Cougar Lake

Cougar Lake, along with its many miles of forested shoreline, provides numerous recreational opportunities including camping, boating, swimming, fishing, and water skiing. With the beauty of the McKenzie River and a good reputation for trout fishing and several boat launches, this scenic 1,280 acre lake is a great getaway year-round. The area is also known as a cougar crossing. There are visitor viewpoints at both sides of the Cougar Dam that offer spectacular views of the valley downstream and the vistas upstream around the lake. Most of the recreation areas are located within the mountainous Willamette National Forest and are managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The Echo Day Use area offers a boat ramp and picnic ground. Slide Creek Campground and the Sunnyside Campground both offer group camps, tent camping, and swim beaches. The Downstream Area has great hiking trails for visitors to the area to enjoy. The Corps also maintains a viewpoint overlooking the beautiful area around Cougar Lake.