Overview
Lakeview is a town of 2,400 people (2020) in eastern Oregon. The city bills itself as the "Tallest Town in Oregon" because of its elevation, 4,802 feet (1,464 m) above sea level. It is part of the "Oregon Outback", attracting tourist, sportsmen, and outdoors enthusiasts. Local attractions include fishing, birdwatching, camping, hang gliding, paragliding, hiking, rockhounding, hunting, and nature viewing.
3 sights · 2 things to do · 2 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Lakeview
Warner Canyon Ski Area
The ski hill is in the Fremont–Winema National Forest 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Lakeview on Oregon Route 140. Snowmobiles are also popular during winter.
Goose Lake State Recreation Area
MC Chuckwagon Western Heritage Exhibit
Museum housing artifacts from the MC Ranch, in Adel, OR. All exhibits are visible from outside, through windows in the building.
Schminck Memorial Museum
5,000 items, including pioneer quilts & artifacts.
Lake County Museum
Historical records, photos, cultural artifacts. Genealogical research assistance available at the museum or by phone.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Wettest: Feb and Mar. (climate data from nearby Lava Beds National Monument)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MFR Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, Medford — 130 mi away. Directions
- RDM Roberts Field, Redmond — 148 mi away. Directions
- RNO Reno Tahoe International Airport, Reno — 188 mi away (major hub). Directions
U.S. Route 395 from the north and south, and Oregon Route 140 from the east and west. There is no scheduled train or bus service.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning MC Chuckwagon Western Heritage Exhibit, Schminck Memorial Museum, Lake County Museum
- Lunch Jerry's Restaurant
- Afternoon Warner Canyon Ski Area, Goose Lake State Recreation Area
- Dinner Pizza Villa
- Evening Eagles Nest Lounge
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Lakeview sits in the Goose Lake Valley at the foot of the Warner Mountains and at the edge of Oregon's high desert country. Its economy is based on agriculture, lumber production, and government activities. Oregon's Outback Scenic Byway passes through Lakeview along Highway 395.
It is 13 miles north of the California state line, in a region known as the Oregon Outback.
Climate
Summers are hotter than western Oregon during the daytime, but nights are always cool and rare frosts can occur during July. Little rainfall occurs during the summers; winters are cold and frequently severe because of the latitude and elevation, although snowfall can sometimes be heavy.
Get in
U.S. Route 395 from the north and south, and Oregon Route 140 from the east and west. There is no scheduled train or bus service.
By road, the nearest incorporated cities are Klamath Falls, Oregon, 96 miles (154 km) west of Lakeview; Bend, Oregon, 175 miles (282 km) to the northwest; Burns, Oregon, 139 miles (224 km) to the northeast; Winnemucca, Nevada, 211 miles (340 km) to the southeast; and Alturas, California, 54 miles (87 km) south of Lakeview.
Lakeview is 96 mi (154 km) from the passenger train station in Klamath Falls.
The Lake County Airport is 3 miles (5 km) southwest of the Lakeview's downtown area. It is a public airport owned by Lake County residents.
Get around
Get acquainted with Lakeview by walking the downtown area. Except for some businesses on the west side of town (mostly along N 4th Street/SR 140) and the south side (along US 395), most retail establishments are within the grid bounded by E, G, N 4th, and S 2nd Streets.
Except for some of the newer areas on the west side of town, most streets are numbered (for streets going east and west) and lettered (north-south). The use of compass directions in addresses can be initially confusing:
- There are no east-west designations in address numbers: streets start at the edge of the mountain to the east of town, with addresses increasing to the west.
- Center Street runs east and west. Streets parallel to it have North or South as part of the street name. For instance, 700 S 9th St. would be 1 block west of 600 S 9th St., on an east-west street that is 9 blocks south of Center.
- On lettered streets, North and South are part of the address number: For instance, 123 S G St. would be in the second block south of Center Street.
See
- Lakeview is also known for the hot water geyser, Old Perpetual, at Hunter's Hot Springs. The geyser sometimes goes "silent" from about the first of September until around mid-October.
Do
- In the summer, the Fremont–Winema National Forest's Lakeview District provides outdoor recreation opportunities. The Lakeview District has 22 trails open to mountain bike riders. All those trails and more are available for hiking. The national forest has lakes and streams available for sport fishing. There are also camping and picnic sites near Lakeview.
- Lakeview is known as one of the best places in North America for hang-gliding and paragliding, and was designated "the Hang Gliding Capital of the West" in 1991. The national championships for hang-gliding were held in Lakeview in 1993, 1997, 2000, and 2008, while the national championships for paragliding were held in Lakeview in 1998 and 2007.
Camping
Exploring
Buy
Lakeview is not a major shopping destination, with many residents making the 192-mile round trip to Klamath Falls for their major shopping for non-food household and personal items.
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Stay healthy
Nearby
My experience
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