and camping spots for everyone. They have walk-in spots, yurts, a-frames, RV spots, a horse camp and even a few rooms at the lodge. Make sure to spend at least 3-4 days!
It was only $5 a night to stay here! Granted there was no running water and the only toilets were plastic portable ones but to camp in the incredible Crater Lake National Park that felt like a steal! Lost Creek is tent camping only and there are no fires allowed. There's only a handful of sites that were almost full by later afternoon. The sites are separated by low brush that doesn't provide too much privacy but also keeps the campground from feeling crowded. It's a quiet campground about 3 miles from the Rim Road. Another 4 miles down the road is are the Pinnacles, super cool formations left behind when the volcano erupted 7,700 years ago.
I visited mid-September and it was very chilly in the evening and early morning when the sun was behind the mountains. I woke up to a solid layer of frost and ice in all my water. There is water available throughout the park but campers are encouraged to bring their own form outside Crater Lake so as not to put pressure on the watershed.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND taking one of the ranger led sunset hikes up Watchman Peak. Or, if learning about history and nature along the way isn't your thing, walking up to the peak alone.
If your traveling on Hwy. 30 also known as the Fruit Loop this campground is located on the northeast side of the base of Mt. Hood. It is a beautiful lake with views of Mt. Hood that make for a picturesque setting & there fishing too! Campground sites are large in loop A and I would recommend this end if pulling a trailer or driving a small RV, big RV’s could have issues accessing these sites.... Take a hike around the lake, it’s a little over 3 miles long...bring some snacks, water and your camera! Boat rentals are available at the resort. Pit toilets only in the CG.
Most sites are very large and tiered, which I like - feels like separate area for cooking, sleeping & relaxing by the water. Great trail around the lake, boat rentals, and a little store for the things you forgot.
First of all, let me be up front and say that I did not actually camp here; I camped at Mazama next door. Officially, Lost Creek was closed when I visited in June and I thought it was a great opportunity to snap some photos to add to Dyrt—because I am actually super excited about a one spot go to for camping info.
I believe Mazama is the only reservable campground at Crater Lake, making Lost Creek first-come first-serve when open. There is a creek that runs through the campground, but it’s hard to see at first glance. Sites, like number 5, are creekside (whIch is really neat). The campground has what appears to be plumbed bathrooms when open. The privacy in the central, rather than perimeter sites, is more limited here due to the nature of the forest environment as opposed to the spacing of the sites themselves. Lost Creek is as far from the rim as is Mazama. However, it’s a solid drive down the road from both Mazama and Rim Villages. This may be just what is wanted to get away from the busy-ness of the villages.
Both villages have restaurants, visitor centers, and gift shops. Mazama village also has a payphone, a small laundromat, showers and a camp store with limited grocery goods. Check out my Mazama review to learn more about the services in the village, including photos.
All in all, Lost Creek campground seems as tucked away as the creek. It is down a long dead end road that only serves a waterfall trailhead, the campground, and the pinnacles.
If you want endless, beautiful views of Mt. Hood I would highly recommend coming here. The views are spectacular, I honestly couldn't get enough of it.
Pros:
Cons:
Overall- I would highly recommend coming and staying here. The people who work here are super friendly and helpful. I love that they have a little store on site. This was helpful because we forgot to bring smore makings (don't know how we forgot!!) and the store saved us!! They also have little cabins you can rent- not sure what the cost is. They also have spots for RVS with hookups. The rental shop is also super nice!! You can rent canoes ($22 an hr), kayaks ($22 an hr), and you can also rent smaller things like: vest, fishing poles, etc..
I have kind of a love/hate thing going on for Lost Lake Campgrounds.
Pros: It is beautiful. There's a reason it's one of Oregon's most photographed sites. There's a 3-mile hike around the lake that shows Mt. Hood and its lovely reflection in the lake. There's fishing, swimming, boating, and a camp store that has "It's It" ice cream (definitely a pro). The camp sites are nice, decent sized, and surrounded by trees.
Cons: It is crowded. We're talking thousands of people on a nice summer weekend, traffic jams, and no place to actually make it into the lake (except right at the boat dock) unless you claim your picnic spot really early. There's also no cell phone reception (at all), and while that may sound lovely in theory, when you're a family trying to find each other somewhere on the trail or in the campground it's a real pain.
On weekends and holidays, you also need to book not two, but three nights in a row (Thursday/Friday and Saturday, for example), so if you're trying to get away for a regular 2-day weekend you're out of luck.
In general: 140+ camp sites including several walk-in-only sites right near the lake. There's also cabins and yurts, though those don't include a bathroom on site, so the $70-$150+ seems pretty steep for still having to use an outhouse (we haven't stayed in the cabins personally yet, but have seen them in person). You can book online for both cabins and camp sites (reserveamerica for the camping).
