Blue Bay

Blue Bay Campground is situated in a diverse forest of pine and fir on the south shore of Suttle Lake in Deschutes National Forest. Its proximity to high alpine lakes, lush forests and towering peaks in nearby wilderness areas makes it a popular destination for individual and group camping excursions. Popular activities include hiking, fishing and motorized boating in the summer months, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Numerous non-motorized trails can be accessed from the campground and in the surrounding area. The 3.2-mile Suttle Lake Loop Trail meanders through the developed recreation areas on Suttle Lake, following the wooded shoreline and providing opportunities for fishing or picnicking along the way. For fishing, boats are most commonly used on Suttle Lake. Float tubes are adequate, wading is possible in some areas and a few areas are fishable from shore. The lake sustains an excellent population of naturally reproducing kokanee, brown trout, whitefish and crayfish. The campground has a shallow boat ramp area, and most campsites have easy access to the waterfront. Motorized and non-motorized boats are allowed. Blue Bay offers standard sites that accommodate both tents and RVs, but no hookups are available. Picnic tables and campfire rings with grills are provided, as are vault toilets and drinking water. Suttle Lake is surrounded by mixed conifer forest. Its waters are deep and clear, formed in a terminal moraine deposited by glacial ice about 25,000 years ago. Lake Creek flows eastward from Suttle Lake to the Metolius River, and the clear, cold Metolius flows north from headwater springs through diverse coniferous forests and a volcanic landscape of extinct volcanoes, cinder cones, calderas and ancient lava flows. Visitors can explore wilderness areas, lakes, reservoirs, wild and scenic rivers and approximately 1,600 miles of trails within the nearly 2.5 million acres of the Deschutes National Forest and the adjacent Ochoco National Forest.