Fish Lake Loop Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Fish Lake Trailhead
- End point: Fish Lake Trailhead
- Trail Log:
- Hike Type: Loop
- Distance: 13 miles
- Elevation gain: 1,900 feet
- High Point: 6,000 feet
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Seasons: Summer, Fall
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Hike Description
The 35,701 acre Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness is located in southwest Oregon, ten miles west of Crater Lake National Park. Elevations range from 3000 to 6800 feet along the divide between the Rogue and Umpqua Rivers. Dense conifer forest gives way to a mosaic of big trees and sub-alpine meadows in the higher elevations. Nearly all trails in the Rogue-Umpqua Divide pass through sub-alpine meadows. Meadow wildflowers are abundant in summer and diverse plant communities provide habitat for everything from hummingbirds to black bears. Water is abundant in streams and a handful of lakes.
Fish Lake is one of the largest and deepest mountain lakes in Oregon, as well as by far the largest in the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness. This loop hike is both pretty and spectacular, running past large rock walls (on Rocky Ridge) and providing views of Mt. Bailey and Mt. Thielsen before reaching the lake, which is surrounded by the trail and campsites. There's good fishing in the lake for trout.
From the Beaver Swamp trailhead, climb east on the Rocky Rim trail (#1572) for 3.2 miles to its junction with the Rocky Ridge trail (#1571). Unfortunately, the first 3 miles or so of the #1572 have fallen into disrepair due to a lack of maintenance and by its traverse of a burn caused by a lightning strike in 2002. You'll likely have to plow through brush, climb over downed trees, and dance across eroded tread - so long pants are suggested, as is paying attention to where the tread goes. Once past the burn area, the trail is in great condition (as of 2015) as it contours you along Rocky Ridge, with views to the east and west and a fun (but not at all dangerous) passage through the cliffs on the east side of Standoff Point. About an almost level 3.2 miles from the #1572/1571 junction, you'll come to a junction with the Fish Lake trail (#1570). Turn west here and descend the 1570 past Highrock Meadow (the trail might be faint in a few places - it stays to the right of the meadow) to a junction with the Lakes trail (#1578). Continue on the #1570 for another 1.6 miles, around the lake and past several good campsites, to ajunction with the Beaver Swamp trail (#1569). Ascend the #1569 for 1.2 miles back to the trailhead.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Fish Lake Loop Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Fish Lake Loop Hike
Guidebooks that cover this destination
- Hiking Southern Oregon by Art Bernstein and Zach Urness (2014 Edition, Hike #29)
- 100 Hikes in Southern Oregon by William L. Sullivan (Third Edition, Hike #9)
More Links
- USFS #1572 Rocky Rim Trail
- USFS #1571 Rocky Ridge Trail
- USFS #1470 Divide Trail
- USFS #1570 Fish Lake Trail
- USFS #1578 Lakes Trail
- USFS #1569 Beaver Swamp Trail
Page Contributors
- VanMarmot (creator)