Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Crooked River National Grassland

Lakes and Reservoirs

Todd Lake

The lake was formerly called Lost Lake due to the difficulty in finding it. Citizens of Bend asked to have the name changed because of confusion with other Lost Lakes. The lake was renamed Todd Lake in 1922 to commemorate Uncle John Y. Todd, an early settler of central Oregon.

The lake is located in a glacial cirque which was probably last occupied by glacial ice about 13,000 years ago during the Canyon Creek advance of the Cabot Creek glaciation. The outlet stream from the lake is Todd Creek which flows into lavas from the Mt. Bachelor Volcanic Chain.

The lake is the first of many alpine lakes accessed from the Cascade Lakes Highway west of Mount Bachelor. At 6,150 feet, it is also the highest. Lying near the base of Broken Top mountain a half-mile off the highway, the 45-acre lake is encircled by alpine meadows and fir forests and is dominated by spectacular views of Broken Top and Mount Bachelor.

Stocked brook trout are the only game here, but the angling can be invigorating. Fish average 8 to 10 inches with some as large as 15 inches. The best action is usually right after ice-out, a late event at this elevation, but it's also possible to hit some lively fishing anytime during the season.

Small spinners, bait, and flies are all effective on Todd Lake. It is a very pleasant experience to carry in a float tube or small raft and slowly troll around the lake on a warm summer evening. Fly fishers, try trolling green Woolly Buggers if nothing is rising.

Most of the shoreline of Todd has a very gentle slope and can be fished from shore or easily waded. Rock outcroppings are rare. No major obstacles occupy the water, and the nourishing weed beds are always a good place to fish. A decent trail runs around the lake. There is a small campground with four tent sites and a picnic area on the west shore of the lake. No fee is charged to camp here.