Paulina Lake
Deschutes County, Oregon1,371 acresView mapDirections
No nutrient or algae sampling on record from Oregon DEQ for this lake.
- Impaired · Algal growth
- 250 ft max depth
- Public access
Paulina Lake in Deschutes County, Oregon has water-quality measurements published by Oregon DEQ, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 250 ft. Surface area: 1371 acres.
Paulina Lake is a 1,371-acre lake in Deschutes County, Oregon with a maximum depth of 250 feet (165-foot average). Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Oregon DEQ. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Paulina Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Camping6 public campgrounds nearby
- Deep water250 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,371 acres
Swimming conditions
No readingRecreation use not supported
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Paulina Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Paulina Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Paulina Lake
These are the measurements Oregon DEQ publishes for Paulina Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. TSI undefined.
Ask about Paulina Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Lake Details
Max depth
250 ft
Average depth
165 ft
Surface area
1,371 acres
Shoreline
6.5 mi
Public access
Yes
Listed by Oregon DEQ
Recreation & Access
- Paulina Lake CampgroundPublic
- Little Crater CampgroundPublic
- Paulina Lake LodgeSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Paulina Lake
- Paulina Lake1.4 km
- Newberry Group Camp Site1.5 kmReserve
- Little Crater Campground1.6 kmReserve
- Newberry Group1.6 km
- Chief Paulina1.8 km
- Chief Paulina Horse Camp1.8 kmReserve
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
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Stays near Paulina Lake
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Fishing Paulina Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Paulina Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Drinking water, Fish consumption, Recreation, Other.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit OR_LK_1707030207_05_100087 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Deschutes County
Frequently asked questions about Paulina Lake
Where is Paulina Lake?
- Paulina Lake is a lake in Deschutes County, Oregon. Its water-quality measurements are published by Oregon DEQ and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Paulina Lake?
- Paulina Lake in Deschutes County, Oregon has water-quality measurements published by Oregon DEQ, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 250 ft. Surface area: 1371 acres.
Is Paulina Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Paulina Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Paulina Lake?
- Paulina Lake has a maximum depth of 250 feet and an average depth of 165 feet. The lake covers 1371 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Paulina Lake?
- Paulina Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Paulina Lake Campground, Little Crater Campground, Paulina Lake Lodge. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Paulina Lake?
- Paulina Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Oregon's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Paulina Lake?
- Paulina Lake has 6 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Paulina Lake, Newberry Group Camp Site, Little Crater Campground, Newberry Group. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
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Where this data comes from
Measurements for Paulina Lake come from the EPA Water Quality Portal. Per-sample source details are not recorded for this lake.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles