The official headwaters of the Willamette River is this pretty lake at the base of little-known Cowhorn Mountain. its glory days when miners produced over $10 million in gold ore, and
Summit Lake, which alsoishome to a boat ramp, outhouse and small campground, is a classic high-risk, high-reward outdoor experience. The 6 miles of road NF-398 from Crescent Lake to Summit Lake is some of the roughest road you will ever experience in Oregon and the road gets worse every single year. I spent the rest of the day exploring surrounding islands and peninsulas and found many other outstanding campsites and unsuccessfully trying to catch fish. United States government. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. Between the 5,500-foot altitude, the rough roads, and the mosquitoes, the window of opportunity for visiting Summit Lake is small indeed (unless you consider some winter adventures!). This trailhead provides access for the Pacific Crest Trail at Summit Lake. Beyond Phillips Lake, a side road leads to the Sumpter Valley Railroad
The result is sapphire-tinted water so clear you can see your boats shadow on the bottom of the lake. Personally, I love bringing a hammock, lunch and book to Indigo. Early September in Oregon forecast good weather (no storms), day/night temps 70s/40s. For 80 years, boisterous Granite produced gold and some legendary characters . Easier day-hikes bring you to Rockpile and Marie lakes, while a more challenging adventure of 10 to 13 miles and 4,000 feet of climb bring you to the summit of Diamond Peak. It was my first backpacking trip with my 2 best friends (Alex and James; they had a combined 1 backcountry night between them prior to this). But in order to enjoy it, youll have to make sure you are visiting Summit Lake after mosquito season, which sometimes ends as early as August. It was a simple backtrack down the Climber's trail, the PCT, and back to camp at Rockpile Lake for the night. Turn right for half a mile. until you reach Baker City. If that hike seems a little much, you can always stop at Marie and Rockpile Lakes, or explore Timpanogas Lake a little farther down the road. Coordinates: 43.46253, -122.13376 Waldo Lake Summit Lake Campground is the little campground that could. Its about nourishment and learning. The spine can look sketchy and narrow from the false summit, but it is about 3-4 feet wide in most spots. Information you share may be used to update trail conditions on the website. An official website of the
Water: No. Because the rocks are loose you have to watch your footing carefully. the late 1800s, Baker City was dubbed the Queen City of the Mines. LockA locked padlock
We reached camp just after 6pm. Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment? Trailhead coordinates: 34.12509, -118.63485 (34 07 30.32N 118 38 05.46W) View Santa Monica Mountains in a larger map. You will still have great views from there towards the south as well as to the east and west. As a bonus, Odell and Crescent Lakes are nearby for frontcountry access and stagingpurposes(I chose Crescent Lake for this trip). McKenzie Bridge, OR 97413
Day 0 we left the house later than planned, took OR-58 southeast out of Eugene and about 1.5 hours later we arrived at Crescent Lake. The Elkhorn Drive
Day 2 was uneventful, dawn wake up, breakfast, pack camp and head back to the car. Fishing, from what I was told, is not good here. Summit Lake Trail In the Oregon Cascades Recreation Area, this trail begins from the Summit Lake Trailhead on Forest Road 6010, crosses Windy Lakes Trail #50, and ends at the Oldenberg Lake Trail #45. He is the author of the book Hiking Southern Oregon and can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. The experience here is classic remote car camping. From a campground at Timpanogas Lake, hike 2 miles to Indigo Lake or explore other trails. The Summit to Summit event is on Saturday, May 6th, 2023, at the Summit Christian College campus in Gering, NE. Once you crest the boulder field you will be at Diamond Peak's false summit. Try this 13.8-mile out-and-back trail near Crescent, Oregon. Nighttime was utterly silent on Berry Island, and, in a small way, I missed the conversations I often have with follow campers. The upside is that you will enjoy warm, swimmable water, clear and warm summer nights, and a host of excellent hiking and biking opportunities. The summit is spectacular though and offers views of the rest of Diamond Peak's arms, and you can see Waldo Lake, Willamette Pass, Maiden Peak, the Three Sisters and Mt. It was my first attempt at planning an entire trip's travel and logistics, route planning, escape/medical considerations, food/water/gear planning for people (my experience thus far has been as a soloist). of wildlife including osprey, bald eagles, deer and elk. All three selections here are fairly wild and camping-centric, but you can also get a more civilized experience at Crescent Lake and Odell Lake resorts. (541) 383-5300. A second is canoe camping loading your gear and traveling the lakes shoreline to the numerous campsites only reachable via boat. And nows a good timeto explore the iconic mountain lakes and trails near Oakridge. Thanked: 183 times in 105 posts. To the south you will see Mt. The majority of boat-in camping spots are on the north end, among a scattering of small islands off a main peninsula that juts into the lake. Travel east from Oakridge, Oregon for 2 miles and turn right on Kitson Springs County Road (Forest Road 23), continue for 0.5 miles and turn right on Forest Road 21 (Diamond Drive). 1935 is on display in a park at the edge of town; it's rumored to be haunted
