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

The location and scenery at Elk Lake Resort can't be beat! But to charge $12 for an overcooked hamburger is a bit much. I think most of their clientele must be out of town visitors, because this local now knows to pack a sack lunch when exploring the area. 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

Lots of hot chicas, super rad employees. They know how to have a good time. The burger was perfect, but it's a shame that everything is so expensive. Also, the drinks were really good and the bartender was a cutie! They have a sweet deal being the only business out here, but it's a monopoly. I guess that's what has to happen when you're snowed in half the year. 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

Elk Lake was a place we visited annually for many years growing up. I have been visiting this place for 35 years and watched it grown from a very rustic fishing and sailing spot to the hip, standup paddleboard/kayak/canoe destination it is today. I was excited to take my own children to visit today and rent a boat hoping to enjoy the scenery and catch a few of the small fish that we caught easily over the years. We were slightly surprised that a boat rental was 50 dollars for 2 hours but having no other options and excited kids decided to go forward. We visited on a Thursday in July and the spot was VERY busy. 2 separate groups were holding paddleboard classes and there was almost no parking available by noon. Good news for the business but they were understaffed for these numbers. We waited a long time to rent the boat (20 mins) and then returned to the dock when we discovered that our particular boat did not have an anchor on board. After spending 30 minutes in the resort asking for help we were told that the resort doesn't provide anchors. Fishing is impossible without an anchor (unless trolling which we didn't have the equipment for) so a resort worker handed us a large piece of metal but told us he had no rope. In his defense, he was trying to help. Another resort worker also tried to help us find enough pieces of rope to tie together to then tie to the piece of metal we were to use as an anchor. Elk Lake is still a uniquely beautiful spot. The resort is not set up to support fishing (or I guess renting a boat to go fishing is more accurate) and is very busy given the level of staffing. Prices in the lodge store are high but not out of line with what you see at other seasonal resorts (Diamond Lake, Lava 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

We were fortunate enough to get married at Elk Lake this summer and had the most amazing wedding weekend we could've asked for! I grew up camping at Elk Lake and had always wanted to get married there - I could not have dreamed of a better wedding. The entire staff was so wonderful to us and all of our guests. Sarah our event coordinator was absolutely phenomenal, she was on top of everything! The owners, Pat and Wendy were incredibly helpful and accommodating. Asa, the chef was flexible, willing to put up with my weird requests, and cooked the most amazing food that everyone loved! The camp host was wonderful, the bartenders were great, I just really can't say enough great things about the entire experience!! read more

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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

One word, atmosphere! This place in in the heart of the mountains, on a lake and serves food. When you go to a place like Elk Lake Resort, you are not there mainly for the food, you are there to take in the breath taking views, the fishing and the activities they put on there. We often stop there after hiking or backpacking and love getting a cold one and just sitting. Stay in the city if you want fancy food, but go here if you want to have fun and enjoy the great outdoors. read more

We spent labor day 2015, it was perfect. Cabins spoiled us, the bed was comfy, and the cabin had a great view good food at the restaurant, bbq pork, we had fun on the lake and took boat rental for a few hours, the kids loved it!! read more

Mack and I have lived in Bend for 4 years but had never been up to Elk Lake. We saw a review of the resort on "My Window" and thought it would make a great couple of days getaway. I checked out the cabin rentals and my first impression was..."wow, that's kinda expensive". We considered all we were getting and went ahead with our reservations. Cabin 17 was our choice with the best view of the lake. At first glance, the cabin was very clean and comfortable. When we looked a little closer, there were things that should have been repaired to make it safer for guests and things that showed us the management just didn't care. There were two major holes in the kitchen floor that you would catch your shoe on. I tripped once. The legs of the kitchen table were so loose it rocked back and forth. A screw was sticking out so far on one side of the table, it caught my blouse and almost cut me. There were holes in the wall and ceiling over the shower that were "stuffed" with toilet paper. The toilet seat was loose and rocked back and forth when you sat down. I especially liked the "dirty rock" that kept the bathroom door open. Nice touch...NOT!! There were blinds on most of the windows but the one window next to the only neighboring cabin didn't have anything. Privacy would have been nice. The notch cut out of the cutlery draw to allow it to open because the stove was too big was another nice touch. There was a big gap between the bottom of the front door and the threshold. We needed to keep heat on all the time but that wasn't the real problem. This gap allowed the mice to get in. At any given time, we had 3 or 4 running around the cabin. Our dogs went crazy every night...ALL NIGHT...trying to catch them. We understand we were in the mountains and there are critters...but if the door was fixed along with the many holes in the walls, you wouldn't have the mice in the cabin. We ate at the restaurant every night. Food was good and the service was great...but the prices are ridiculous...$9 for a house salad. I won't list the other prices but they have a captive audience and take advantage of it. The lake and surrounding areas are beautiful but I would only go back for day use. It wouldn't take a lot of money and/or effort to make the cabins safer and more comfortable. Check out the pictures I took of the problems...they're marked Cabin 17. read more

