6 Things We Love to do at Olallie Lake

I wrote a blog post last year from our camping trip to Olallie you can read it click here . This time I wanted to write what we love to do there. So I made a list.

1) Camping! Olallie Lake has been an annual camping tradition for us. We stay at the Peninsula Camp ground and we go tent camping. Our favorite sight has been #12. We love the view from here and it's on the side of the Peninsula that doesn't feel windy in the mornings and evenings. The Olallie Lake Resort offers cabins and yurts that can be booked ahead as well. We talked to a family that was staying in one of the yurts, said they absolutely love it. However they had to book it six months in advance. The tent or RV camping sites are first come first serve, so coming on a Sunday was perfect for us. Had our pick. There isn't running water or electricity to hook up to with an RV. It's $15 a night to camp for the sites and you can look up the rates for the cabins and yurts Click here .

Tent Camping in Olallie Lake. Our favorite site is 12.

2) Swimming! Even though you can't swim in the Olallie Lake Reservoir because it's a drinking water source, there are plenty swimming holes all around. The rest of the lakes in the Olallie State Park area are swimmable and beautiful. Each hike we did, we found a lake to dip in. Driving out of the Peninsula camp ground, turn left. Just a few min, maybe a mile, is Monon lake. The hike starting there to the Peninsula campground is really awesome and so doable with kids. We came to this lake everyday to swim for a few hours. If you drive a few miles further, you will reach Horseshoe Lake. We did that as well, last year. The drive there is crazy. So, one time of that was enough.

Olallie Lake Camping. Swimming at Ollalie Lake scenic area. There are plenty of spots to swim. The only Lake you cannot swim in is the Olallie Lake reservoir- it's drinking water. Just on our hike on the Monon trail we saw at least five swimming holes. Beautiful, clear waters to cool off.

3) Huckleberries! "Olallie" means Huckleberry by the local American Indians. So, as you can imagine, there are plenty Huckleberry bushes lining the trails all around. We collect them every year to make jam and the boys eat them by the bowl. I dream of it once it's gone. I'm like Padington Bear waiting for the oranges to ripen to make marmalade. I wait to camp in Olallie to pick huckleberries and make jam. It's my jam you guys.

4) Hiking! I love the hikes here. For us it's important that the kids are occupied and happy. The trails we did here are kid friendly and always something to find like snakes, frogs, and salamanders. There's a trail we partly did that goes around the Lake. Then we did the Monon trail, loved it. And you can hop[ onto the Pacific Crest trail here as well. There are no trail guides at Information Station/office. Click Here for a Trail Map . Print it out before heading out.

5) Fishing! This lake is stocked every year with trout. The boys always have a blast fishing. Last year we went in June and came home with a lot of fish. My husband smoked them and freezed them. So good! This year we went at the very end of July and only got a handful of fish. we made fish tacos and all was well.

6) Boating! This lake is a not motorized boat allowed situation. So we brought a rubber boat that one of my boys popped on the first day, floaters, you can paddle boat, canoe, or rent a boat, or paddle boats at the Olallie Lake Resort. That was a fun way to explore the Lake. We rented the boat for half a day, found trails, and had lunch.

Oren's Favorite thing about this camping trip is the amount of Huckleberries he consumed. He always found a bush. always found my stash. He will never go hungry.

Few of our favorite campt things and a few on our wishlist:

I love that this one comes with all the attachments.

I want this for our next caping trip! I bring my glass one, but this one is just too perfect.

I'm loving these mugs!

Kids cots. These are nice for the littles, my nine year old has a bigger one, I'll link it as well.

And, these are what I'm longing for:

We love these marshmellow sticks. or Hotdog sticks, or whatever you cook on a stick.

We absolutly love hammocks! We have this one in blue:

And, I love this kids one.

We have a four person tent now, and need to upgrade. I've been looking a few up on Youtube and other bloggers. I found a few that I like. we want a cabin like tent this time too.

I love how stable these chairs are for kids

My husbnad wants one of these coolers for his birthday... You guys, these must be the best because the man does extensive research on things he wants and needs and asks for.

I love that these are stainless steel and not aluminum.

Guys, I hate mosquitos..

I love these duffle bags! the older two have them in blue and tan colors. They love how "manly" (My older son told me) they look.

Favorite baby carrier. I have a two year old and we love this carrier.

I love this backpack cooler. We use it allt he time.

Camping Style: I love to wear dresses and rompers, even camping. Most of the clothes in the post are from Target. I do love shorts from JCrew. They just fit so well, and can be worn dressed up or camping. I usually get my shorts at the end of the season on sale at JCrew stores, or on line. I love articles of Society brand jeans. They feel like butter. I do love Amazon. Super easy to shop and return with Prime if it doesn't fit. I'll link a few things I love. *Amazon clothes shopping tip: Always look what material the clothes are made of, stick to cotton.

This dress is super cute on, and nice quality for the price.