When you think about a trip to Lincoln City, the Pacific Ocean probably comes to mind first. But just east of the beach is an entirely different place to spend a day on the water.
Devils Lake in Lincoln City is a 685-acre freshwater lake tucked right into town, with opportunities for boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, fishing, water skiing, tubing, wakeboarding, picnicking, birdwatching, and more. It’s connected to the Pacific Ocean by the D River, the famously short river that runs through the center of Lincoln City.
Because Devils Lake is sheltered from much of the coastal wind, it offers a completely different water experience from the Pacific. You can spend the morning paddling across freshwater, have lunch beside the lake, and still head to the beach later that afternoon.
If you’re staying at Surftides Plaza, Devils Lake gives you another side of Lincoln City to explore just minutes from the coast.
Here’s what you can do when you get there.
Go kayaking on Devils Lake in Lincoln City
Kayaking is one of the easiest ways to explore Devils Lake in Lincoln City.
The lake’s relatively sheltered setting makes it well suited to paddling. Instead of navigating ocean surf, you can easily explore the lake, follow the shoreline, and take in the surrounding scenery at a much slower pace.
Don’t have a kayak with you? Safari Town Surf Shop in Lincoln City offers both single and tandem kayak rentals. Rentals include a paddle, seatback, life jacket, and Waterway Access Permit when applicable. Safari Town also offers guided kayak tours if you’d rather head out with an experienced guide.
Safari Town is also a handy place to know if your vacation plans go beyond the lake. The shop offers stand-up paddleboard rentals, surfing equipment rentals and lessons, and fat-tire bike rentals for riding on the beach.
Several public access points around Devils Lake make it possible to launch a kayak, so if you bring your own equipment, plan your launch point based on the facilities you need.
Try stand-up paddleboarding
Devils Lake is also a great place to try stand-up paddleboarding. Its freshwater setting offers a much different experience from taking a paddleboard into the Pacific. The lake is protected from much of the stronger coastal wind, which can make it appealing to both experienced paddlers and people who are still finding their balance.
Safari Town Surf Shop rents stand-up paddleboards, too, including rentals specifically promoted for use on Devils Lake.
Bring a properly fitted personal flotation device, check conditions before launching, and make sure you understand current boating and water-safety requirements before heading out.
Explore the lake by canoe
If you’d rather sit than stand, a canoe is another way to experience Devils Lake. The calmer freshwater environment makes canoeing a relaxing way to explore the shoreline, particularly for couples or families who want to head out together rather than taking individual paddleboards.
Pack some water and snacks, choose an appropriate launch point, and turn it into a leisurely morning on the lake.
Take a boat out on Devils Lake
Devils Lake isn’t limited to paddle sports. Motorized boating is popular here, too, and there are three public boat launches around the lake:
- East Devils Lake State Park
- Holmes Road Park
- Regatta Park
If you’re bringing a boat to Lincoln City, these are the primary public access points for getting onto the water.
One thing to know is that the campground at Devil’s Lake State Recreation Area does not have its own boat launch. There are moorage docks adjacent to the campground, but boats need to be launched from another public access point.
Check current boating regulations, launch conditions, and any applicable permit requirements before your trip.
Go water skiing, tubing, or wakeboarding
If your ideal lake day involves a little more speed, Devils Lake has you covered there, too. Water skiing, tubing, and wakeboarding are all popular activities on the lake.
That makes Devils Lake a surprisingly versatile destination. One group might be quietly kayaking along the shoreline while another spends the afternoon tubing behind a boat.
If you’re planning motorized water sports, familiarize yourself with current Oregon boating laws and lake regulations before launching. You’ll also want to be mindful of everyone sharing the water, including swimmers, anglers, kayakers, and paddleboarders.
Go fishing for trout, bass, and more
You don’t have to move quickly across Devils Lake to have a good time. Bring a fishing rod, and you might spend most of the day in one spot. Devils Lake is home to rainbow trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch, catfish, black crappie, and bluegill.
You don’t necessarily need a boat, either. Public fishing docks and lake access make it possible to cast a line from shore at several parks.
Regatta Park has a fishing dock, and East Devils Lake State Park and Holmes Road Park also provide fishing access. Before fishing, check current Oregon fishing regulations, licensing requirements, limits, and seasonal restrictions.
Go swimming at Devils Lake
Yes, you can swim in Devils Lake. Regatta Park is one of the easiest places to make a swimming day out of your visit. The park has a sandy swimming area along with a dock, grassy areas, picnic facilities, restrooms, and plenty of space for families to spend a few hours beside the water.
Sand Point Park is another option, with a sandy beach and swimming area, public grills, restrooms, and picnic space.
Remember that you’re swimming in a natural freshwater lake rather than a pool. Keep a close eye on children and inexperienced swimmers, use appropriate flotation devices, and pay attention to current conditions.
Check the water quality before swimming
Before getting into Devils Lake, check current water conditions. Like other freshwater lakes, Devils Lake can experience algae blooms. Water-quality sampling is conducted regularly, and current results and algae information are available online.
This is especially important if you plan to swim or bring a pet near the water. Conditions can change, so check current advisories shortly before your lake day rather than assuming conditions are the same as they were earlier in your trip or season.
Spend the afternoon at Regatta Park
You don’t actually need to get onto the water to enjoy Devils Lake. Regatta Park is one of the best places for families to spend time along the shore. Located on NE 14th Street, the park has a swimming area, boat ramp, fishing dock, picnic facilities, restrooms, trail access, and views across Devils Lake. Then there’s the Sandcastle Playground.
