• Da-Ku-Be-Te-De - Swayne Viewpoint and Trailhead is an excellent place to enjoy scenic views
Da-Ku-Be-Te-De - Swayne Viewpoint and Trailhead sits at Applegate Lake's northern edge near the Applegate Dam. This is a one-stop place to see a lake panorama and take a scenic hike down along the bank. Applegate is a fantastic getaway for swimming, boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, and other outdoor activities.
Swayne Viewpoint gives a stunning panoramic view of Applegate Dam and Intake Tower, along with the northeast area of the lake and the surrounding peaks. You can see Red Buttes, Kangaroo Mountain, Green Butte, Stein Butte, Elliott Creek Ridge, Woodrat Mountain, and more. There is a small parking lot for a few vehicles, a vault toilet, and a picnic table.
Da-Ku-Be-Te-De Trail is named after a small group of Native Americans who lived in the Applegate Valley. This is a moderate 8.5-mile loop hike taking you along the Applegate Lake northern bank all the way down to Watkins Campground.
Fishing
Applegate Lake is a fantastic location for bank and boat fishing, with an average depth of 83 feet and a maximum depth of 225 feet. You can catch stocked rainbow trout and landlocked chinook in the lake's deeper areas. The bridge at this site is often used for trout fishing.
Hart-tish Park nearby has a boat ramp.
You can also angle from the bank at numerous places throughout the lake. When you bank fish in the shallow areas, you can catch largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and crappie. Summer is the best time to catch those species.
Camping and Lodging
Hart-tish Park campground is the closest place to Swayne Viewpoint and Da-Ku-Be-Te-De Trailhead and has 7 tent sites and 8 RV spots right by the lake. It also provides other amenities, including paddleboard and kayak rentals.
Watkins Campground provides 14 campsites, vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Carberry Creek Campground has 10 tent sites, vault toilets, and drinking water.
Additional campgrounds around the Applegate Lake are French Gulch with 2 sites, Harr Point with 5 sites, and Tipsu Tyee with 5 sites.
Affordable vacation rentals for short and long term stay in Jacksonville
Da-Ku-Be-Te-De - Swayne Viewpoint and Trailhead | Facts
Open: Year-round
Managed by: US Forest Service
Location: Applegate Valley, Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest
Amenities: Restrooms, picnic sites, campsites, drinking water, boat ramps
Activities: Boating, fishing, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, camping, horseback riding, hiking, and nature viewing
Distance from the parking: Short
Road access: Any passenger vehicle
Day-use fees: Yes at some areas or Interagency Senior/Access/Military Pass
Elevation: 1,900 ft (579 m)
Applegate Lake is located:
- 28 miles southwest of Medford
- 40 miles southwest of Ashland
- 110 miles southeast of Roseburg.
Body of water: Artificial lake
Surface area: 988 acres
Shoreline: 18.5 miles (29.8 km)
Maximum depth: 225 ft (69 m)
Water Characteristics
Depth: Deep and shallow
Beach: Varies
Water T° (summer): Warm
Adventures Nearby
Directions to Da-Ku-Be-Te-De - Swayne Viewpoint
From Medford,
- Take OR-238 West
- Turn right onto OR-238 West/E California Street and follow it for 7.8 miles
- Turn left onto Upper Applegate Road and follow it for 15 miles
- Turn left into the parking lot.