This was my biggest worry from pre-trip planning because it was difficult for me to scout the road condition from the internet. Summit Lake is home to a very small campground with three closely spaced sites with a bathroom and boat launch. It also is the preferred route to points further southeast, including Reno, Nevada.Finally, it is an important alternate route for traffic moving up and down the West Coast, as bad weather frequently closes Interstate 5 . trout; a half-mile long paved trail offers river access. Know as well that all the roads around Summit Lake are primitive at best, and youll want a high-clearance, four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle to negotiate them. by a ghost. Some sites/trip reports indicate a permit was needed to park but I couldn't that up and we didn't use/have one. The rest of the hike would definitely be rated easy to moderate. Windy Lakes: A trail visits multiple mountain lakes from a route that begins near Summit Lake off awful FSR 398. In addition to the recreational opportunities on Summit Lake, the campground is just steps away from the Pacific Crest Trail and the hike to Diamond Peak and Marie and Rockpile Lakes. We were hoping that the trail in to Summit Lake off of US Forest Service road 2154 was open so we road our bikes up there today. Elevation: 3,100' gain, 2,700' loss. Summit Lake, southeast of Oakridge, is one of the great secret places in the Cascade Mountains not just because of its islands, but also because of the clear water and views of Diamond Peak. 541-426-5546, Clarkston - Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, 2535 Riverside Drive
View Diamond Peak, southern route via Crescent/Summit Lakes Image Gallery - 14 Images. Directions:There are two routes from Willamette Pass Highway 58 in Oakridge. The trail is open to foot and horse (or other pack stock) travel only. all his meals. Sumpter, the Byway climbs to take in dramatic views of the Elkhorns, eventually
(view of Summit Lake, Cowhorn Mountain, Sawtooth Mountain & Mount Thielsen). 3106 Pierce Parkway SuiteD
Leaving
30 to reach Baker City. Crowds: Moderate. I parked near the boat ramp, inflated my kayak and began loading up gear. Its about more than standing on the mountain top.
Summit Lake Campground is not operated by Hipcamp and can only be booked externally. Its about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. Island camping isnt allowed. on official, secure websites. Day Stats: Distance ~ 10.5 miles. From
This 106-mile loop is a voyage through gold booms, ghost towns and the
From Oakridge, head east on Highway 58 for 34 miles. Summit Lake has a small first come first serve campground if you want to spend the night after a long day of summiting. Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota. There are other routes (to the summit in general) and to Summit Lake/trailhead, but the closest was from the east which is why I chose Crescent Lake as our frontcountry access point. Its about protecting what sustains us. We reached the summit about 3:30 pm, took our pictures and put our names in the summit register. Registration 6:00 to 7:15 a.m. All Runners Pistol Start at 7:30 a.m. All Walkers Pistol Start at 7:31 a.m. There is also a lot of primitive camping along the Pacific Crest Trail near Summit Lake, as well as near small ponds on the way to the Diamond Peak climber trail. It can be done as a day trip but makes for a great overnighter for families/kids or those wanting a less strenuous backpacking experience (especially if you only plan to head to Marie/Rockpile Lakes). Reminder You can select the order of your own photos in your Host Dashboard so that they will show up exactly where you want them to on your listing. Turn off PCT to the unmarked "Climber's Trail" to the false summit then summit. There are probably better ways to spend a day, but I cant think of any. The 7,664-foot mountain is one of the least-climbed peaks in the Cascade Range. United States government. 370). They are basalt boulders capped with enough topsoil to support the native flora, each its own little Cascade terrain. Would you recommend Summit Lake Campground? Short season. Description. Timpanogas also makes a wonderful base camp for hiking or backpacking. A five-pound
