Wickiup Reservoir

Wickiup Reservoir is a 10,000-acre lake in the Deschutes National Forest, about an hour southwest of Bend near the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. Ringed by ponderosa pine with Cascade peaks on the skyline, it is the largest lake in the national forest and a Central Oregon favorite for wakeboarding, waterskiing, tubing and jet skiing. We offer the best boats, jet skis and water toys at Wickiup Reservoir, ready and waiting for you right at the lake.

Wickiup Reservoir Boat Rentals

Wide open water on the main lake gives plenty of room for wakeboarding, wakesurfing and skiing, and summer mornings are usually glassy before the afternoon wind picks up. Our Wickiup Reservoir boat rentals include:

• MasterCraft wakesurf and wakeboard boats for family and friends
• Ski boat rentals for water skiing, slalom and tubing
• Tubes, wakeboards and wakesurf boards for every age
• Paddle boards and water trampolines for swimming in the shallow coves and fishing for kokanee and brown trout

Rather have someone else drive? Book a private boat charter and our captain will handle the boat. Damage waiver coverage is available on every rental.

Wickiup Reservoir Jet Ski Rentals

Jet skis make it easy to explore the Deschutes and Davis Creek arms and miles of pine-lined shoreline. Most of our jet ski rentals can pull a tube, depending on the model, and guided rides are available. See our jet ski models to pick your ride.

Pontoons, Marinas and Boat Service

Boat ramps are spread around the lake at Gull Point, North Wickiup, West South Twin and Wickiup Butte, so it is easy to find a launch close to your campsite. We don't rent pontoons or service boats, but we offer surf boats, jet skis and water toys to go with your pontoon day or lake house stay.

Largest Lake in the Deschutes National Forest

Wickiup Dam was finished on the Deschutes River in 1949, creating a reservoir of more than 10,000 acres. The lake takes its name from the area early settlers called the Wickiups, a fall camping ground used by Native Americans for generations, and today it is the largest lake in the Deschutes National Forest.

Kokanee and Big Brown Trout

Wickiup is one of the top fishing lakes in Oregon. The cool channels of the old Deschutes and Davis Creek riverbeds hold kokanee and some of the biggest brown trout in the state, and anglers also catch rainbow trout through the summer.

Camping in the Pines

Forest Service campgrounds line the shore, including Gull Point on the north side and West South Twin near the Twin Lakes. Shady sites in the ponderosa pines make Wickiup an easy place to spend a long summer weekend on the water.

Getting to Wickiup Reservoir

Wickiup Reservoir is about an hour southwest of Bend, Oregon. Take US-97 south from Bend toward La Pine, then follow the signed Forest Service roads west to the lake. In summer you can also drive the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway past Mount Bachelor and Crane Prairie Reservoir. See all of our Oregon lakes.

Good to Know Before You Go

• Oregon boating rules: anyone driving a boat or jet ski with more than 10 horsepower needs an Oregon Boater Education Card, but renters can instead complete a watercraft rental safety checklist before heading out. Jet ski drivers must be at least 16, no one under 18 can rent a jet ski, and our rental drivers must be 18 or older. Ask us before you book and we'll walk you through what you need.
• Bringing your own paddle board or kayak?: Oregon requires a Waterway Access Permit for non-motorized boats 10 feet or longer.
• Life jackets: everyone on a jet ski must wear a life jacket, and so should anyone being towed and kids on a moving boat.
• Book early: summer weekends and holidays fill up fast.

Lakes Near Wickiup Reservoir

More Oregon lakes we service: Crane Prairie Reservoir just to the north, Cultus Lake along the Cascade Lakes Highway and Prineville Reservoir east of Bend.

Wickiup Reservoir Map