Formed as a result of lava flows creating a dam along its east shoreline, Lava Lake is located on Cascade Lakes Highway, roughly 30 minutes from Bend and Sunriver and directly adjacent to Little Lava Lake. Lava Lake connects with Little Lava Lake only occasionally during periods of spring high water. 

It provides excellent summer fishing for rainbow trout and has a resort and with docking and boat launch facilities.

Subsurface springs provide the primary inflow to Lava Lake. The springs are located in the northeast corner of the lake at a depth of 20 to 30 feet. Water temperatures from the inflow vary between 45° to 60° F. There are no permanent surface streams entering the lake, however, intermittent seeps do enter the lake from Wire Meadow.  

Our bait recommendations

Here's the baits that our Pros love for this lake.