While roaming through the area we spotted the State Park on a map and decided to check it out. It…read morefeels like it's in the middle of nowhere as you drive in, and as a result when the lake and grounds come into view it has the feel of a real oasis. It's a beautiful drive in and gorgeous setting. The lakes are awesome, and clearly a lot of fun as the place was pretty packed last weekend. Lots of room to boat, paddle, hike, camp, and picnic. As we were just passing through we really only covered the park and surrounding areas via van, but we did stop in some shade to enjoy a picnic lunch. You definitely need to plan ahead and come prepared, as we didn't see any stores or gas in the immediate area. But it does look like a very serene place to spend a few days....especially if you like sun, as there wasn't a big supply of shade to be found. Lots of soaring birds and spectacular mountain views abound from the cliffs above the lakes. Beautiful high dessert oasis. :)

Nice campground well taken care of. Clean restrooms and showers. Tons of deer walking through the…read moresites at all hours. So cool to see these majestic creatures with no fear. No reception or cell service so you really are able to disconnect and relax. Beautiful golden hour sunsets and gorgeous sunrises.

Awesome campground on Lake Simtustus. Beautiful and quiet setting. We stayed in A3 and it fit our…read more37' fifth wheel and Ram longed but a bit tight. We were right on the water with stunning views. The internet was flawless and the accommodations clean.

Cannot rave enough about Dockside Grill. Every time we go there it feels like we're on vacation and…read morewe actually live nearby. Gorgeous scenery surrounds you mixed with boaters and fun music. The food is always fresh and good quality. The bar is just fun. The staff work well together and apparently care for each other. We feel very lucky to have this gem of a spot on Lake Sintustus.

Very beautiful lake. A short walk from the parking. Don't forget your parking pass. Very quiet and…read moretranquil.

Did an engagement session, winter 2019 and there were a ton of cars/people in the parking lot. We…read moredecided not to hike the trail since my couples were dressed up and didn't have the proper shoes to hike. We went down to the field and took pictures and found snow to do the rest of the engagement photos in. If you are looking for an intimate wedding or elopement photographer, please visit stunningportraitphotography.com

Came here for part of a day and really enjoyed it. At the surprise urging of my kids, we ended up…read morehiking up the Misery trail to the other side of the mountain and then around the entire thing - took a couple hours and I was shocked they wanted to do so much. There's lots to see and the views are spectacular. We brought some food and ate at a picnic table before leaving. Would definitely come back.

Fantastic views. Easy hike, paved road. Parking is available. Clean restroom. Cute complimentary…read morerock climbing for kids.

Kyle and I love to come to this lake in the summer. It's nice small lunch is always good at the…read morerestaurant.. Great little atmosphere!

It was a little smokey due to all the fires. The lake was nice and the scenery was peaceful &…read morebeautiful. Our family had a nice picnic & day. The kids loved seeing all the butterflies, dragonflies & frogs. We'll be back again.

OMG, flyboarding is easily one of the most trilling experiences of my entire life. I am so glad to…read morehave found Flyboard of Bend and I absolutely cannot wait to get back out there to do this again. My brother has been obsessed with flyboarding for over a year now after seeing a video of a group of people doing it on Youtube. And so, this year for his birthday I decided to take him to try it out for our first times. After about 3 hours of driving we meet Jason, the owner, and Hunter his assistant down at Lake Billy Chinook. Like skydiving or anything else, the first thing we did was go over safety and a quick ground course. Then it was time to strap up and get in the water. Jason had injured his foot and had to stay on land so Hunter took us out. He was an excellent coach. My brother went first and Hunter was able to get him flying within about 2 minutes. During his hour on the board my brother was able to change direction, turing and circling, raise and lower himself about 15 feet and even do a trick called the Orca. My experience was very similar, although I was less successful with the Orca. The whole time though I felt like a super hero. It was seriously amazing. It was pretty cool to look around and see the audience I had gathered too. Other boaters came closer to check out what we were doing and some cars were even stopping on the road to take pictures. Did I say I felt like a Super Hero yet? One of the other things Jason did which I though was really neat is bring a second jet ski. That way the whole time we were there, whoever wasn't on the board was on the second jet ski. It allowed us to learn from each other and take photos/videos. And being on a jet ski is super fun anyway. By the way, if you have not been to Lake Billy Chinook it is beautiful. Jason seriously picked a perfect location, especially for a first time experience. It just is one more thing to make sure your time is worth while. I would highly recommend, scratch that...it is a must do. You have to check out Flyboard of Bend. It is worth every penny and will be an unforgettable experience. And if you want to go out with a group they have 2 different setups which allows them to take 2 people out at a time. Quick tip. Make sure you reserve at least an hour a person. Anything less and you will leave wishing you did more.

