Lost Lake Campground Yurts and Cabins

We have stayed at Lost Lake a couple of times now, once in a tent and once in a yurt. The lake is fun for fishing and renting a little boat or canoe to get onto the water. The store has a little of everything, though as you would expect, a little pricey.

Out of the way, a bit, but that was part of what we enjoyed.  Felt far removed from "The City" and the drive was scenic.  

Very popular campground.  We tent camped at this one.  Good tent sites shared in our site.

Clean shower facilities.  Boat rentals, Great walk around the lake.  

Our site seemed very private in amongst the trees, even though the resort was busy.  Would recommend!

There are more “beach” spots than there were last year but still difficult to find a spot for the kids to play in the water. You have to get there early an setup you spot. There is a small area right past the boats that we found this year and really like because it’s so small that only we can fit. No one tried to get too close, which was nice!

This would be a fun day trip but camping here was rough. Only porta potty’s, no sink with soap to wash hands, showers cost $6 for 15 mins and it’s a hike to get to them. It’s a beautiful place, but we couldn’t have a camp fire then it rained all day/night soaking our kids tent and sleeping bags. I’m sure it’s fun when the weather cooperates but that’s Oregon for you. We left a day early because of the rain. It was kinda expensive fir camping

We love lost lake! Busy in the summer, but beautiful!

This place gets CROWDED, and is hard to drive around/walk around due to the amount of day users.  Stayed in a cute yurt which was a bit of walk from the lake (~.25 mi) which is fine but getting my kayak down was a bit of a pain due to the amount of people occupying the road/parking etc.   Stunning views and didn't see anybody on the hike up to lost lake.  Store was poorly set up and chaotic, check in process took quite some time and was confusing.

Lost Lake is so wonderful.  Beautiful warm water to swim in and scenic beauty everywhere you look.  Sit by the lake and soak it all in.  This is a very special place.

Lost Lake Resort & Campground is somewhere we go at least once each summer. It has that nostalgic summer-camp vibe. A little more spendy than your typical Oregon campsite, but serene and private. The sites are large and more private than most I have encountered. Lush forest and tall trees are everywhere.  At a high elevation, it stays cold through early summer, but that can be a good thing later in summer.

The store has coffee, wood, anything you forgot, sweets, and a rental shop. There is a covered porch at the shop in case it rains. The rental shop has boats, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boats. It's a bit of work to get far enough out on the lake to be rewarded with a Mt. Hood view, but so worth it once you get there. Frigid cold clear water stocked with trout.

It has pit toilets that sometimes give off a scent if your spot is just a bit to close. 

F-loop is particularly private, with some drive-up and some walk-in sites. These are the spots closest to the lake but furthest from the store.

A couple years ago I rented a cabin here and it was awesome.  The cabin was very nice.  My buddy and I rented a boat and caught fish like it was going out of style.  It was a fun trip. There is a store there and the people are very nice and definitely  know where to tell the people where to fish.

This could be a beautiful campground if it wasn’t for all the people. We were there later in the summer so maybe it’s nicer earlier but there was trash everywhere. Too bad some people have no respect for these beautiful areas.

This campground is located on the shores of Lost Lake, with amazing views of Mt. Hood.  It is a very popular campground, it took me years to finally get a spot which I had to book exactly 6 months before.  Because of it being so popular, it was very busy and completely full.  Thankfully due to it's large size it doesn't fell as crowded as you would think.  There are so many activities offered such as water sport rentals, trail around the lake, various trails linking the different camping sections to the resort, a full camp store, movies at night and so much more.  We were in loop D which is kind of in the middle of the campground, and a bit of a walk to the resort and a very long walk to the horse/group camping sites.  Would recommend bikes to get around.  We SUP'd around the lake and it was amazing.  The site we had was kind of open and had a great view of the toilets and parking for the near by walk in sites.  I really enjoyed this campground and would definitely go back.

Tent sites are large and spaced out so your not right next to your neighbors. It’s a little bit of a walk to the lake but enjoyable. We stayed in the A-frame cabin which is right off the parking lot so can be busy but is a generous size lot and has some shrubbery and trees for privacy. there’s a trail out right out the back of the lot. The cabin is small and rustic. Non motorized lake. Canoe, paddle board and boat rentals available and I highly recommend.

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.

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:

1. Views of Mt. Hood- THE BEST
2. Lost Lake- Fun water activities. My family brought our kayak, and I spent most of my morning on the water.
3. Rental Shop- This shop is close by, and is a great place to head to if you need any rentals. My brother went here and rented some fishing gear. They also have a little shop with snacks, which is always great!
4. Boat Dock- Great for getting your boat in the water.
5. Campsites are great, and pretty good size. Doesn't make you feel like you are crowding your neighbor. They also take reservations which is great for the busy times of the month. They also have first come first serve sites as well for those people who want to camp last minute.
6. Great hiking- Highly recommend asking the station what hikes are nearby. They were super helpful and pointed us in the right direction.

Cons:

1. Bathrooms were a little dirty- but honestly its hard to expect campground bathrooms to be super well kept.
2. Crowded- I guess this is to be expected during the summer months

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.