Fossil Lake (Oregon)

Fossil Lake
Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Fossil Lake interpretive sign
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Lake County
Elevation	4,295 ft (1,309 m)
Coordinates	43°19′33″N 120°29′27″W / 43.3258°N 120.4909°W / 43.3258; -120.4909Coordinates: 43°19′33″N 120°29′27″W / 43.3258°N 120.4909°W / 43.3258; -120.4909
Area	10.2 sq mi (26 km2)
Geology	Dry pluvial lake
Management	Bureau of Land Management
Owner	United States Government
Easiest access	No vehicles; foot traffic only
Fossil Lake location in Oregon

Fossil Lake (designated by the Bureau of Land Management as Fossil Lake Area of Critical Environmental Concern) is a dry lakebed in the remote high desert country of northern Lake County in the U.S. state of Oregon. During the epoch, Fossil Lake and the surrounding basin were covered by an ancient lake. Numerous animals used the lake resources. Over time, the remains of many of these animals became fossilized in the lake sediments. As a result, Fossil Lake has been an important site for fossil collection and scientific study for well over a century. Over the years, paleontologists have found the fossil remains of numerous mammals as well as bird and fish species there. Some of these fossils are 2 million years old.

Fossil Lake is located in a remote area of northern Lake County, Oregon. It is 19 miles (31 km) from the unincorporated community of Christmas Valley by road. Fossil Lake is approximately 65 miles (105 km) southeast of Bend and 79 miles (127 km) north of Lakeview in straight-line distance.

From Christmas Valley, visitors travel east on County Road 5–14 (Christmas Valley-Wagontire Road) for 8 miles (13 km); then turn north on County Road 5-14D (Fossil Lake Road). Travel 8 miles (13 km) and then turn east onto the County Road 5-14E (Lost Forest Road), a gravel road. After approximately 1.7 miles (2.7 km), turn south onto a rough unmarked dirt road. The Fossil Lake interpretive sign is approximately 1.4 miles (2.3 km) from the turnoff. Vehicles are not allowed in the Fossil Lake Area of Critical Environmental Concern, so visitors must walk the last 150 yards (140 m) to the Fossil Lake interpretive sign. Fossil Lake itself is 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of the sign.

The bedrock beneath the Fossil Lake area was created by basalt flows laid down during the Pliocene and epochs. After a period of intense faulting during the middle Pleistocene, a large basin area created by Horst and graben faulting was modified by erosion and sedimentation. This basin filled with water during the wet climatic periods of the Pleistocene and post-Pleistocene to a depth of 200 feet (61 m). Over the past 3,200 years, the surface water in the Christmas Valley basin including Fossil Lake has completely dried up, leaving a high-desert environment.