The lake was formerly called Lost Lake due to the difficulty in finding it. Citizens of Bend asked to have the name changed because of confusion with other Lost Lakes. The lake was renamed Todd Lake in 1922 to commemorate Uncle John Y. Todd, an early settler of central Oregon.
The lake is located in a glacial cirque which was probably last occupied by glacial ice about 13,000 years ago during the Canyon Creek advance of the Cabot Creek glaciation. The outlet stream from the lake is Todd Creek which flows into lavas from the Mt. Bachelor Volcanic Chain.
The lake is the first of many alpine lakes accessed from the Cascade Lakes Highway west of Mount Bachelor. At 6,150 feet, it is also the highest. Lying near the base of Broken Top mountain a half-mile off the highway, the 45-acre lake is encircled by alpine meadows and fir forests and is dominated by spectacular views of Broken Top and Mount Bachelor.
Motors are prohibited on this body of water.
Do not remove frogs or tadpoles from Todd Lake. Todd Lake is home for the Western Toad and Cascade Frog. Both of these species are threatened by loss of wetlands, habitat degredation, and environmental changes. They are protected by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and collecting of these species is illegal and punishable with a fine of $1250.00 (OAR 6330440130)
For more information see: Todd Lake Day Use Area.
