kids encyclopedia robot

Odell Lake (Oregon) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Odell Lake
Odell Lake at dawn by Gary Leaming (8272124999).jpg
The lake at sunrise
Location of Odell Lake in Oregon, USA.
Location of Odell Lake in Oregon, USA.
Odell Lake
Location in Oregon
Location of Odell Lake in Oregon, USA.
Location of Odell Lake in Oregon, USA.
Odell Lake
Location in the United States
Location Klamath County, Oregon
Coordinates 43°34′22″N 121°59′54″W / 43.57278°N 121.99833°W / 43.57278; -121.99833
Type natural lake without dam
Primary inflows Trapper Creek
Primary outflows Odell Creek
Catchment area 37 sq mi (96 km2)
Basin countries United States
Max. length 6 mi (9.7 km)
Max. width 1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Surface area 3,582 acres (1,450 ha)
Average depth 132 ft (40 m)
Max. depth 282 ft (86 m)
Water volume 473,900 acre⋅ft (0.5845 km3)
Residence time 8 years
Shore length1 13.3 mi (21.4 km)
Surface elevation 4,787 ft (1,459 m)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Odell Lake is a beautiful lake located in Klamath County, Oregon, near Willamette Pass in the state of Oregon, United States. It is one of many lakes found in the Cascade Range in Central Oregon. The lake is also part of the Deschutes National Forest.

The lake was named in July 1865 by Byron J. Pengra. He named it after William Holman Odell, who was Oregon's Surveyor General at the time. They were working on a survey for a road that later became Oregon Route 58. Odell Lake was formed by a glacier that carved out a big bowl in the land. When the glacier melted, the water filled this basin, creating the lake we see today.

Life Around Odell Lake

A small community is located at the southeast end of Odell Lake. This spot was once a station for the Southern Pacific Railroad, connecting to places like Crescent Lake, Oregon and Cascade Summit, Oregon.

Today, this area is home to the Odell Lake Lodge. The main building of this historic lodge was built way back in 1903. It's a great place to visit and learn about the lake's history.

Fun Activities at Odell Lake

Odell Lake offers many exciting things to do, much like nearby Crescent Lake, which is only 4 miles (6.4 km) away. There are several campgrounds around the lake where you can stay. You'll also find boat ramps, making it easy to get out on the water.

Popular activities on the lake include:

  • Sailing
  • Windsurfing
  • Water skiing
  • Fishing

Odell Lake is famous for its fishing, especially for large lake trout, also known as mackinaw. In fact, two state record lake trout were caught here! The most recent record was a huge 40 lb 8 oz (18.4 kg) lake trout caught in 1984.

Fish Species in the Lake

You can find several types of fish swimming in Odell Lake:

Diamond Peak ASTER 2011-06-20
A satellite image showing Odell Lake (top right) northeast of Diamond Peak
kids search engine
Odell Lake (Oregon) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.