Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
Sparks Lake, OR

This lake was chosen as the site to commemorate Ray Atkinson, Oregon's Photographer Laureate. It also offers an excellent lesson in geology. All Lakes are destined for a short life in the geological time scale. Eventually, lakes become filled with sediment or drained by erosion and gradually are transformed into meadows. Sparks Lake is an excellent example of a lake slowly changing from a lake to marsh, to meadow or forest, depending on the final acts of erosion, fire or use by people.