Sparks Lake is a photographer's lake, and the photographers know it. It is a shallow, irregular sheet of water on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, with dead trees standing in the shallows and black lava rock along the shore, and at the far end rise the Three Sisters and Broken Top. At dawn, when the water is still and the light is soft, the whole range appears in the water with a clarity that almost looks staged. People arrive before sunrise with tripods and thermoses, and the lake is quiet and cold.
The lake exists thanks to a lava flow that dammed the valley, much like its neighbours. Soda Creek, which feeds it, flows through a landscape of volcanic rock that is among the youngest in the Cascades, and the lake is shallow enough that it shrinks in late summer. Some of the dead trees in the water are the result of old changes in level. Birdlife is rich, with ducks, herons, and the occasional osprey, and in the evening it is not unusual to hear coyotes.
The ride along this stretch is among the best of the byway. The road winds through forest and lava fields, with gentle curves, short climbs, and views that change with every bend. The surface is generally smooth, and the traffic is light outside the weekends. A short gravel road leads to the lake itself, which may be loose and dusty in places, so take care on a heavy bike. Snow closes the byway for much of the winter, and mud and ice are possible in late spring.
Bend is the place to fill up and eat, and it lies about fifty kilometres east, with Sunriver and Three Rivers somewhat closer. Carry water, and wear sun protection, since the air at this altitude is thin and the sun is strong. The best time of day is early morning for the reflections and again at dusk, when the shadows lengthen and the lava shows black against the pale grass. In late summer the water is low, and in autumn the colours in the nearby meadows are rich.