Frequently Asked Questions

Paulina Lake Lodge is open for operations for the WINTER 2025-2026 SEASON beginning on Dec 18, 2025 and closes on April 5, 2026. You can book cabins here on the website homepage. Store hours will be DAILY 10am to 2pm. Restaurant and Bar hours (subject to change) are listed on the homepage; in general they are Thursdays 11am - 4pm, Fridays 11am - 6pm, Saturdays 11am - 7pm, and Sundays 11am - 4pm.

For SUMMER 2026, we are open from May 13, 2026 until October 12, 2026, with the store open daily from 8am until 6pm, boat rentals from 8am until 5pm, and the restaurant/bar open Wednesdays through Sunday from 11am-6pm on Wednesdays/Thursdays, 11am-7pm on Fridays/Saturdays and 11am-5pm on Sundays (we are closed Mondays and Tuesdays).

The gate closes on average (weather-dependent) around mid-November and reopens about mid-May, for approximately 6 months of the year. We will post on our Facebook when it opens and closes. You can also check with the Deschutes County Road Department here for dates: https://www.deschutes.org/road/page/news-and-closures.

Yes, you can bring your pets. Please keep your well-behaved friendly pets on a leash when on the property grounds, and immediately pick-up and dispose of any waste. When booking a cabin, pets are charged a $30/night pet fee, and are welcome in all cabins, except for Ponderosa. Pets must not be left unattended in any cabin or any vehicle. There are no pets allowed on the furniture/beds in any cabin; any evidence of damage to cabins/furnishings will be assessed and charged cleaning/damage fees of a $100 minimum charge. Please, no dogs on the beach - however dogs are allowed to swim in the lake off shore. Pets are not allowed on the pontoon boats, but may be with you in aluminum boats or canoes.

Check-in is 4pm and check-out is 10am standard. Should it be available, we can honor early check-in, and late-check-out only on a case-by-case basis depending on availability.

Parking is free for cabin guests, and also free for patrons utilizing the restaurant/bar. If you're coming for day-use or a boat launch, please pay a $10 fee at the General Store on arrival, and display a parking pass on your inside windshield area.

Lots! In summer, rent a boat (we will have 2 brand new large family pontoon boats available for summer 2026, 4 other patio boats, 8 fishing boats, kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, GoBoats, and more!); relax on the beach at the new SANDBOX, sip a drink along the shore, or swim in the lake; fish for record-setting fish in the lake; play games or picnic on the lakeside lawn; enjoy a great meal or cocktail or ice cream in the restaurant/bar; hike the 7-mile lake loop trail; boat or hike over to the famous hot springs and indulge in man-made "tubs" of hot water; hike to Paulina Falls, a short distance from the resort; drive to Paulina Peak and take in astonishing views; drive to the Obsidian Flow and hike a lava moonscape - you'll feel like you're on another planet! In the winter, you're in an amazing winter wonderland - pose for photos in the red sleigh; snowmobile the Newberry Crater, full of great trails - and one of the best and most popular spots for snowmobiling in all of Oregon; snowshoe or cross-country ski around the property; enjoy a tour from 10-mile parking lot and back on the new Sherpa Alpina SNOW BUS; sled on the hilly terrain at the back of the resort with sleds or tubes; cozy up to a warm meal or cocktail in the restaurant/bar.

The best way is to rent a fishing boat at Paulina Lake Lodge and Resort, and cruise straight across the lake - it's about a 20-25 minute ride across. You may pull up to the shore there and carefully pull the fishing boats up, as to not cause damage to the boats. Pontoon boats and patio boats, as well as the Go-Boats are NOT allowed to be pulled up to shore, as damage may occur. You may also hike to the hot springs from the resort (about 2-3 hours one-way - begin on the trailhead by the bridge entrance to the resort) or drive over to begin the hike at the Little Crater Campground - where there is a hot springs trailhead - and would then take somewhere around an hour to reach by foot.

Due to the closed gate at 10-mile Sno Park, you will need to park there (be sure to buy your parking passes in advance before coming at locations all across the region - see separate link below), and either ski or snowshoe up the last 3 miles, snowmobile in on your own behalf, or book a $50 round-trip ($25 child round-trip) SNOW BUS ride (per-person) on our new Sherpa Alpina Snowmobile SNOW BUS. We also may pick you up on a Can-Am or Piston Bully. Please make advanced reservations for this transfer.

You can buy a Sno-Park permit in Bend either online through the Oregon DMV2U portal or from a local permit agent like a sporting goods store or resort. The online option is convenient, allowing you to print an interim permit for immediate use, while local vendors provide the permits directly. There are annual, 3-day, and 1-day options available, with prices set at $25 for annual, $9 for 3-day, and $4 for 1-day permits.

• Online: Visit DMV2U on the Oregon.gov website to purchase a permit and receive a printable interim permit by email.
• Local vendors: Look for permits at sporting goods stores, resorts, and other retail outlets that act as permit agents.

• Annual Permit: $25
• 3-Day Permit: $9
• 1-Day Permit: $4

• Display: You must display the permit on the left side of your vehicle's dashboard where it is clearly visible.
• Refunds: All permits are non-refundable, and day permits are non-transferable.
• Interim permit: If you buy an annual permit online, you can use the printable interim permit for up to 14 days until your official permit arrives in the mail.

Snacks, chips, ice cream bars/popsicles, candy, water, sodas, beverages, beer, cider, wine, basic food items for camping, fishing bait supplies, personal hygiene products, ice, firewood bundles, and more! We have lots of new and exciting merchandise: hats, tank-tops, short sleeve shirts, long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, hoodies, puffer jackets, gloves, beanies, coffee mugs, wine glasses, mason jar glasses, shot glasses, can holder coolies, stickers, and so much more!

Yes, both... and they offer a great selection of food and drinks. Chef Michael prepares delicious lakeside burgers, chicken sandwiches, fish and chips, fries, onion rings, salads, chili, and so much more. Check out the menu in the restaurant. Upstairs from the restaurant you'll find a cozy bar with open seating and lakeside views - try a fantastic cocktail or beer on tap from one of the friendly bartenders, and catch the game while you're there :)

It's understandable that cell service is not covered in the resort (it comes in just as you go back to the main road) and guests wish to have service available. We are working on getting WiFi for guest use; there will be a $5 charge to access a new Starlink system by summer 2026, that will be available in the main restaurant/store/boathouse area.

For most of the summer, due to strict U.S. Forest Services guidelines, campfires may not be allowed, and notices will be posted. We are working on getting a new communal fireplace for all to enjoy. A lake resort is not the same unless there are s'mores! Individual campfires from propane or other firepits are not allowed.

Of course! It's quite the famous lake for fishing, and many records have been set. There is a map in the General Store of good spots to fish, once you're on the lake. Please have a fishing license (see below). We ask that you please don't fish from the beach, resort shore, or docks, as it may interfere with swimmers, kayaks, paddleboards, and boats around the marina.

We don't sell any passes. Here's how to get them:

• Day Use Pass for Newberry National Volcanic Monument: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/passes
• Fishing License: https://myodfw.com/fishing/licensing-info
• Sno-Park Pass (to park at 10-mile Sno-Park): https://dmv2u.oregon.gov/eServices/_/

Yes, you may. Just pay a $10 boat launch/day use (parking) fee at the General Store upon arrival and display the pass on your inside windshield area. There also may be slips available on a nightly basis for $50/night. Please inquire at General Store or call/email to reserve a slip: 541-536-2240 / reservations@paulinalakelodge.com.