¡Ay, caramba! Waldo Lake was absolutely outstanding! I have never seen nor kayaked upon such clean and clear water. It was so amazing!!! If you haven’t been to Waldo Lake, it’s time to start planning your own trip!! NOW!!!
We began our kayaking adventure at Shadow Bay. Below is a map of Waldo Lake and you will see Shadow Bay on the right side towards the bottom of the picture. The other two campgrounds, Islet and North Waldo were both still closed due to the Cedar Creek Fire of 2022.
Shadow Bay has a really nice boat launch. It is a 2-3 lane ramp. There is ample parking, including a restroom, as well as a large area where you can sit and eat lunch (or people watch!).
I was so excited about being at Waldo Lake that I couldn’t wait to hit the water and let me tell you what, I think I said, “Oh my gosh” about a dozen times in the first 5 minutes!
The water was the cleanest I have EVER seen!!! It was truly amazing. In the shallow water it was as clear as a glass of water and you could see everything! As you journeyed into deeper water, the colors would change different shades of blue. It wasn’t a basic blue, or sky blue – it was Waldo Lake blue! It was so incredibly gorgeous. I have kayaked at many “clean” water areas, but nothing compares to Waldo Lake! I think I held my head down looking into the water far more than I normally do. It was really something. Go see it for yourself!
After my first initial water color shock, I really began to look around and noticed just how much of the land bordering the lake was burnt. It was really something.
This photo didn’t turn out very well, however, you can easily see the burnt forest. It is like that around the entire west and north sides of the lake. I found this information online: “The Cedar Creek Fire torched 127,311 acres in the late summer of 2022. The megafire burned outside Oakridge and around popular recreation area Waldo Lake. The fire didn’t take any lives or destroy any homes, but suppression and repair costs reached at least $132 million.” (It is due to the damage caused by this massive fire that Shadow Bay is the only campsite and boat ramp currently open.)
So, my point is if you’re planning on taking a kayaking trip to Waldo Lake, and I think you should, just know beforehand that much of it is burnt. The best route to take is the one we took. Once you leave the boat ramp at Shadow Bay, stay to the right (east side) – it is ALL green and ALL beautiful.
The fun and interesting part about staying on the east side of the lake are all of the coves and little islands. They were beautiful! Of course, the gorgeous blue sky enhanced my pictures tenfold.
Not only is the color of the water indescribable, but the wildlife was as well. All of the fir and pine trees were just unbelievably green and healthy! No different from any other kayaking adventure I embark upon, I’m always watching for something unique. There were many, but here are a few flowers that I found especially beautiful.
The first one is called Rowan berries. And yes, they are edible. The second flower is a Fireweed. “The name fireweed stems from its ability to colonize areas burned by fire rapidly.” If this is true, then I expect to see many of these flowers growing on the west side of Waldo lake soon! At any rate, they are both something I haven’t seen before and enjoyed a lot. They’re both VERY colorful.
One of the things that was fun to see about Waldo Lake is how differently certain areas around the lake grow. Some are very forested and others are much flatter. But the one similarity = GREEN! Everything is so green and so vibrant!
As you’re kayaking along the east side, the further north you travel, the better views you have of the Three Sisters. They were magnificent. Did you know that each sister has its own name? Well, they once did! I didn’t know this until we stopped for a view on our return home 2 days later. There’s a road sign along Hwy 20 with an awesome viewpoint.
On the sign it says, “In the early days, they were often referred to as Faith, Hope, and Charity, starting from the north. These names, however, did not prevail.” And of course, they’re now known as North, Middle and South. Hm?
Back to my kayaking adventure.
We weren’t out on the water for very long before we noticed all of these lines in the water.
I kept looking down thinking, 1. That is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen, and 2. Why does it look this way? We then realized that what we were looking at was the reflection of the clouds as seen in the super clear water that was moving slightly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this, except in a swimming pool. And yes, that is just how clear the water is – like a swimming pool! But, oh so much prettier!
We were so blessed today because the often expected afternoon wind never arrived. The water stayed glassy the entire time we were there. It was so perfect!
It was a perfect kayaking adventure in every way! If you haven’t been to Waldo Lake yet, go! It was absolutely spectacular! Kayak along the shoreline so you can enjoy the clear water and all of the wonderful sights!
2024 – Kayak Trip #36
I agree Waldo Lake is one of the prettiest lake I’ve ever kayaked on. Your review makes me want to go back there.
I just signed up to your site and am enjoying reading about your paddles.
Thank you very much!
THANK YOU for this post! I’ve been wondering about Waldo Lake. Clearly I have to go.
How was the road getting to Waldo Lake? Is it full of pot holes? Would it be difficult in a small car?
The road to Waldo lake was good. There were a few potholes, but they are very noticeable. You can easily drive down in your vehicle. Go! It was so worth it!!!