We Never Go to the Same Campground Twice, but We’ll Come Back to This One

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If you’re looking for a Lost Lake vibe, but without the crowds or fierce competition for campsites, I’ve found the perfect spot for you.

Nothing better than a hammock with a view.

Elk Lake Campground near Mount Bachelor — not to be confused with the campground of the same name in Detroit — has mountain views, calm waters, and (wait for it) an ice cream bar window at the adjacent resort. Here’s everything you need to know to get the most out of your camping trip.

The Best Campsites at Elk Lake Campground

If only reservation websites would tell you which campsites have a view, which have water access, and which are located just far enough away from the bathrooms. Lucky for you, I scoped out the best sites at Elk Lake Campground and the clear winners are 9, 10, and 11. On the map it looks like they’re hike-in sites, but they aren’t. Car campers rejoice! These sites are only steps away from the day use area, and they have great lake views (especially 11). If your children are young and you are concerned about water safety, it’s an easy walk to the lake from all the campsites (unlike at Lost Lake, where it’s a trek). We were in 16, and the lake still felt very close, even rolling our kayak and paddle board back and forth every day. Of the campsites farther back, 17 has the best view, but 18 and 19 are also great choices.

Courtesy of Recreation.gov

What to Bring to Elk Lake Campground

Beyond the typical camping necessities, I highly recommend bringing a hammock. There are so many spots perfect for one along the shore, and most campsites have great hammock trees, too.

Don’t forget funds for the ice cream window! We went daily, and it was such a treat (literally) in the hot afternoons. Scoops are $4 each, with very generous portions. Any ice cream can be made into a milkshake for $10. They also have cold brew (it was just okay), root beer floats, chai, hot chocolate, and more.

Ice cream window for the win.

There’s a casual restaurant at the resort, but we didn’t go; all of our money was devoted to our ice cream habit. If you want to skip cooking one night, it could be a great option. There’s also a little general store in the corner of the restaurant, with propane, toothpaste, sunscreen, ice, and everything else you forgot to pack enough of.

We brought our kayak and SUP, but you don’t have to — you can rent both, plus canoes, from the resort. Prices range from $30 to $45 per hour. If you’re on the fence about renting a paddlecraft, do it! We paddled across the lake and swam alone near a tree lined shore, and it felt like we were the only people there.

See? No people on this section of the lake!

Speaking of swimming alone, the water truly isn’t crowded, possibly due to the small parking lot and size of the lake. To me, at Lost Lake (which I do also love), the vibe feels like a party, and at Elk Lake, it feels like a retreat.

What’s not to love about Elk Lake Campground?

I had to try hard on this section, because I’m obsessed with this campground, but here’s why you might not love it as much as I do.

The view from the opposite shore

Motorized boats are allowed on the lake, though they were the vast minority. We floated in the middle of the lake for hours and only saw one motorized boat and it was far away. While relaxing on the shore, we saw one more, and that was it. There are sailboats, too, but, again, none ever came close. If your kids are inexperienced paddlers and you prefer lakes where motorized boats are banned, this site isn’t for you.

While there are trees at every campsite, most still get a lot of sun. The afternoons are very hot, and you’ll want to spend them on the lake, not relaxing at your campsite. We brought one cold drink for each day, and I wished we had brought twice as many. That said, the mornings and evenings were delightfully cool when we were there in late July.

Elk Lake Campground has vault toilets. Sigh. I hate them as a general rule, but these were cleaned daily and the air fresheners made them more bearable.

How to Book

A note about reservations: We always book campsites the second they become available (usually in January or February), but we dragged our feet this year and were still able to find a weekend day at Elk Lake Campground when we reserved in March. When I say “less competitive,” that’s what I mean — you’ll still have to plan ahead. That said, sites 6 and 7 are first come, first served all season long, and they’re only a short walk from the lake. If you’re reading this in the height of summer, you’ll likely have to try for one of the first come, first served sites. If you’re planning ahead at the beginning of the year, book here.

Elk Lake > Lost Lake, change my mind.

Looking for more campgrounds? We have suggestions.

Meg Asby
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