Featured lakes on the Umatilla National Forest

Lost Lake

Lost Lake can be reached by trail from the Desolation Guard Station on Forest Road 10. It is an 8 acre lake at 6,100 feet in elevation in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon. Scars on the landscape are evident from a 1986 wildfire that burned the area. The lake has been known to suffer winter kill, but can offer nice fishing after a mild winter.

Vehicle/Fishing Access: 2 X 4
Hiking: 2 miles
Driving Directions: Off highway 395, 20 miles southeast of Dale. Follow road 10 to the trailhead at Desolation Guard Station.
Fish Species: Cutthroat trout
Fishing Methods: Fly, Spin, Bait
Angling Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
Campgrounds: None

Jump off Joe Lake

This small 5 acre lake is found at 6,000 feet elevation in the Desolation drainage of the North Fork John Day River. A one mile hike on a trail through the timber ends at the lake. Fishing is a challenge die to heavy brush on the shoreline and snags in the lake, but the reward can be a nice stringer of Cutthroat trout.

Vehicle/Fishing Access: 2 X 4
Hiking: 1 mile
Driving Directions: Off highway 395, 21 miles southeast of Dale, Oregon. Follow road 10 to road 45, to trailhead on road 45.
Fish Species: Cutthroat trout
Fishing Methods: Fly, Spin, Bait
Angling Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
Campgrounds: None

Penland Lake

A remote but accessible (and extremely productive) drive-in trout lake about 20 miles southeast of Heppner is Penland Lake. There are thousands of trout in this lake, which is open year-round. Fishing is great in mornings and evenings. Penland covers 67 acres and is fairly shallow. It can winterkill, but legal trout are stocked after severe winters, and the trout put on weight fast. Trout have been known to grow quite large here. Good catches are made from the bank and by wading, but trolling in a row boat or canoe is best. Try trolling a dry fly. The lake is too weedy for float tubes. Motors are prohibited on the lake.

Vehicle/Fishing Access: 2 X 4, Boat
Driving Directions: 26 miles souteast of Heppner off Forest Service Road 21.
Fish Species: Rainbow Trout, brook trout
Fishing Methods: Fly, Spin, Bait
Angling Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
Campgrounds: No trailer sites, 5 tent sites, 5 picnic sites, No drinking water, No fee

Olive Lake

A good trout and kokanee lake of 160 acres near the headwaters of Desolation Creek is Olive Lake. It is about 30 miles west of Baker City. This lake is worth the trip when it's hot in the valley. Olive sits at a cool 6,200 feet in elevation and is over 100 feet deep. It offers Redband rainbows to 15 inches, and Brook trout of the same size. An occasional Lahontan cutthroat is also taken. Trolling and bait fishing are both popular methods here. Olive also has lots of kokanee with some to 12 inches, but most a little smaller. Fish deep in Spring and Summer. Kokanee tend to school, so when you get a strike, stay in the same area. Fall is a good time for catching the larger Rainbows on a fly. This is a very scenic spot, high in the Blue Mountains, surrounded by lodgepole pine and peaks that hold snow throughout the Summer.

Vehicle/Fishing Access: 2 X 4, Boat
Barrier Free Access: Yes
Driving Directions: Off highway 395, 24 miles southeast of Dale on Forest Road 10
Fish Species: Rainbow trout, brook trout, kokanee, cutthroat trout
Fishing Methods: Fly, Spin, Bait
Angling Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
Campgrounds: 22 tent/trailer sites, 3 toilets, boat ramp and dock for power boats

Jubilee Lake

Jubilee Lake is a beautiful 90-acre reservoir surrounded by timber on the Walla Walla Ranger District at 4800 feet in elevation. It was developed specifically for recreation, and is one of the most popular recreation destinations on the Forest. This lake provides good angling for rainbow trout in an area where lakes are scarce. It's rainbows are small but numerous. Jubilee Lake hosts a kids fishing event in late June in cooperation with ODFW and the Forest Service. Lots of catchables are stocked prior to the event. It is definitely recommended for youngsters!

Vehicle/Fishing Access: 2 X 4, Boat
Barrier Free Access: Yes
Hiking: 2.8 miles
Driving Directions: 12 miles northeast of Tollgate on Forest Road 64, from State Highway 204.
Fish Species: Rainbow trout
Fishing Methods: Fly, Spin, Bait
Angling Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
Campgrounds: 48 tent/trailer sites, 5 tent sites, 37 picnic sites, 0 group picnic areas. Fees: $14 single, $21 double, $3 day-use. Drinking water is available, as well as garbage pickup. Flush and vault toilets, concrete boat ramp - electric motors only

Bull Prairie Lake

Bull Prairie Lake has good trout water within easy reach. The 24 acre reservoir at 4000 feet in elevation is home to rainbow and brook trout 8 to 13 inches. Trout to 16 inches are occasionally caught. Motors are prohibited. Ice fishing is popular, but snow depth can make it a trek to get in. Check with Heppner Ranger District for an update on the ice and snowpack before heading out.

Vehicle/Fishing Access: 2 X 4, Boat
Driving Directions: 3 miles off highway 207 on FS Rd 2039, 36 miles south of Heppner and 15 miles north of Spray.
Fish Species: Rainbow trout, brook trout
Fishing Methods: Fly, Spin, Bait
Angling Season: Year-round
Campgrounds: 26 trailer/tent sites, 2 tent sites, 40 picnic sites. Fees: $12 single, $17 double, no day-use fee, drinking water available