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Big Lake Campground sits at its namesake lake along Santiam Pass, a 4,800-foot mountain pass through the Cascade Range in western Oregon. Campers enjoy views of the lake with the beautiful Mt. Washington as a backdrop. Recreation Water skiing, sailing and swimming are among the favorite activities at the lake. The Patjens Lakes Trail offers excellent hiking opportunities. The trail follows the western side of Big Lake, heads south into the Mt. Washington Wilderness, passes alongside the scenic Patjens Lakes, and then loops back to the campground. Facilities Big Lake Campground offers 49 spacious campsites for tent or RV camping. Drinking water, vault toilets and a boat ramp are provided. Natural Features Surrounded by Alpine fir, hemlock and lodge pole pine, the campground sits on the western side of the lake. Big Lake, at elevation 4,600 feet, is in the Willamette National Forest, which spans 1.6 million acres on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains. Nearby Attractions Several hiking trails and OHV trails are in the area. Explore the Santiam Pass region on the McKenzie Pass - Santiam Pass National Scenic Byway that passes through 130 miles of lava fields, lakes and waterfalls. ADA Access: N
From Eugene, Oregon, take I-105 east to McKenzie Highway 126. Travel east on 126 for 90 miles to Santiam Pass. At the top of the Pass, turn right onto the access road (sign says Hoodoo Ski Area, Big Lake Road, & Benson Sno-Park). Travel one mile to the fork in the road and stay left on Forest Service Road 2690. Continue for 2 miles to the entrance to Big Lake Campground on the left.
Complaint (more about Google than anything else). 5-12-23: Just got finished staying at Black Butte and wanted to make a quick trip up here ( on way back to Salem) to see what it was like in person. Google, originally, showed me about a 37 min drive and it was pretty close to Black Butte. Where it actually guided us to, however, was much further away to the entrance of Trail 301, however. This is what it looked like (see photo)...not particularly doable. Decided not to waste time backtracking.