The large play area makes Regatta Park particularly useful when you’re traveling with younger kids and not everyone wants to spend the entire afternoon on the water. There are also musical instruments, Sparky the Wish Guardian, and the Morgan Family Stage. You can also walk to the park’s Oregon Heritage Tree.
Pack lunch, bring swimsuits, let the kids play, and you can easily spend several hours here without needing a complicated itinerary.
Launch a boat or fish at Holmes Road Park
For something simpler, there’s Holmes Road Park on the west side of Devils Lake. Holmes Road Park is less about playgrounds and a full family day at the park and more about getting onto the lake. It has a public boat ramp, fishing dock, and restrooms. That makes it useful if your main goal is launching a boat or finding a place to cast a line.
Visit East Devils Lake State Park
On the opposite side of the lake, you’ll find the day-use portion of Devil’s Lake State Recreation Area. East Devil’s Lake State Park is surrounded by Douglas firs and provides another public boat launch, along with fishing access and picnic facilities.
If Regatta Park sounds busier than what you’re looking for, the east side of the lake offers another way to access the water and enjoy the scenery. Just make sure you’re navigating to the correct part of the state recreation area. The campground is on the west side of Devils Lake, while the day-use park and boat launch are on the east side.
Have a picnic by the lake
Not every Devils Lake activity requires equipment. Several lakeside parks have picnic facilities, making the lake an easy place to bring lunch and spend a few hours outside.
Regatta Park has covered tables, barbecue facilities, benches, grassy areas, and lake views. Sand Point Park offers picnic space and public grills, and East Devils Lake State Park provides another scenic place to stop for lunch beside the lake.
This is one of the easiest ways to work Devils Lake into a Lincoln City vacation. Grab lunch, head to the lake, and find a spot near the water. If everyone decides they want to swim or paddle afterward, great. If not, you still get a completely different view of Lincoln City from the one you see along the Pacific.
Look for bald eagles, osprey, and other birds
Bring binoculars if you have them. Devils Lake and its surrounding wetlands provide habitat for a variety of birds. Migratory ducks and geese use the wetlands as wintering grounds, and both bald eagles and osprey nest around the lake.
Early mornings can be particularly peaceful for combining birdwatching with a paddle or walk around one of the lakeside parks. And even if you can’t identify every bird you see, watching an osprey fly overhead is a pretty good addition to a morning on the lake.
Take a walk near the lake
You don’t have to spend your entire Devils Lake visit on the water. Regatta Park provides trail access into the surrounding open space, giving you the option to combine your lake day with a walk through the trees.
These aren’t necessarily meant to replace a major hiking day elsewhere on the Oregon Coast. Think of them as an easy addition to your visit: go for a paddle, have lunch, and then take a walk before heading back into town.
See one of Lincoln City’s Heritage Tree
If you visit Regatta Park, take a little time to find its Oregon Heritage Tree, also known as “Nuu-k’wii-daa-naa~-ye’ Sitka Spruce”, which means “Our Ancestor” in the local Siletz Dee-ni language. The tree is over 400 years old and 212 feet tall, with a massive 32.5 feet circumference.
It’s an easy detour during a family day at Regatta Park and something you might completely miss if you head straight from the parking lot to the water.
Enjoy Devils Lake beyond summer
Devils Lake isn’t exclusively a summer attraction. Fishing, paddling, walking, and birdwatching give visitors reasons to explore the lake throughout much of the year. Winter is particularly interesting for wildlife watchers because migratory ducks and geese use the lake’s wetlands during the season.
Some facilities and activities may be seasonal, however, so check the current status of the specific park, launch, or facility you plan to use before heading over. And, of course, dress for the Oregon Coast. Conditions beside the lake can change quickly even when you aren’t standing directly on the beach.
Don’t forget that the Pacific is right next door
One of the most interesting things about Devils Lake is how close it is to an entirely different body of water. The 685-acre freshwater lake sits immediately east of Lincoln City’s Pacific coastline and connects to the ocean through the D River.
That means you don’t really have to choose between a lake vacation and a beach vacation. You can kayak on Devils Lake in the morning and walk beside the Pacific in the afternoon. You can spend a sunny day swimming at Regatta Park and head to the beach for sunset. Or you can fish the lake while the rest of your group spends the day exploring Lincoln City.
It’s two completely different water experiences within the same coastal town.
Make Devils Lake part of your Lincoln City vacation
Devils Lake is easy to overlook when the Pacific Ocean is getting all the attention, but that’s exactly why it’s worth adding to your trip. You can kayak, canoe, paddleboard, swim, fish, boat, water ski, wakeboard, tube, picnic, walk, watch wildlife, or simply sit beside the water for a while. And with multiple parks and public access points around the lake, you don’t need to own a boat to enjoy it.
If you need equipment, Safari Town Surf Shop makes it easy to add another outdoor experience to your stay, whether you want to rent a kayak or paddleboard for the lake, take a guided kayak tour, learn to surf, or rent a fat-tire bike for the beach.
When you’re staying at Surftides Plaza Rentals, you can experience both sides of Lincoln City’s relationship with the water. Spend one day exploring the Pacific and another discovering the freshwater lake tucked just inland. Or do both in the same day.
After all, when you’re visiting Lincoln City, there’s really no reason to pick just one.
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