Bueller? At 3.1 miles you will see a trail cross the PCT. Baker Valley and the distant Wallowa Mountains. by Bubba Suess Fri Jun 22, 2012 3:25 am, Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests. Turn left at a very faint sign for Summit Lake and FSR 6010 and follow this awful rutted road a few short miles to Summit Lake Campground. Summit Lake Trail In the Oregon Cascades Recreation Area, this trail begins from the Summit Lake Trailhead on Forest Road 6010, crosses Windy Lakes Trail #50, and ends at the Oldenberg Lake Trail #45. Suite A
The river empties
Day Stats: Distance ~ 10.5 miles. At 5,600 feet, the lake is filled by pure snowmelt there are no inlet creeks and the rocky geology means there isnt much sediment either. Score! Crystal-clear water shimmers sapphire blue in the shadow of Diamond Peak at a lake that isnt more crowded due to the awful drive to reach it,and thick mosquitoes present until September. The Pacific Crest Trail meanders around Summit Lake, and the section that heads north is one of the most popular approaches for Diamond Peak. ", Diamond Peak, South Approach; Overview Map, Diamond Peak from East shore of Odell Lake, Alex pointing out the cairn marking the Climber's Trail, Summit Lake (looking south) from the Climber's Trail, One of many cairns along the Climbers Trail, Panorama from the false summit (looking north to the true summit), Images Follow this paved road 32 miles. I, not being from Oregon and having to fly in, was dependent on others for the drive in to the trailhead. Please post partners requests and trip plans in the, "Most people are other people. Eugene visitors have the option of accessing NF-398 from the south side of the lake via NF-2154 and NF-21, which begins east of Oakridge. Summit Lake also makes a good starting point to hike into the Diamond Peak Wilderness. Early start because we have a 6.5 mile drive to the trailhead on an unimproved forest service road (FR398/6010 from Crescent Lake west towards Summit Lake/PCT); none of us had driven that route or type of road before and weren't sure if a Subaru Outback would handle it (it would be fine). the railroad helped Baker City outlive many similar boom towns. Here you won't see any rock cairns, but it's easy to see that you just go straight up. Southeast Oregon; Crater Lake / Diamond Lake; Lake of the Woods / Siskiyou Summit; Sno-Park Permits; Sno-Park Permit Vendors . Turn left at a very faint sign for Summit Lake and FSR 6010 and follow this awful rutted road a few short miles to Summit Lake Campground. The Byway turns
Three miles past Indigo Springs Campground, turn left on Timpanogas Road 2154. 541-962-8500, 201 East Second St.
Nighttime low 38F. Your personal car/vehicle situation will largely determine this. #2. Then follow signs for Timpanogas Lake 9.3 miles to the campground. That was my experience, at least, during a trip to one of Oregons only mountain lakes where its possible to boat in and set up tent on an island. Sign up to receive our newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. Looking for a real escape? Keep in mind this area is infested with mosquitoes from mid-June to mid-August. Please consider the weather when making your plans. The highway is signed east-west. Our legs were feeling good and the weather was perfect (70s but still in the trees). All rights reserved. To be sure, there are plenty of pullouts along the primitive roads that follow the north and west shores, but most are in the dense lodgepole and ponderosa growth and miss the sun. Mosquitoes. Follow 42 south through the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and back into the national forest. The "Wild and Scenic" John Day River is recognized for outstanding
The TripCheck website provides roadside camera images and detailed information about Oregon road traffic congestion, incidents, weather conditions, services and commercial vehicle restrictions and registration. Elevation: 3,100' gain, 2,700' loss. PCT thru-hikers have said that the mosquitoes at Summit Lake are some of the worst they have ever experienced! General Information Directions: From Sandy, OR - follow Highway 26 south approximately to Primary Forest Route 42. Summit Lake is located in a sort of no mans land on the southern border of the Diamond Peak Wilderness, and two routes provide access. While the mines in the Elkhorn
Diamond Peak, southern route via Crescent/Summit Lakes. Three miles past Indigo Springs Campground, turn left on Timpanogas Road 2154. Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Occasionally Diamond Peak would come into view, peeking through the trees, a concrete reminder of our goal. Turn left on Forest Road 2160 and continue for approximately 1 mile then turn right on 2160-380. gold nugget is on display at the U.S. Bank on Main Street. (Unfortunately, this has become an issue around Summit Lake.) Having trekking poles helps immensely! The solitude is deeper and more satisfying you might score your own swimming hole or viewpoint, andthere's littleconcern of an obnoxious group showing up next door. gold and some legendary characters like Skedaddle Smith, One-eyed Dick,
