Cascade Lakes Highway
Bend to Crescent Lake along the spine of the Cascades. Volcanic peaks on the right, alpine lakes on the left, almost no traffic in the right week.
- Distance
- 87 mi
- Drive time
- 2h 45m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Start
- Bend, OR
- End
- Crescent Lake, OR
- Best in
- summer, fall
The route
Cascade Lakes Highway is what happens when a road and a national forest agree to leave each other alone. Eighty-seven miles, six volcanic peaks, fifteen lakes you could swim in. Cell coverage is theoretical past Mt. Bachelor.
The road opens late - the Forest Service plows it in stages, usually fully clear by mid-June. Closes in November. Best in the second half of September when the larches are turning gold and the campers have gone home.
Plan on a full tank. There is one gas station in Bend and the next one is in Crescent. If your fuel light is on at Sparks Lake, you have made an interesting decision.
If you go
- 01Highway opens late spring, closes early November. Verify before driving.
- 02Full tank in Bend. Next station is in Crescent.
- 03Cell coverage stops past Mt. Bachelor. Plan for offline navigation.
- 04Best in late September when the larches are turning gold.
