Doris Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Doris Lake |
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 Doris Lake
Location in Oregon
Doris Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Deschutes County, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 43°57′03″N 121°50′33″W / 43.95083°N 121.84250°W |
| Lake type | Natural, ultraoligotrophic |
| Catchment area | 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 69 acres (28 ha) |
| Average depth | 24 feet (7.3 m) |
| Max. depth | 95 feet (29 m) |
| Water volume | 1,600 acre-feet (2.0×106 m3) |
| Residence time | 1.4 years |
| Shore length1 | 1.7 miles (2.7 km) |
| Surface elevation | 5,308 feet (1,618 m) |
| Settlements | Bend |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Doris Lake is a beautiful natural lake located in the Three Sisters Wilderness area. This wilderness is part of the central Cascade Range in the U.S. state of Oregon. Sitting high up at about 5,300 feet (1,600 m) above sea level, Doris Lake is surrounded by land shaped by volcanoes. It's about 27 miles (43 km) southwest of Bend. You can reach it by taking a trail about 3 miles (5 km) west from the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway.
Doris Lake is found in the Deschutes National Forest. It lies to the west-southwest of Blow Lake and Elk Lake. Other lakes nearby include Senoj and Leech. The lake is also just east of the border with Lane County and the Mink Lake Basin.
What Makes Doris Lake Special?
Doris Lake is quite deep, reaching up to 95 feet (29 m) in some spots. It sits in a small bowl-shaped area that was carved out by huge glaciers long, long ago during the Ice Age. What's interesting about Doris Lake is that no rivers or streams flow into it or out of it all the time. Scientists believe the lake gets and loses its water mainly through seepage. This means water slowly soaks into the ground and also seeps out from the ground.
Fun Things to Do at Doris Lake
Doris Lake is a great spot for outdoor adventures. The Six Lakes Trail passes right by the lake. This trail connects the scenic byway to the east with the famous Pacific Crest Trail to the west. The Six Lakes Trail offers many fun ways to explore the area.
You can go on day hikes, which are shorter trips perfect for an afternoon. If you're looking for a bigger adventure, you can try backpacking. This involves carrying all your gear and camping overnight. Horse riding is another popular activity on the trail, letting you see the beautiful scenery from horseback.
Fishing at Doris Lake
If you enjoy fishing, Doris Lake is home to Brook trout. These fish are put into the lake every year, and they can grow to be about 14 inches (36 cm) long. People say the fishing here is "fair," meaning you might catch some fish but it's not always easy. Much of the lake can be tricky to fish from the shore. To reach the best fishing spots, you might need a raft or a float tube. A float tube is a small, inflatable boat that you can bring with you on the trail.
