The reservoir is located within the Deschutes National Forest and the Fort Rock Ranger District, near the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway.

The Wickiup Dam was built in 1949 by the United States Bureau of Reclamation for the "Deschutes Project" and "Pringle Falls Experimental Forest", which is used for education and research.

[5] The Deschutes River, which originates at Little Lava Lake, is an inflow and an outflow of Wickiup Reservoir.

[3] According to the United States Forest Service, Wickiup Reservoir is one of Central Oregon's best wildlife viewing areas.

[3] On August 12, 2009, the Oregon Department of Human Services issued a health advisory due to a large algae bloom.