Waldo Lake Shadow Bay Willamette NF

If you love the outdoors this pristinely kept and lush woodland provides still water and quiet to accompany a rich understory in it's diverse forest habitat. The drive to the campground alone was worth the trip. WARNING: There is NO cell service, NO reception, NO running water. The Northern Campground is inaccessible to car due to fires the last couple years, the road is closed 5 miles past the boat launch/South campground turn out. The hike (walking) around the lake takes ALL DAY, do not listen to an app that tells you it's an easy 4 hours.

Waldo Lake is amazing! We stayed two nights in early September 2023, in the Shadow Bay Campground. The other two campgrounds at Waldo Lake were currently closed for repairs from previous wildfires. The water is beautifully clear and blue. Our days were sunny and pretty warm, but the wind does start picking up about Noon and makes kayaking or canoeing a bit challenging. Most of the shoreline trail has little inlets that you can walk down to the water. I liked all the little spots you can find for peace and solitude. Some small little beaches and other rocky areas. Lots of different species of trees. I estimate the elevation is about 4500 feet, so the mornings were really cold... 36 degrees!! Campground was pretty busy. Restrooms were clean. Keep your eyes open for the gorgeous view of Diamond Peak on the drive out!

August 28 thru September 10 2022 Ceder Creek fire was just across the lake from us☹️ for the most part it didn't bother us much. Some morning smoke a few mornings but dissipated quickly. The camp spots that you can reserve nightly are big sites with lots of big trees and bushes around them so it's very private setting. Lots of little trails from campsites to Lake. Wonderful little private bays along the edge of the lake to set up for the day and be a little more private. Because of the fire I'm sure they were having a lot of cancellations and so there were very few people in the campground for the most part. I'm sure when we go again, which we will, it will be a different experience. Taking pictures of the plumes from the fire on a daily basis and then of course the beautiful colors in the sunset every night. So unfortunately we were evacuated Saturday morning due to the fire. We hope and pray that the fire doesn't reach any of the campgrounds around Waldo Lake. It was a bummer to be evacuated but at least we were able to do it on our terms and not have to just fly out of there and leave stuff behind and it will make it safer for the firefighters that have to be up in that area and on the road coming in and out of Waldo Lake. We will be back again. I'm sure it will be a completely different experience.

First off, this place is amazing. Beautiful forest, amazing lake. Yes, the water is super clear. Clearest water I've ever seen amazing kayaking. Clean bathrooms too! No drinking water for our stay on 6/28/21. I give it 5 stars with a caveat: the mosquitoes are terrible. I mean terrible with a capital T. Not just a nuisance, but swarms attacking and swarming. The topography of the area has lots of standing water, grass, and forested areas for mosquitoes to breed and live. No relief with heavy duty bug spray. We cut our 3 night stay to 1 night because they were so bad. I'm a die hard camper, but I've never seen mosquitoes like this. Believe the other reviewers. Don't come here between June and August unless you want be carried off by swarms of mosquitoes or spend the evenings and part of the morning in your camper or tent. Or bring a bee suit. Or a full-body mosquito net.

My grandson says nice beach, but some mosquitoes and big campsites!

Beautiful, pristine water. Smoke in therapy morning and evening. Made for a beautiful sunset but you could not see other side of the lake. No potable water and stinky bathrooms.