Paulina Lake, Volcanic crater lake in Deschutes County, United States

Paulina Lake is a volcanic crater lake in Deschutes County, United States, set high on the Newberry Volcano. The lake fills a deep basin surrounded by forested slopes, with clear water and a shoreline of dark volcanic rock and pumice.

The lake formed in a caldera created by the collapse of Newberry Volcano about 75,000 years ago. Later, volcanic activity and glaciers shaped the basin, and the area has been used by Native Americans for thousands of years.

The lake is named after Paulina, a Klamath chief, and the area remains important to local tribes. Visitors can see the lake's role in tribal traditions through interpretive signs and the nearby obsidian flows, which were used for tools and trade.

The lake sits at high elevation, so weather can change quickly and snow may linger into early summer. Trails around the shore are mostly gentle, but some sections are rocky; bring layers and sturdy shoes.

Two small islands in the lake are actually volcanic cones that rose after the caldera formed. The lake also has no surface outlet; water leaves only through evaporation and seepage, which helps keep its level stable.