Cultus Lake

General data

Name: Cultus Lake
Water system: Columbia River
Water type: Natural lake
Progression: Cultus Creek -> Crane Prairie Reservoir -> Deschutes River -> Columbia River -> Columbia River Estuary -> Pacific Ocean -> Planet Earth
Climates: Temperate, Temperate
Continents: North America, North America
Countries: United States of America, United States of America

Cultus Lake is a natural lake in Deschutes County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Formed by a glacier, it is located in the high Cascade Range in the Deschutes National Forest. The name is from the Chinook Jargon and means variously bad or worthless, or simply "in vain". In the early 19th century, the lakes in this area abounded with beavers. The earliest explorers to this area were primarily on a quest for furs.

Cultus Lake lies at the base of the Cultus Mountain. The lake itself is natural and is 64 m at its deepest point and about 3.2 km long. Several species of fish inhabit the lake, including rainbow trout, lake trout (mackinaw) and brook trout. The lake also receives several streams inhabited by younger fish. The largest is Winopee Creek, which enters through the marsh on the northwestern side, a popular fly fishing spot. Two miles south is a smaller lake called Little Cultus Lake. The two lakes are divided by Cultus Mountain. The lake empties to the east via Cultus Creek, which flows into Crane Prairie Reservoir.

Cultus Lake

General data

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