The trailhead is located approximately 1 mile further on the right side of the road. People do catch brook trout here, but theyre small and a challenge to hook given the clear water. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation." Grabbing your own little island in the sun on a pristine Cascade lake with a view of Diamond Peak isn't a bad way to pass the time. Both the North Powder River (#1632) and Summit Lake Trails (#1635) begin at this trailhead. Boat ramp. Trailhead address: Old Topanga Canyon Road & Summit to Summit Motorway, Topanga, CA 90290. Oregon, United States, North America. Instead, the pure, clear water you see in Summit Lake comes straight from years of Cascade snowmelt and rain, and in turn this lake becomes a primary source for the much larger and more popular Crescent Lake. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. This is just one of the great singletrack trails in the Crescent Lake area. Shortly after hitting timberline you will come to a very obvious spot where the rocky/boulder section starts. Its about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Headquarters and WhitmanRanger District, 1550 Dewey Ave
The purity of the water that makes it to Summit Lake, combined with the relatively small area of the drainage basin that feeds it, gives the lake a characteristic clarity that is alternately sapphire, turquoise, and gold depending on lake depth. offer picturesque settings for camping and fishing, plus cross-country
Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Many are large enough for a tent or two and are ideal spots for camping or day use so long as youve made responsible plans for waste disposal. Waldo Lake, less than a two hour drive from Eugene, Oregon is a pristine lake nestled into the Cascade Mountain range. This is the last push to the false summit. The trailhead will be on your left. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 56 min to complete. My re-assurances fell on deaf ears but indeed the cairn was found intact and we continued on (FYI it's located around treeline; the PCT up until this point is heading roughly NW but after the junction with the Climber's Trail the PCT sharply turns off to the NE). The 6 miles of road NF-398 from Crescent Lake to Summit Lake is some of the roughest road you will ever experience in Oregon and the road gets worse every single year. Emily Exit). There's not much you can do about the smoke in Oregon this summer. After the less-than-enjoyable drive, I arrived at Summit Lake and got my first view. Note that the "road" into Summit Lake is a rutted and potholed dirt road that you really need a vehicle with some . Uncrowded. Learn more about our photo removal policy if you would like to proceed with flagging this photo for removal. The lake, second in size to Crater Lake, allows no motorized boats, giving kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, etc. Springfield,OR 97477
website belongs to an official government organization in the
Road to Summit Lake Near Diamond Peak Oregon. But the most endearing characteristic may be the many small islands that rest just off shore all the way around the lake. This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Theres also a rustic shelter that can be rented it has a dirt floor and planks for beds, so dont expect the Hilton. Even though this is the Pacific Crest Trail, besides the few weeks that the bubble of thru-hikers come through, this area is not as well traveled as some other areas in Central Oregon because it is so remote. The Anthony Lake area is also home
United States. These rocks are loose so choose your footing wisely and just take it slow. Clarkston, WA 99403
Shorter but very rough route:This route includes a long stretch on a very rutted, difficult-to-drive road. Diamond Peak sits within the Diamond Peak Wilderness which is part of Willamette National Forest. Access to the campground is rough in good conditions, and excessive rain may make the road impassible, not to mention snow. (Cutting wood from the islands few trees would not be responsible). Turn left on Forest Road 2160 and continue for approximately 1 mile then turn . The trail takes you through a beautiful forest and past many small ponds. All rights reserved. The path is well worn and becomes clear; however you may opt for talus-hopping as it may make for faster travel. The Summit Lake Trailhead is a very primitive trailhead located along the Wild and Scenic North Powder River. Then turn onto rough and rutted FSR 6010 for 6.5 miles to Summit Lake Campground. Stay on this road for a total of 10.3 miles. Zach Urness has been an outdoors writer, photographer and videographer in Oregon for seven years. Hike up South Sister (10,358 ft.), Oregon's third tallest mountain, for incredible views and a great introduction to high-altitude hiking. But at least you wont have to pay for the privilege. It is exactly 1.06 miles to the false summit and you will gain a whopping 1,800 feet of elevation in just that one mile!
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