Little Lava Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little Lava Lake |
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 Little Lava Lake
Location in Oregon
Little Lava Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Deschutes County, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 43°54′37″N 121°45′24″W / 43.910394°N 121.756698°W |
| Type | Volcanogenic, mesotrophic |
| Primary inflows | subsurface springs and occasional overflow from Lava Lake |
| Primary outflows | Deschutes River |
| Catchment area | 18 square miles (47 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 138 acres (56 ha) |
| Average depth | 8 feet (2.4 m) |
| Max. depth | 20 feet (6.1 m) |
| Water volume | 1,100 acre-feet (1,400,000 m3) |
| Residence time | 2 months |
| Shore length1 | 2.8 miles (4.5 km) |
| Surface elevation | 4,744 feet (1,446 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Little Lava Lake is a cool lake found in the Cascade Range mountains in Oregon, USA. It's about 26 miles (42 km) west of a city called Bend. This lake is a neighbor to Lava Lake, and a wall of hardened lava separates them.
Little Lava Lake sits high up at 4,744 feet (1,446 m) in the Deschutes National Forest. Many people consider it the starting point of the Deschutes River. The lake covers about 138 acres (56 ha) and is usually 8 feet (2.4 m) deep.
Both Little Lava Lake and Lava Lake, along with other lakes nearby, were formed a long time ago. This happened when lava flows from Mount Bachelor changed how water drained in the area. You can still see the solidified lava along the edges of both lakes. Also, if you look north, you can spot the volcanic peaks of Broken Top and South Sister.
Fun Activities at Little Lava Lake
Little Lava Lake is a great place for outdoor fun!
Fishing and Water Sports
The lake is home to several types of fish. You can find rainbow trout (which are put into the lake for fishing), wild brook trout, and tui chub. If you catch trout, they are usually about 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm) long, but some can grow up to 17 inches (43 cm)!
Besides fishing, people love to use the lake for other water activities. You can go canoeing, rafting, or even swimming in the clear waters.
Camping and Trails
If you want to stay overnight, there's a United States Forest Service campground right by Little Lava Lake. There are 13 campsites, and two special tent-only spots for big groups. The campground also has a boat ramp, making it easy to get your boat into the water.
Another campground is at Big Lava Lake, which is only about 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) away.
There are also many trails in the area for hiking and horseback riding. One trail follows the west side of Little Lava Lake. It goes south into the Three Sisters Wilderness and continues all the way to Williamson Mountain.