Tips: For day trips, there's a $8 parking fee that you can avoid if you park outside of the entrance and walk the 1/4 mile or so. Also, cabins and yurts are half-price in May, something we may remember for next Memorial Day well in advance (since everything books up so quickly).
The lake is great for paddling in sight of near by Mount Hood. Easy access from the Hood River side. Access from the south is through narrow fire roads and not recommended. The trail around the lake is a nice walk. Butte trail gives away to great views of Mount Hood after a climb through the forest. Some camp sites have easy access right along the lake and some are further away and require a short walk to the lake. Camp sites are first come first serve so get there early on busy weekend's as they fill up fast. Since the campgrounds are around a body of water expect mosquitos and bring bug spray.
The camping area isnt close to the water at all, unless you have a cabin or yurt spot, but its a fairly nice campground, we went in early May and there was stilk snow where our tent was gonna go, so watch for that! It’s a beautiful view though!
We got in late and were very sleepy, so we pitched our tent and didn't look around much. The next morning, we saw all the great mountain views.
A fantastic spot not far from Portland. Very accessible with wonderful trails throughout. There’s a well-stocked general store that’s got everything you need. The water is crisp and clear and there is good fishing. If it has a flaw, it’s that it’s almost too popular, and sometimes the crowds can overwhelm it.
Lost Lake is pretty famous and didn't disappoint. Large but private camp sites on a gorgeous lake with a quintessential view of Mt. Hood. You can rent kayaks, canoes, fishing poles, etc. Lots of walk-in sites, however, this spot is very popular so in the high season, you may have the best luck going mid-week or early in the morning to claim a spot.
Nice grassy park setting with just enough trees for shade, closer bathrooms with showers, and just a few minutes to the beachfront area of the lake or the boat ramp. Great area to climb steps that go straight down into the lake for swimming. Much less of a woodsy campground, but nice to get away to if you like things a bit cleaner.
The sites are large and private, lots of amenities such as trails, boat rental, well equipped store, picnic tables and much more. Beautiful views of Mt Hood and the lake is breathtaking.
Great place to shack up for the night, it's right off the highway but not very crowded. The lake disappears in summer so go early!
I've been going to Lost Lake Campground now for 5 years. I usually stay in the cabins. There is a trail that circles the entire Lake which is fun to do once or twice a day. The lake itself is beautiful and clear to several feet down and you can see old growth trees that have fallen into the lake bed. The view of Mount Hood is incredible especially over a cup of coffee in the morning. There are lots of places to hang your hammock and sit by the lake and enjoy it. I highly recommend a trip to Lost Lake Resort. There is a small store comma and showers available for a low fee. You can't camp and also get one of the rooms in the lodge itself. I find that there are sufficient outhouses and I've never had a problem while staying there.
There are 2 campgrounds on Crater Lake, Mazama and Lost Creek. Mazama is huge with 7 loops and 217 sites some dedicated to RVs with hookups and power, a camp store, laundry, showers and the works. If you are traveling with your family Mazama might be more comfortable and fun. But if you enjoy more primitive camping in smaller sites than Lost Creek is your jam. There are only 16 tent only sites and no reservations so they fill up! Don't roll in on a Friday afternoon and hope to get a spot in the summer. The good news is if you are out of luck at Lost Creek then Mazama has almost 100 sites they hold back from reservations for first come first serve. For being so rustic Lost Lake still has the standard national park amenities... picnic tables, food locker, fire ring and yes even flush toilets.
This campground is great. We had a walk-in site on the F Loop. The site had separate tiers for lake access, tent pads, and the eating/fire area. But the those spots to fill up quickly, so reserve well ahead of time. There were outhouses for toilets and pay showers at the lodge. We went on a sweltering summer day, and the forest and lake keep this nice and cool. The lake itself is beautiful, and the lodge rents rowboats, canoes, kayaks and the like, but you don't have to put up with motorboats on the lake. It is very popular among fishers, so I would swim from a boat instead of from the shore to avoid stray fishhooks. Although it looks longer on the map, the drive in from I84 is much easier than trying to take the passes from Sandy. Bring a map of the campground with you. We arrived after-hours and had to look around for our loop in the dark. Signage for the F Loop was confusing and there's no service, so a site map would have been very handy!
The views of Mt. Hood are amazing from this lake. Spent the day in a canoe, exploring the lake. Stayed in one of the yurts, which would have been better if it was away from the tent camping. Neighbors were a bit close. After exploring we did see that there were many sites that were more private...next time we will reserve those. You can rent boats, canoes, etc, and there is a store that has anything you would need. Very nice staff.
