Emigrant Lake, reservoir located 5 miles southeast of Ashland, Oregon

Emigrant Lake is a reservoir 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Ashland, at the southern end of the Rogue Valley in Oregon. It covers an average of 806 acres (3.26 km2) at an elevation of 2,241 feet (683 m), held back by a 205-foot (62 m) rock-filled dam on Emigrant and Sampson creeks, with the spillway at the lake's northern tip.

Emigrant Lake was formed in 1924, when the Talent Irrigation District built a 110-foot concrete arch dam on Emigrant Creek for irrigation and flood control. In 1960 the United States Bureau of Reclamation replaced it with the 204-foot rock-filled dam that stands today.

The name recalls the emigrants on the Applegate Trail who crossed this part of the Rogue Valley. The reservoir's recreation area has a 42-site full-hookup campground and picnic areas, and two 280-foot water slides ran from Memorial Day to Labor Day until repairs became too costly in 2022.

The lake sits at about 2,200 feet elevation and is easy to reach from Ashland via Highway 66 with clear signs and just a short drive from the main road. There are picnic areas with tables and grills, campsites with and without full hookups, playgrounds, and trails along the shore.

During severe droughts the water level drops dramatically and reveals old objects that have been underwater for years. These exposed artifacts offer glimpses into the region's past and show how important water management is for this area.