Applegate Lake
Jacksonville, Oregon · on Applegate Lake · Rogue River National Forest
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $30/night
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Applegate Lake
Applegate Lake is a 988-acre U.S. Forest Service reservoir on the Applegate River in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, about 20 miles south of Jacksonville, Oregon. For swimmers it works less like a remote swimming hole and more like a full-service lake to swim in: Hart-Tish Park, on its northeast shore, is the main developed recreation hub and is officially listed by the Forest Service's concessionaire as a swimming destination alongside boating, paddleboarding, and fishing.
The lake sits in a forested valley of the Siskiyou Mountains just north of the Red Buttes Wilderness, formed behind the 242-foot Applegate Dam (completed 1980). Hart-Tish Park, the main access point, has several acres of groomed lawn sloping down to the lake's shore, with campsites, a general store, and boat ramp nearby.
Swimming at Applegate Lake
Swimming happens directly off the lawn/shoreline at Hart-Tish Park and other lake-access points; a lake-wide 10 mph boat speed limit keeps the water calm. No sandy beach, wave, or lifeguard details were found in sourced material, and no first-hand descriptions of water clarity, temperature, or depth were located.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Jacksonville, take Highway 238 west about 7 miles to Ruch, then follow Upper Applegate Road (Forest Road 859) roughly 14 miles, passing Applegate Dam, to reach Hart-Tish Park at 15111 Upper Applegate Road.
The hike in
No hike is needed to reach the swimming areas: Hart-Tish Park's beach/day-use lawn slopes directly down to the lake from the parking area, and Seattle Bar is a large day-use area with the river inlet to the lake reachable directly from its parking. (The separate Collins Mountain Trail starts at Hart-Tish Park's picnic area and climbs to a viewpoint over the lake and Siskiyou Crest, but it is a scenic hike, not a route to a swim spot.)
An ~18.5-mile trail loops the lake shoreline for hikers/mountain bikers who want a longer trek, but it is not required to access swimming.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Applegate Lake has no designated sandy beach or lifeguards. Hart-Tish Park offers easy shoreline entry off a groomed lawn area, and Seattle Bar (a river-inlet-to-lake spot) is described by the concessionaire as having 'easy access' and being good for swimming and fishing. A lake-wide 10 mph boat speed limit keeps motorized traffic slow near shore, which helps, but there is no lifeguard on duty and no first-hand reports on depth drop-off or current at the swim entry points, so supervise kids closely.
Parking
Paid, $7-$10 day-use vehicle parking at Hart-Tish Park (plus $10/day for boat trailers); Seattle Bar charges a separate $7 day-use pass purchased on site
One vehicle is included with a paid campsite; additional vehicles are $7/night. Seattle Bar's access gate opens early and closes at 7 PM.
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets and drinking water at Hart-Tish Park campground/day-use area; Jackson Campground (elsewhere on the lake) also has flush toilets. No restroom specifics were found for Seattle Bar.
Hours
Hart-Tish Park campground check-in 2 PM / check-out 10 AM, arrivals requested before 8 PM; Seattle Bar day-use gate opens early and closes at 7 PM. Seattle Bar closes entirely from late July through mid-August most years due to low water levels cutting off river access.
On the water
Restrictions: Lake-wide 10 mph speed limit for all motorized boats, which the concessionaire says keeps the water 'calm/quiet'. As of mid-July 2026 the Hart-Tish boat ramp was closed to motorized boats (still usable for kayak/SUP launching). Acorn Woman Lakes nearby is paddle-only, no motors.
Two boat ramps exist on the lake overall (per Wikipedia); Hart-Tish's is the main developed one.
Rentals nearby
Kayak and stand-up paddleboard rental
Prices: $45 for 3 hours, or $60 for the full day
At Hart-Tish Park, 15111 Upper Applegate Road, on the northeast shore of Applegate Lake
Backstory
Applegate Dam was authorized by Congress in 1962 for flood control, built 1976-1980 at a cost of $96 million, and submerged the former settlement of Copper; when lake levels drop low enough, the old highway to Copper reappears at the upstream end.
Applegate Lake: FAQ
Does Applegate Lake charge a fee?
Hart-Tish Park camping runs about $30/night for standard sites and $75/night for group sites; the Seattle Bar day-use area charges a $7 fee (per applegatelake.com, current as of July 2026).
Is Applegate Lake kid friendly?
Applegate Lake has no designated sandy beach or lifeguards. Hart-Tish Park offers easy shoreline entry off a groomed lawn area, and Seattle Bar (a river-inlet-to-lake spot) is described by the concessionaire as having 'easy access' and being good for swimming and fishing. A lake-wide 10 mph boat speed limit keeps motorized traffic slow near shore, which helps, but there is no lifeguard on duty and no first-hand reports on depth drop-off or current at the swim entry points, so supervise kids closely.
Do I need to hike to reach Applegate Lake?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Applegate Lake?
One vehicle is included with a paid campsite; additional vehicles are $7/night. Seattle Bar's access gate opens early and closes at 7 PM.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Applegate Lake?
Two boat ramps exist on the lake overall (per Wikipedia); Hart-Tish's is the main developed one.
What are the rules at Applegate Lake?
Lake-wide 10 mph boat speed limit; Acorn Woman Lakes (a separate nearby water body) is paddle-only with no motors. Hart-Tish Park has set check-in (2 PM)/check-out (10 AM) times, quiet hours from 8 PM, and generator use restricted to 10 AM-12 PM and 4-6 PM.
What water body is Applegate Lake on?
Applegate Lake is on Applegate Lake, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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