Oregon's Devils Lake

One of the world's shortest rivers actually comes from a small lake with a very wicked name. Devils Lake is a small lake which is only 1/3 mile wide, 3 miles long, and 22 feet deep, located along the Oregon coast. Flowing from Devils Lake is the "D" River, which holds the title of the "World's Shortest River". From its source at Devils Lake, the river reaches its destination of the Pacific Ocean in a mere 120 feet. Don't be too scared to wade though it: Devils Lake only earned its name from a fictional Native American legend in which a giant water creature would occasionally surface, frightening anyone who saw it.

If you are interested in spending some quality time at Devils Lake, there is plenty to do in terms of recreation. Since it is the only Oregon coast campground located in the midst of a city (inside Lincoln City, Oregon), Devils Lake gets very crowded with visitors in the summer. Popular activities include camping, biking, wildlife watching, canoeing, fishing, and boating. For lunch, bring some yummy food and a blanket and take advantage of the spacious picnic areas. During the summer, kayakers can take a guided tour on a kayak around the lake. Watch out for coots, loons, ducks, cormorants, bald eagles, and grebes that might get in your path! Parking and entrance rates vary by season and vehicle size. The campground is open year-round. In fact, although the winter is not a common time to visit, it is a popular time for visitors to huddle together for some exciting storm watching.

If you would rather opt for a vacation rental, Oregon Beach Vacations offers several rental options in the area. Lincoln City is also a great place to dock for the night, with several accommodations and restaurants to choose from.

For shopping, check out the nearby outlet mall, one of the largest in Oregon. Lincoln City is also a great place to check out the local art galleries, book stores, antique shops, boutiques, and more.

Lincoln City has even more to offer in terms of culture, history, and recreation. Besides visiting the seven miles of 15 beaches alongside Lincoln City, visitors can go wave, whale, sunset and storm watching. Guests may also enjoy beach hiking, surfing, windsurfing, knee-boarding and jet skiing. Fisherman will find nine species of freshwater fish beckon the fisherman. Lincoln City is also known as the "Kite Capital of the World," due to the spectacular aerial displays of color and shape at the D River Wayside.

Devils Lake is located in Lincoln City, Oregon, directly off of Highway 101. So go and have some fun at Devils Lake, but watch out for the legendary creature in the water!