Lake of the Woods (Oregon)

Lake of the Woods
Mount McLoughlin beyond Lake of the Woods
Location	Klamath County, Oregon, USA
Coordinates	42°22′09″N 122°12′57″W / 42.36930°N 122.21570°W / 42.36930; -122.21570Coordinates: 42°22′09″N 122°12′57″W / 42.36930°N 122.21570°W / 42.36930; -122.21570
Type	Natural
Catchment area	26 square miles (67 km2)
Max. length	2.75 mi (4.43 km)
Max. width	.75 mi (1.21 km)
Surface area	1,146 acres (464 ha)
Average depth	27 ft (8.2 m)
Max. depth	55 ft (17 m)
Surface elevation	4,949 ft (1,508 m)

Lake of the Woods is a natural lake near the crest of the Cascade Range in the Fremont–Winema National Forest in southern Oregon in the United States. The lake covers 1,146 acres (4.64 km²). It was named by Oliver C. Applegate in 1870. Today, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the lake's fishery. The small unincorporated community of Lake of the Woods is located on the east shore of the lake. Lake of the Woods is one of southern Oregon's most popular outdoor recreation sites.

Lake of the Woods was named by Oregon pioneer Oliver C. Applegate while he was building a road near the lake in 1870. Applegate also built a cabin at the south end of the lake, becoming the area's first resident.

Lake of the Woods became part of the Cascade Forest Reserve in 1898. The lake was managed as part of that Cascade Reserve until 1908, when the area was transferred to the Crater National Forest. The United States Forest Service issued the first residential use permit to the Elden cabin near Lake of the Woods in 1916. In 1920, the Forest Service built a public campground along the lake shore. The site was very popular, with 1,850 summer visitors recorded the first year it was open. In 1923, the road into the lake area was improved, and a second campground was built to accommodate the increasing number of recreational visitors. In 1926, the Forest Service issued a permit allowing the Lake of the Woods Recreation Company to build a resort at the lake.

In 1932, Lake of the Woods and the lakeside campgrounds were transferred to the Rogue River National Forest along with the surrounding forest. In the mid-1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps began work at the Lake of the Woods Ranger Station at the north end of the lake. Civilian Conservation Corps crews built an office, residences, and a number of work buildings at the ranger station. All of the buildings except for the ranger station's barn were constructed in the Cascadian rustic architectural style. The Civilian Conservation Corps also expanded and improved the road network around the lake.