Sparks Lake

Sparks Lake is located 40 minutes from Bend, Oregon, and is surrounded by South Sister, Mt Bachelor, and Broken top. You can drive there from the end of May until as late as mid-November. The key to getting amazing wedding or elopement photos at Sparks Lake is timing. Below is info on when and where to get the best portraits.

Time of Day

The best time of day for photos (on a clear day) is just before sunset and just after sunset. This particular wedding started right as the sunset. It ended about 45 minutes after the sun had gone down over the mountains. This allowed for some soft and amazing light that can’t be beaten. If you know it is going to be a cloudy day, the light can be good at any time.

Time of Year

Sparks Lake can be beautiful year-round, but some months can be better than others. June is the first month that you can most likely guarantee that Cascade Lakes Highway will be open. Also, in June you will probably still have snow on the mountains.

July and August can run a risk of being smoky, due to forest fires. A little bit of smoke can create some beautiful light. Too much smoke can be hazardous.

In my opinion, the best months are from September to November. October can be especially moody with the weather changing and you may see some snowflakes. In November you can almost guarantee to see some snow in the mountains.

Best Locations

There are two main Locations to park at Sparks Lake. The most common parking area is the Day Use Boat launch and the second being the Green Lakes Trailhead. Both locations will require a $5 per day-use parking permit, which you can pay for with cash only on-site.

After parking, at Green Lakes Trailhead you will need to carefully walk south across the highway to an amazing meadow. This location has the best view of Mount Bachelor. You can also see South Sister and Broken Top.

If you decide to go to the Day Use Area you will find several amazing places along the lakeshore. The lake is very shallow so you will see some breathtaking reflections on a calm evening.

If you’re considering getting married at Sparks Lake and have any questions, feel free to contact me with any questions.

Vaness and Adam

Vanessa and Adam are a couple of Bend locals that decided to celebrate their love with an outdoor elopement at Sparks Lake. Their wedding was held in the first week of July and the weather was perfect. It was surprisingly cool and we saw a few little raindrops just after their ceremony. I brought my canoe and we took a trip out to the middle of the lake for some portraits on an island surrounded by mountains.

Officiant: Rev. Chris Lewis

Sami and Jordan

This amazing couple flew out to Oregon to elope in the mountains and decided that Sparks Lake was the location for them. Their ceremony was in August and the sky was filled with a hint of smoke, adding a bit of warmth to their photos.

Flowers: Woodland Floral

Videography: Mike Hiatt Media

Samantha + Jordan:: Sparks Lake – 8.10.18 from Michael Hiatt on Vimeo.

Another Wonderful Elopement

Cake: Foxtail Bakeshop

Rentals: Curated Events 

Smokey August Sparks Lake Elopement

I am so happy that Katie and Kevin chose me to be their elopement photographer. They were married just outside of Bend, Oregon at Sparks Lake. Their ceremony was held at sunset on a smokey Agust evening.

I have a lot of clients that worry about forest fires ruining their ceremony, but as you can see from these photos this smokey light can’t be beaten.

Wendy Duncan was their officiant and Leann from Shine Events helped them plan their day.

Hair and Makeup by Cassidy Elise.