Lake of the Woods, Natural lake in Klamath County, Oregon.
Lake of the Woods is a natural lake in southern Oregon's Klamath County, sitting at roughly 5,000 feet (1,500 m) elevation near the southern Cascade Range. Mixed conifer forest lines its shores, and the lake has several access points around its perimeter for different uses.
Oliver C. Applegate gave the lake its current name in 1870 while surveying the region for the state of Oregon. In the early 1900s the surrounding land was folded into the national forest system, which brought new rules for how the area could be used.
On summer weekends, the lake draws families who come to fish for trout and bass from small boats or along the shore. The resort at the water's edge gives the place a relaxed, camp-like feel that has stayed largely the same for decades.
A resort on the shore offers cabin rentals and boat hire, and several campgrounds around the lake are open for those staying overnight. The road to the lake can be affected by snow in late fall and winter, so a visit in late spring through early fall gives the most reliable access.
The lake is fed mostly by groundwater seeping up from below rather than by rivers or streams flowing into it, which is uncommon for a lake of this size. Because of this hidden source, the water level stays fairly steady even during dry summers.
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