Getting Oriented
The byway leaves Bend on the west on Cascade Lakes Highway, climbs past Mt. Bachelor at 6,300 feet, and follows the east side of the Cascade crest south past Sparks, Devils, Elk, Hosmer, Lava, Cultus, and Crane Prairie before joining the Cascades Lakes Reservoir corridor. The southern third runs through more open lodgepole pine and ends at OR-58 between Crescent Lake and Oakridge. The Deschutes National Forest's Bend / Fort Rock and Crescent ranger districts manage the corridor.
Trail Overview
Sixty-six miles of paved two-lane highway, point-to-point. The east end at the Mt. Bachelor parking lot stays open year-round; the segment from Mt. Bachelor west and south closes by snow December through March or April. ODOT plows from Bend to Mt. Bachelor for ski-area access; beyond that, the gate stays closed.
Most drivers run the byway as an out-and-back from Bend to Elk Lake or Cultus Lake. The full point-to-point through to OR-58 takes about three hours of driving with no stops.
Points of Interest
- Mt. Bachelor. Major Pacific Northwest ski area on the byway's east end at 9,068 feet. Summer chairlift access to the summit.
- Cascade Lakes Welcome Station. Forest Service kiosk at mile post seven with permit sales and information.
- Sparks Lake. Shallow lake at the foot of Broken Top with a Forest Service campground and a 2.4-mile hiking trail.
- Devils Lake. Glacier-fed lake with the canonical Cascade Lakes turquoise color and a popular Forest Service day-use area.
- Elk Lake. Resort and Forest Service campground halfway down the byway, with sailing access to South Sister views.
- Hosmer Lake. Quiet lake closed to motorboats; popular for kayaking and fly-fishing.
- Cultus Lake. Larger lake with the Cultus Lake Resort and motorized boating.
- Crane Prairie Reservoir. Larger reservoir on the byway's south half, with bald eagle nesting and the Quinn River and Crane Prairie campgrounds.
- Wickiup Reservoir. Largest reservoir on the byway near the south end.
Where to Camp
Forest Service campgrounds line the byway: Soda Creek, Devils Lake, Elk Lake, Little Fawn, Point, Mallard Marsh, South Twin, North Twin, Cultus Lake, Crane Prairie, Quinn River, and Wickiup. Most run reservations through Recreation.gov in summer. Dispersed camping is allowed on Forest Service land off most spur roads.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- The west-of-Mt. Bachelor segment closes December through April most years. Confirm with ODOT (tripcheck.com) before driving in shoulder season.
- Mt. Bachelor stays open year-round on the east side; the byway becomes a Bend-to-Bachelor out-and-back during the closed months.
- Devils Lake parking fills early on summer weekends. Arrive before 10am or have backup options.
- Trailhead use fees apply at most Forest Service day-use sites; buy passes at the Welcome Station or in Bend.
- The byway pairs naturally with Newberry National Volcanic Monument for a Bend-area weekend.
