Yellowjacket Lake in eastern Oregon access enhanced
Major improvements are now complete at Yellowjacket Lake, about 30 miles northwest of Burns. The upgrades include a new fishing dock and kayak launch, both accessible to people with disabilities.
Yellowjacket Lake in the Malheur National Forest was an area with primitive access and limited features. ODFW staff led the design and implementation with assistance from Hines District Fish Biologists. The Screens and Passage program in John Day helped haul material to the site from local quarries.
The lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout - a popular fishing spot, producing fish up to 20 inches long.
The recent improvements include a new gravel parking lot with two dedicated concrete parking areas that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ODFW also installed multiple picnic tables, two of which are ADA compliant.
An informational kiosk was installed, boulder clusters were placed along the shore to improve bank fishing, and the beach area was enhanced making it easier to launch non-motorized paddlecraft such as kayaks.
The ADA accessible kayak launch is the first that ODFW has designed and constructed, and staff plan to include similar features in future projects across Oregon. During the Falls Fire, which started in July 2024 and burned over 117,000 acres, fire crossed the construction area and picnic sites, but infrastructure was spared. However, the site remained closed for months, delaying project completion until this year.
Funding for the project came from ODFW's Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) program and a Waterway Access Grant from the Oregon State Marine Board. The U.S. Forest Service supplied gravel and boulders for parking lot construction.
The best time to visit Yellowjacket Lake is from spring through fall. During winter months, the lake is at a low water point and the dock is removed to prevent ice damage.