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Beautiful! Awesome cell service. We camped for 4 days in a rustic camping cabin. The cabin fits 4 people comfortably. We were also able to set a tent up outside our cabin. It was great at night as long as your neighbor isn't a bummer. 1 night we had tent neighbors who went to bed at 10pm and yelled at a laugh at 10:07pm. However the rest of the weekend was fun and chill. Quiet time is 10pm-7am, but know going into camping at Elk Lake you hear people til around 12-1am. It's great. My only complaint is the porta potties were not restocked with toilet paper for 2 days, and almost full to the brim. The lake is clear and great to swim or float. It gets crazy packed on the weekends. No where to park, people everywhere packed. So if you like people go to elk lake, if you want a calming tranquil experience, go somewhere else. read more

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Hours after we left our cabin and arrived at home we realized that we had forgotten my son's stuffed animal at the cabin. I called every day for 5 days, including the day we left. Each time I was told that nothing was in the lost and found. I requested that someone please look specifically in the laundry room or beneath the bed, and was told that someone from housekeeping would call me. They never did. It seems like an insignificant thing, I guess. But I was super shocked at the lack of caring anyone showed and the lack of honest effort to find his stuffed harp seal. Very disappointing. In general, the place seems poorly run. I was charged a pet fee and didn't have a pet, was told it would be handled, and has not been to this day. The resort is seated in the most picturesque region of central Oregon that you can imagine. we really enjoyed the natural beauty, the clean and clear lake, and our ride on the Free Spirit. P.G. read more

When we arrived to the resort and checked into the cabin, it was absolute trashed. the counters were so dirty you could rub uour finger accross the kitchen counters and black dust and residue would be left on your hand, bread crumbs,stove so greasy, There was dog hair all over the rugs and couches. We found broken glass on the floor, thankfully we picked it up before the kids or anyone stepped on it. The fridge drawers was cracked and broken. one of the twin bedspreads have a little dry blood, the bedrooms full of dust and floors very duty..We reported immediately after we saw what the cabin looked like, asked how long ago they cleaned it and they said that morning, when the cabin looked like it hadn't been cleaned in weeks the people at the office offered was free beer or ice cream. afters she offer icecream we back to the cabin and start cleaning and disinfected everything, litte bit later The owner came to look for a purse from last previous guest and we talk to him us aswell and all he did was apologize and said he was gonna speak to house keeping manager. We love coming to elk lake every 2 years for a little vacation but not when you pay 1400 with taxes for 3 nights and the place is filthy apon check-in. cuple year was nice and clean.. read more

We've visited Elk Lake Resort several times in the last two years...usually as part of a mini adventure trip. In the summer we've ended a 4 day backpacking trip here, and also passed through on Bikepacking trips. Most recently, we spent Christmas Eve there and stayed over night in one of the cabins after skiing into to the resort from Mt Bachelor. Every time we've found the service to be great, and the food to be great as well. This is a rustic, remote mountain lake resort so if you're expecting an expansive menu or polished surroundings you're better off staying in the city. But the food, drinks and overall vibe are great here. On our Christmas trip, we hung out at the bar for a few hours until our cabin was ready and then in the evening we enjoyed the special Christmas Eve Dinner...the staff was very friendly, went out of their way to make sure everyone was taken care of and the food was terrific. The Elk Burger is excellent. The cabin was rustic but clean and warm, had comfortable beds and was pretty much everything we needed. I was especially impressed with the their waitress and manager, Sugar, who just couldn't have been more pleasant and helpful. Highly recommend this place for a summer lake trip or winter adventure excursion. If you plan to enjoy the lake in the summertime, I recommend shoes or water socks as the shore and lake bottom is pretty rocky. If you're thinking of skiing to the lake in Winter on XC skis. Plan for 3+ hours to get there from Mt Bachelor and 4.5 hours to get back if you're an average skier. Also, it's probably best to time your trip right after the groomer comes through for the best ski conditions. read more

