Miller Lake Update

[StickFish]

We have an annual trek to Miller Lake coming up for Father's day Weekend and it looks like we won't be making it in this year. Just got an e-mail from the camp host - Clint. There is still three feet of snow at the 10 mile mark on the road. It has good south exposure from about 10-11, but the last mile is on the north side of a ridge. I'm afraid its going to be July before anyone can get into the lake.

Sadly looks like Miller Lake for Father's Day is out this year - time for new plans - any suggestions? Small lake, small crowd allows motorized boats?. Was thinking Waldo maybe?

[Brookiebuster]

Lot of skeeters at waldo early in the year and it is not a small lake over 10 miles of shoreline. never fished it but have camped there a couple of times and is usually crowded.
Doubt that you could get in there on fathers day as snow usually lingers a long time.

Brookiebuster

[trollin4trout]

There was something said last fall about a rule change at Waldo that would prohibit gas powered motors. Don't know if it's in effect yet? And ditto on the snow- Waldo is at 5400ft.

Hmmm- found this:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/x/x.gif
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/manage/waldolake/projectstatus.html

Project Status

A decision to manage motorized recreation activities on Waldo Lake and its undeveloped shoreline was made by the Forest Supervisor on April 16 2007, and affirmed by the Regional Forester on July 20, 2007.
A two-year transition period began on July 20, 2007.
The transition period will include posting information and educating visitors at Waldo Lake about the management change and will give time for visitors and managers to make adjustments to lake and lakeshore access.

Beginning July 20, 2009:
Boat motor use on Waldo Lake will be restricted to electric motors only, with exceptions for the administrative use of internal combustion motors when approved by the District Ranger on a case-by-case basis.
Floatplanes will be prohibited from using the surface of Waldo Lake.
Public use of generators and chainsaws will be prohibited within the Dispersed Recreation, Semiprimitive Nonmotorized management area (MA-10e) surrounding Waldo Lake.

[marshworm]

My condolences because of the copious snow still on the ground your annual Miller Lake Fathers Day adventure is not possible this year. Strongly advise that you and yours move Fathers Day this year to coinside with the melting of the snows at Miller Lake whenever that may occur! If you think about it the celebrating of any special day is not the date but the actual gathering of family and friends. I submit a "Fathers Day" at Miller Lake in July will be just as momentous as one in June!
As far as an alternate site, Miller Lake is one of the best kept secrets in Central Oregon. You will not find another place like it anywhere. To avoid the crowds on the other lakes try going during the week. Might help a little but it just won't be the same.
Happy Fathers Day to you wherever you go!

[joemomma]

I hope you can reschedule? Well maybe it will keep the skeeters down? Late Sept and oct are great times for miller.

[StickFish]

Father's Day at Miller Lake in July - Now that is funny. Ya I know many of your trout guys and gals may not know this, but July is the beginning of the Pacific Free Range Pork season on the Pacific (AKA Albacore Tuna) - go to the Mountains in July - :laugh: :laugh:

Sorry - if we do Father's Day in July it will be at Newport and all points west.

This will be the first year we have not been able to get in - we have been there when there was still snow on the ground and Miller in June is Skeeter season as well. We used to go in August as well - but the tug of the dark side has its hold strongly on this lost sole.

We will find some place to go

[StickFish]

OK back up we go.

I just talked to the Recreational Director at the Chemult Ranger Station and she is going to drive up the road tomorrow and e-mail me. At last survey snow had them stopped at about MP10.5. Someone sent me a shot from MP11 and it looked promising.

Now the hard part. It takes a week for them to get the water turned on. Which means no toilets - I can bring lots of water, but not real comfortable being that "natural" at a developed campground. Then there is the snow in the sites.

Same story at Crescent all the camp grounds are still closed.

This bites.

Anybody know if the campground at East Lake is open? Or what about the campgrounds at Diamond Lake? Odell Shelter Cove is open, but there really isn't a lot of hiking opportunities there like there is at Miller.

I'm about three inches from saying head far East and go to Wallowa, but there has to be something else

[Jedcraft]

Campgrounds & launches at Diamond are open. Called the Umpqua Ranger Dist. for an update.

[retaliate]

Suttle lake maybe, at 3,400' it should be open.

[Eagleclaw]

OK back up we go.

I just talked to the Recreational Director at the Chemult Ranger Station and she is going to drive up the road tomorrow and e-mail me. At last survey snow had them stopped at about MP10.5. Someone sent me a shot from MP11 and it looked promising.

Now the hard part. It takes a week for them to get the water turned on. Which means no toilets - I can bring lots of water, but not real comfortable being that "natural" at a developed campground. Then there is the snow in the sites.

Same story at Crescent all the camp grounds are still closed.

This bites.

Anybody know if the campground at East Lake is open? Or what about the campgrounds at Diamond Lake? Odell Shelter Cove is open, but there really isn't a lot of hiking opportunities there like there is at Miller.

I'm about three inches from saying head far East and go to Wallowa, but there has to be something else


I heard that one of the campgrounds was open at Cresent.

[Two Fister]

I drove by Crescent earlier this week. The USFS campgrounds I saw (near the resort and on the far side of the lake) had hosts and were clear of snow. The campground on the far side of the lake had a couple of people camping in it. They sure looked open for business to me.

Heard reports of 33 and 35 pound Macks caught at Crescent over Memorial Day!
TF

[StickFish]

Traded e-mails with the camp host at Miller last night. Boat ramp is open as well as two bathrooms. Campground is still covered in snow. He estimates at least another week - if we get temps that will melt snow.

He did say the lake is fishing 5-7# taken the last couple days.