From the owner: Home Inspections Coming Soon!!read more

Last stop on our trip to Oregon before heading back to San Diego. It was May 1st and we arrived…read morearound 9am so it was not that busy. Drive: Basic mountain roads. Most roads feel brand new with well marked lines and signs. Parking/trailhead: Signs clearly marked parking area for Blue Pool. Long road leading up to trailhead is unpaved and parking is only allowed on one side. Luckily we were early so got a spot not too far down. Two restrooms, pretty stinky but what can you expect? Trail: Pretty easy hike. Mostly even paths I think overall theres about 300 feet gain on it. Some parts were very muddy, a big portion is rocky with lots of lava rock. Some parts have tree roots sticking up. CAUTION: Parts of trail have a really high cliff that drops off into the river with no markings so be careful especially with dogs or kids. Pool: Of course amazing views once you get to the pool. The side you arrive on is on a cliff with the view of the pool below. You can hike down to the pool by hiking around the edge but some parts are really close to the edge. Descending and ascending is difficult and is not for the weak. Over all we had an amazing time. The hike was a little longer than I thought but nothing too crazy even for a novice hiker. I would suggest bringing water and snacks, we didn't and regretted it. If you get down to the water at least dip your feet in. We did and it felt amazing and we actually felt reguvenated for our hike back.

Great trail leading up to the pool. Not a difficult hike at all. Wouldn't suggest doing it when…read moreit's dark though as there are small rocks and rocky areas that can seem to pop out of nowhere and destroy your ankles. The pool is Absolutely beautiful and this is my favorite color. Once you see the one sign that says no bikes allowed, turn towards the water and look over the cliff.

This reservoir is located next to one of the most beautiful rivers in Central Oregon. The Mckenzie…read moreRiver flows into and out of this reservoir. I have hiked around this reservoir many times and it is always surrounded by fisherman, so I would imagine that there are plenty of fish in the reservoir. The water is super clear and blue. This makes it an amazing spot for photographers. There is a good amount of parking spaces at this lake making it great for large groups and gatherings. There are trails that pass this lake and both trails lead to some of the most beautiful locations. The trial towards the north will take you to Woosah Falls and Sahalie Falls. This is a short uphill trek that travels along the Mckenzie River. The trail toward the south will take you to the Blue Pool AKA Tamolitch Falls. This is a large deep blue colored pool that is fed by some underground springs. This Reservoir is a great base point for a day of exploring and even has a nice little campground. If you have a family who all have a different interest that all involve nature, then this is the right place for you!

Here is my review of clear lake for row boat use!…read more We got here at 930 am. Found the pay box at the entrance $9, no cash. There is an option to pay at the bottom which we should have done because they take the national park passes there (see picture). We were able to find parking in the main lot and there were a few people there. We weren't sure how the process of renting the boats or availability of life jackets. There is a shop that sells food, snacks, drinks, ice cream , and desserts. They also have a selection of fishing items, shirts, jackets. We paid for the boat - $60 for the large boat all day. The life jackets were plentiful and available. My husband rowed most of the time because I am not a good rower. We made it from the dock to the start of the river that you can't go past which is good since you could hear the rapids. The way to the left was a lot calmer and clear. We had a blast out on the lake. You could see down near the shallows but not in the middle of the lake. Make sure to bring sunscreen because there isn't much shade. The facilities are great!! Two bathrooms in the shop. Large tables to sit and enjoy a hot cooked meal or ice cream. I am so glad we were able to make a morning on the lake super easy and stress free! Next time I'm thinking of renting a kayak or a stand up paddle board. That would be fun! If you are in the area make sure to stop by early. As we were leaving, the parking lot was filled up so make sure to get there early! I hope my review and pictures help you plan for a successful visit to Clear Lake!

A beautiful setting for the perfect romantic getaway or family weekend escape. The cabins are…read morecozy with gas stoves and heaters and the boat rentals are very affordable is you want to connect with the water. We enjoyed a wonderful hike around the lake which took us through forests, lava fields, and springs with wooden bridges. The views were amazing!

I liked this State-Run Campground. It was pretty basic, with pit-Toilets and a water pump that you…read morehad to walk to get to. But, it was very serene and private. Our camping spot was Huge! And, it had plenty of space for a car (or two) to pull into. And, then we had a separate area to set up a tent in. It was perfect for camping with our 2 dogs; we got a nice private area by the lake and the Dogs. I was able to reserve a spot online through recreation.gov and it was easy! And, Steve the camp host, was a delight! He was very approachable and friendly, it was nice interacting with him and talking to him. Overall, the spot was quiet and had beautiful scenery! And, less bugs/mosquitos then I've seen in other similar camp spots in the same geographic area for that time of year. And, also it was just a 20 minute drive to Smith Rock from this camp Site, so it was very do-able!