What is the biggest lake in Oregon?

Upper Klamath Lake, at 61,500 acres.

Biggest lakes in Oregon: the top 10 by size

How big are the biggest lakes in Oregon? Here are the top 10, with their size and what to do on each.

The list

Sizes are the published surface area where one exists; the others are our own measure of the water's outline and read "about". Reservoirs shrink and grow with their level, so a dry year shows less water.

#	Lake	Size	Shoreline
1	Upper Klamath Lake	61,500 acres	about 100 mi
2	Malheur Lake	49,700 acres	about 123 mi
3	Lake Abert	36,500 acres	about 49 mi
4	Harney Lake	26,400 acres	about 27 mi
5	Summer Lake	25,000 acres	about 34 mi
6	Brownlee Reservoir	15,000 acres	about 103 mi
7	Lake Owyhee	13,900 acres	about 101 mi
8	Crater Lake	13,200 acres	about 22 mi
9	Bluejoint Lake	about 11,100 acres	about 36 mi
10	Wickiup Reservoir	10,300 acres	about 39 mi

1. Upper Klamath Lake

Upper Klamath Lake is a natural lake of some 61,500 acres. You will find it near Klamath Falls. The fish here are trout. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Upper Klamath Lake is the largest freshwater lake by surface area in Oregon.

Upper Klamath Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Malheur Lake

Malheur Lake covers some 49,700 acres. You will find it near Hines. It holds trout. At about 5 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. On the 3-D map the bed has three steep ledges and an upper arm: good places to start. Malheur Lake is a large, shallow lake whose surface area varies dramatically between drought and wet cycles.

Malheur Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Abert

Lake Abert spreads over some 36,500 acres. The lake is near Lakeview. At about 11 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. Lake Abert is a highly alkaline, saline lake that cannot support fish but hosts huge brine shrimp populations and migratory shorebirds.

Lake Abert today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Harney Lake

Harney Lake spreads over 26,400 acres of water. The lake is about 19 miles north of Hines. It goes down to about 4 ft. Harney Lake is a shallow alkali lake that has dried up completely during past droughts.

Harney Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Summer Lake

At 25,000 acres, Summer Lake is a big lake. The lake is about 42 miles southeast of Lakeview. The deepest water is around 5 ft. Summer Lake is a shallow alkali lake in Oregon's high desert renowned for birdwatching, supporting more than 250 bird species.

Summer Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Brownlee Reservoir

Brownlee Reservoir spreads over 15,000 acres. The lake is about 15 miles south of Weiser. Like most lakes its size in Oregon, it should hold largemouth bass, walleye, crappie and bluegill. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Brownlee Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Lake Owyhee

Lake Owyhee is a reservoir of 13,900 acres. You will find it about 27 miles east of Caldwell. It is the Owyhee River behind Owyhee Dam. The fish here are crappie, trout, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 117 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Lake Owyhee today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Crater Lake

Crater Lake covers some 13,200 acres. You will find it near Shady Cove. It holds trout and kokanee salmon. The deepest water is around 1949 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and among the clearest lakes in the world.

Crater Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Bluejoint Lake

Bluejoint Lake covers about 11,100 acres. The lake is about 45 miles southwest of Lakeview. Like most lakes its size in Oregon, it should hold largemouth bass, walleye, crappie and bluegill. On the 3-D map the bed has three steep ledges and an upper arm: good places to start.

Bluejoint Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Wickiup Reservoir

Wickiup Reservoir spreads over some 10,300 acres. You will find it about 8.5 miles east of La Pine. Wickiup Dam holds it on the Deschutes River. It holds trout. It goes down to about 70 ft. Its bed shows four steep ledges worth a first look. Wickiup Reservoir is considered one of the best lakes in Oregon for trophy brown trout.

Wickiup Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Big water, big days

Large lakes make their own weather: a breeze that is nothing on a pond builds real waves over miles of open water. Check the wind on the lake page before you launch and keep to the lee shore when it picks up.