My wife and three-year-old son decided to stay at Elk Lake Resort after five days at Sunriver. We thought it would be a good change and something to try out. We stayed in cabin 19. We were very disappointed in the cabin for the price that we paid. We also were not impressed with the overall cleanliness and organization of the resort itself. There are many examples I can give, but a few are: there were no curtains in the bathroom, there were no sheets on one of the beds, the shower head had a big hole around it where it comes out of the shower wall, and everything in general was cheap and low-quality. Again, for the price we paid this was totally unexpected. We told ourselves that we would never stay there again unless there was a major change. We are also not pretentious but expect to get a fair value for the price paid. read more

Arrived on Thanksgiving Day to spend the weekend with our 5 year old grandson. Also decided to participate in their Thanksgiving dinner which was on the events calendar. Dinner was very impressive. It was obvious that someone put a lot of thought and effort into the meal. Could not have been happier. Cabin was clean although we did see some mice tirds in one area but to be expected inside a cabin in the wilderness. Food and drinks were good throughout our stay and waitstaff was exceptional. Lodge was really nice including a couple of different wood stoves and board game area with lots of options to choose from. Staff even helped us identify a few things that we could do with our grandson. Only downside was the need to coordinate departures due to access road being closed but staff was great. Overall would definitely go back....can't wait to try during the summer months. read more

Great setting, amazing, really. The food at the lodge is good but the service is abysmal, and left me not wanting to return. Two servers were brusque to the point of being rude, and I sat at the bar for a good 10 minutes before anybody made contact... And neither experience was during a rush. There's just something toxic to the restaurant staff. Bring your own food and enjoy the place for its setting. read more

First let me say that I made a HUGE mistake by not heeding other negative reviews. It is a confusing and not well laid out "resort," if you can even call it that. We reserved our spot over the phone specifically because the amenities listed included showers. Upon checking in, I was informed by the young lady working the desk that showers would cost $5.00 each, and there was exactly one shower to service the entire resort. When I expressed surprise that showers were not included in the $20 per night cost, I received a very curt "yep." If I had known this, I would have reserved the $15 site at the campground down the road that did not have showers. After setting up camp, we were dismayed to discover that the toilet facilities were unbearable to use. The permanent structures were so full that the smell could be detected a good distance away, and the one temporary port-o-potty was so full that the material almost reached the top of the seat. I understand that we came on a Sunday and the facilities were obviously well used, but this could have been better maintained. We ended up walking to the campground next to ours to use their much cleaner toilets. Our first night was somewhat quiet considering the place was very busy, and we were happy to see all of the large "Quiet time 10pm-7am, Strictly Enforced" signs spread throughout. This was so far from the case as to be laughable. During our second night there, a large family had set up camp right next to us. They were unbelievably loud, yelling, screaming, and just generally loud until well past the 10pm quiet time. We did not bother to talk to the "camp host" regarding the issue, as he was camped directly on the other side of this loud group, with approximately 10 people in his site having a party of their own. If you are looking for a quiet, relaxed camping experience, stay as far away from this place as possible. We did not bother to try the restaurant, as all of our other experiences were so bad we did not feel it could be that good. read more

My nephew got married here recently, lovely place for it! The place is very rustic and charming. The food is pretty good, especially their burgers. My sister and I celebrated with one of their special bloody marys and it was one of the best I've ever had. The bartenders, drivers (you have to sno cat or snowmobile in), and everyone else working there was so helpful and nice EXCEPT for the young lady who runs the reception area. I didn't catch her name but she has long dark hair. She seems to have never heard of customer service and acted like she was doing us a favor if we ever had a question to bother her with. The biggest issue for me was that when one of their snow cats broke and they had to reschedule everyone's departure to accomodate us, she was extremely unhelpful in helping us rebook. The weather was dumping snow like crazy and I had to drive back to Portland so I really wanted to make sure I got on an early ride out. I would definitely visit again, I'd love to camp there in the summer. If I do go back, I will hope little miss "fling my black hair around in your face" will have learned how to provide better customer service. read more

