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Islet Campground
address: c/o Middle Fork Ranger District 46375 OR 58 Westfir, OR 97492
operated by: Hoodoo Recreation Services for Willamette National Forest information: (541) 782-2283
open: July—September, depending on snow sites: 55
each site: Picnic tables, fire rings assignment: First come, first served registration: With host facilities: Compost and vault toilets, piped drinking water, garbage containers, boat launch, recycle center, interpretive signs parking: At sites and in day-use area fee: $14; plus $7 per extra vehicle elevation: 5,400 feet restrictions: Pets: On leash only
Fires: In fire pits only
Alcohol: Permitted
Vehicles: RVs and trailers up to 30 feet
I don’t think most people reallY get Waldo Lake. Ask your friends and neighbors about it, and you’ll probably hear something like, “I hear that’s nice. I’ve been meaning to get up there.” Well, how does this sound? It’s Oregon’s second-biggest natural lake (after only Crater Lake) with a surface area of 9.8 square miles. It is also the second deepest lake in Oregon, averaging 128 feet with a maximum depth of 420 feet. It is reputed to be one of the purest lakes on Earth, and when the weather is calm you can see 120 feet down into it. It is also ringed by old- growth forest and wilderness, with mountain views, trails all over the place, no motor boats allowed, and several great campsites.
The three campgrounds (Islet, North Waldo, and Shadow Bay) are pretty much the same, but since Islet is the smallest we’re recommending it. However, they all have the same facilities, basic layouts, and they’re all on the shore of the lake, so in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter where you camp, just as long as you’re at Waldo Lake.
And here’s why: The lake itself offers wondrous paddling and sailing opportunities, including to some 50 primitive campsites around the lake. You can also paddle out to Rhododendron Island, which as the name suggests is covered with rhodies. They bloom in early summer—unfortunately, so do the mosquitoes—and the island is about 1.5 miles northeast of the ramp in Shadow Bay Campground. Camping is not allowed on the island.
And then there’s the hiking, starting with the Jim Weaver National Recreation Trail, known until 2008 as the Waldo Lake Trail. It follows the shoreline for 22 miles, in the process passing through all the camp- grounds and connecting with about a dozen other trails. Some of these, west of the lake, lead into the Waldo Lake Wilderness, with 84 miles of trails and 37,162 lake-filled acres. North of the lake is another trail area with more than a half-dozen other trails, many leading north towards the Taylor Burn Trail Area and, eventually, the southern part of the Three Sisters Wilderness. Passing through all of this, just east of Waldo Lake, is the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which crosses the Willamette National Forest for 118 miles. A favorite spot of mine on that trail is Charlton Lake, which is just off a road east of Waldo Lake. Other worthy goals include Twins Peak (3.3 miles), Maiden Peak (104 miles) and Waldo Mountain Lookout at 6,357 feet. You can hike there and back in a day from North Waldo Campground, but the Forest Service is particularly insistent that you get good maps and know what you’re up to. They say the trip “requires several judgment turns and some rather extreme changes in direction. It can be very confusing.”
The only other confusing thing around here is why there are still campers in Oregon who haven’t been to Waldo Lake.
