Olallie Scenic Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Olallie Lake |
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Olallie Lake and Mount Jefferson
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 Olallie Lake
Location in Oregon
Olallie Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jefferson / Marion counties, Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 44°48′25″N 121°47′15″W / 44.80694°N 121.78750°W |
| Type | mountain |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 240 acres (97 ha) |
| Average depth | 17 ft (5.2 m) |
| Max. depth | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Water volume | 5,001,333 cubic yards (3,823,793 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 3.9 miles (6.3 km) |
| Surface elevation | 4,941 ft (1,506 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Olallie Scenic Area is a beautiful natural place in Oregon, managed by the United States Forest Service. It's found in the Cascade Range mountains, nestled between the tall Mount Hood to the north and Mount Jefferson to the south. This special area is home to Olallie Lake and many other smaller lakes. The name "Olallie" comes from the Chinook Jargon language, and it means "berry."
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Exploring Olallie Scenic Area
This scenic area was shaped by glaciers long ago. About 89% of the area is covered in forests. You can find many types of trees here, like Noble fir, western hemlock, and cedar.
Mountains and Forests
Olallie Scenic Area is part of the Mount Hood National Forest. It sits in the shadow of Mount Jefferson, which is about 10,497 feet (3,199 m) tall. Another important peak nearby is Olallie Butte, standing at 7,215 feet (2,199 m). Both of these mountains are on the edge of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.
Meadows and Historic Sites
The area also has open grassy spaces called meadows and wet marshy areas. Olallie Meadow is the biggest, covering about 100 acres (40 ha). It used to be the site of a ranger station. The Olallie Lake Guard Station is a historic building near the west end of Olallie Lake. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fun Things to Do at Olallie
Olallie Scenic Area is a great place for outdoor adventures. You can go camping at one of the seven campgrounds. There are also cabins and yurts available for rent at the Olallie Lake Resort.
Getting There and Around
To reach Olallie, you can take Forest Road 46 to Forest Road 4690, then to Forest Road 4220. Another way is from Forest Road 42 to Forest Road 4220. These roads are closed during the winter months. The last few miles of Forest Road 4220 are gravel.
Lakes and Boating
The lakes in Olallie are fed by melting snow from the mountains. Because of this, motor boats are not allowed on these clear, cool lakes. However, you can rent paddle boats and rowboats from the Olallie Lake Resort. The famous Pacific Crest Trail also crosses through this beautiful area.
Campgrounds
There are seven campgrounds in the Scenic Area for visitors to enjoy. These include Olallie Meadows, Camp Ten, Paul Dennis, Peninsula, Lower Lake, Horseshoe Lake, and Triangle Lake Equestrian.
Olallie Lake and Its Neighbors
Olallie Lake is located in Jefferson and Marion counties. It sits at about 4,500 feet (1,400 m) above sea level. This area is home to over 200 lakes, all overshadowed by Olallie Butte.
Olallie Lake Details
Olallie Lake is the largest lake in the area. It has a shoreline that stretches about 3.9 miles (6.3 km). The lake is at an elevation of 4,900 feet (1,500 m) and covers 240 acres (0.97 km2). At its deepest point, Olallie Lake is about 43 feet (13 m) deep.
Fish and Water Flow
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regularly adds fish to Olallie Lake. You can find both Rainbow trout and Brook trout here. Mill Creek, on the eastern side of the lake, is the only place where water flows out. It once had a small dam to help keep the water level steady.
Other Lakes
Besides Olallie Lake, there are many other lakes in the scenic area. Some of these include Triangle, Lower, First, Head, Horse Shoe, Spoon, Surprise, Fish, Giffords, View, Top, Fork, Upper, Timber, Red, Averil, Wall, and Sheep lakes. There are countless more smaller lakes too!