It was crowded because of a bicycle group, but we were seated immediately. Our waitress took our order quickly, was very pleasant, and our food arrived within 10 minutes. Check came exactly on time, and we got out of there before the cyclists! read more

I was on vacation for a family reunion. My family and I rented a pontoon for the day. As we were leaving the marina, the boat stalled out and we were floating towards a sail boat docked in it's slip. At the last second the boat kicked back on and we all cheered from not hitting the other boat. We drove off and enjoyed our day. When we came back and were parking the boat back into the rental slip, a younger staff member came up to us and started yelling at us that we hit the sail boat on the way out and cheered about it. He said he saw, and there was another witness too. There were 10 of us ON this boat that were literally looking over the back to make sure nothing was going to happen, and why would we cheer if we did? We are all boat owners and would have gotten someone if that happened. The young staff member started cussing at us and accusing us of being liars. Mind you, my 92 yr old grandmother is with us. This went on for a while, telling us they were going to tell the sail boat owner when they get back in what we did. We said fine because we didn't do anything, and we aren't liars and this is ruining our trip. We had plans to eat at the restaurant for our last family meal but decided to take our business elsewhere. Half of us left and went to Cascade Lake's Brewing Co and waited for the other half to get there. Right when they were about to leave, the sail boat that we "hit" came back. The young staff member ran over to them to tell them, coming to find out the damage he thought WE caused, was a preexisting scratch/dent that had been there for years....... They then told my uncle to leave and everything was taken care of. They never apologized, they did pay for our rental for the day, but never said sorry for ruining our day and accusing us of being liars. I was VERY disappointed in this place and my family nor I will ever be coming back. Which is a shame because they frequented this lake and had planned on spending Thanksgiving there. read more

Wish I would have had the experience of the other reviewer. Beautiful place, had potential however staff was an issue. Half of the staff was great and friendly while the other half were simply over their head and rude. I hope management will be able to weed through and make this place as good as it can be. read more

I'm pretty sure everyone like a perfectly cooked hamburger and steak or pulled pork that melts in your mouth that gives you that satisfying thought of life. I had that exact same experience last night at Elk Lake's dinner dock. Plus I had the best Berger and fries for lunch it was perfect. read more

It's a great spot! Good beer and cocktails... Be prepared to pay. Supply and demand offer a higher price range. The staff is usually great unless they've been clearly partying too hard the night before ;) all things considered I would go there for a cocktail anytime. read more

I Love Elk Lake!! I am a native Bendite. I hate when I hear a person rip into Elk because of her stupid roast beef !!! The lake is perfect. It's always a wonderful experience. If you are going out to Elk for food...it's just fine. The beauty of the lake always gets me. Maybe this lady just went to eat. Not the point out there. Go to Burger King and fill your gut first!! read more

Awesome customer service. Fantastic winter get away. Me and my son spent four days at the resort onan ice fishing trip. The manager personally greeted us at the snow park had a spot reserved and transported us to the lake in the awesome truck they have. Our cabin was ready warm and fully furnished. Even though they didn't know allot about ice fishing they stayed fully engaged in the experience even brought me hot coffee when I was out on the ice. when we were not fishing I got the chance to experience how they work together to keep the never ending flow of snowmobilers fed fueled up and back to the snow. There were times when there was standing room only and I never heard one complaint. The trip home was the final nail in this five star review. On the way home in the snow truck we came upon another snow rig brining in another group when we learned that a young boy in the group was having an asthma issue the manager who Was driving stopped transferd him and his mom to or truck and gave them a ride out. He also arranged for them a place to go and a ride back up if he started feeling better. lastly yes you can catch fish at elk lake through the ice. read more

Terrible costumer service! On our way there we tried to get the hold of them many times to double check that they were open, they never answered or called us back despite claiming they did so. despite this effort we still attempted to drive up to the lodge however the road was iced over and not worth a dangerous attempt if we werent positive they were open. we emailed them informing them of the circumstance and we never heard from them. a few weeks later we attempted calling them to see the possibility of a refund and they never returned our phone calls. after several attempts we finally got a hold of them and they said they would send us a check for the amount we were charged, however it never came. we then called about a month later to ask about the check and they claimed this was not their policy and they would not refund us despite having claimed they would and the troubles we went through. maybe they have a nice scenery but there are hundreds of places in Bend with a gorgeous scenery and much better customer service. read more