About 20 miles east of Ashland, at an elevation of 5100 feet, Hyatt Lake offers many recreation opportunities and a diverse range of accommodations. From charming cabins, full RV hookup sites, to walk-in campgrounds, you can choose your favorite site. Campgrounds open in late April and facilities close in October. Sites can be used in the off-season without charge, but facilities are closed and water is not available.
Located in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, (the first U.S. National monument set aside solely for the preservation of biodiversity), the reservoir was built in 1923 for irrigation, then maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and is still managed by the Talent Irrigation District.
The unique terrain of this area of the Siskiyou crest and the range of elevations and diversity of habitat types has created many endemics; plants or animals, which grow nowhere else. Hyatt Prairie, which gave the lake its name, was high prairie enduring such extreme freeze-thaw cycles so trees were unable to grow; as a result, many species of plants that grow here are found only in parts of Alaska.
Summer Activities: the lake has been designated for non-motorized vessels, which enhances the safety and enjoyment of swimmers and boaters. Bring your sailboat, canoe or kayak, or contact the lodge for rental availability. Families with little ones will enjoy the little beach with a kid-friendly playground. Ride a bike all the way around the lake, or just part way, it is an easy and scenic ride. Fish for bluegill, trout or croppies in the lake, but first contact the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for a license and up-to–date information about what is biting. Equestrian campers can rent one of the five campsites with adjacent corrals for their horses, and ride out onto the Pacific Crest trail.
Rental Cabins are available from April to October by reservation, call 541-482-3331.
Winter activities include sledding the hills, cross-country skiing on and around the lake, miles of snowshoe trails, and snow-mobiling. Come prepared for the winter conditions .
For more accommodations and events nearby, visit the Greensprings Inn (www.greenspringsinn.com) located 3 miles away, at the turn off from Hwy 66. They offer luxury cabins, a lodge, and dining featuring local sustainable fare.
During May and June avid hunters comb the hills, not with high-powered rifles, but with sharp eyes scanning the duff. Morels and Chanterelle mushrooms are the quarry, and if you ask a hunter for directions to a favorite spot, they will eagerly give you directions to lead you far away from their spot: in other words, a snipe hunt. The BLM issues permits for collecting mushrooms, and limits collecting to 1 gallon per day, 5 gallons per year.
Interesting Fact: 100 percent of all fees collected are used on-site to fund operation, maintenance, and improvements. So please take advantage of the many recreation opportunities here, your fees make the place what you want it to be.
Directions From Interstate 5, take exit 14 in Ashland. Turn on Highway 66 toward Klamath Falls. Follow Hwy 66 for 17 miles until you reach the Green Springs Inn. Turn left onto the BLM’s East Hyatt Lake Road. Follow this road for approximately 3 miles until you reach the Hyatt Lake Recreation Area. Stay to the right on the East Hyatt Lake Road, and the main campground entrance will be on the left about 100 yards from the intersection.
Local Tip: Campgrounds can fill up early on the weekends. Give yourself a treat and come a day early to have the best chance to reserve your first choice.
