Olallie Lake Scenic Area Hikes

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ssinfo503
Posts: 83
Joined: September 16th, 2015, 8:58 am

Olallie Lake Scenic Area Hikes

Post by ssinfo503 » October 5th, 2015, 1:13 pm

I did three hikes in Olallie Lake area for a total of 13 miles on Oct. 4.
It was 7:30 am when I arrived Olallie Lake. It was cold and windy. So no Mt Jefferson reflection.
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I then drove to Horseshoe Campground and started hiking to Ruddy Hill at 8am.
Ruddy Hill trail from PCT is only about half mile. Great Mt. Jefferson View
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On the way down, I decided to check out Gibson Lake.
Viewpoint with Mt Hood and Olallie Butte views.
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Nice fall color:
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Finally the beautiful Gibson Lake.
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Right before the last long turn on FR 4220, I decided to bushwhack down to Horseshoe Lake.
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For the 2nd hike, bushwhacking started from Peninsula Campground through spooky dead forest.
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View lake is beautiful with nice green color.
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Upper Lake is relatively calm with Double Peaks in the background.
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The last quarter mile before Double Peaks is very narrow and quite steep.
Great Mt. Hood view at the top
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Before bushwhacking again, I stopped by Cigar Lake. This is the place where I met the only hikers of the day. Is Olallie being deserted? I saw only three hikes the entire day.
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From Cigar Lake, I bushwhacked to Top Lake and Timber Lake and finally to my car.
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A no name lake between Top Lake and Timber Lake
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For the third hike, I started at Lower Lake Campground to Lower Lake and Gifford Lake and bushwhacked back.
Low Lake with Olallie Butte:
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Gifford Lake:
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First Lake:
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Fall color along FR 4960 between FR 46 and first bridge:
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Sean Thomas
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Joined: February 25th, 2012, 11:33 pm

Re: Olallie Lake Scenic Area Hikes

Post by Sean Thomas » October 5th, 2015, 7:40 pm

Wow, sounds like quite a day! Thanks for posting your awesome photos.

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mattisnotfrench
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Location: SE Portland
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Re: Olallie Lake Scenic Area Hikes

Post by mattisnotfrench » October 5th, 2015, 7:50 pm

Nice photos! To answer your question, nobody goes to Olallie after Labor Day so you usually have the place to yourself this time of year. That's why I go there a lot around this time. :D
Author of Extraordinary Oregon!, PDX Hiking 365, 101 Hikes in the Majestic Mount Jefferson Region, and Off the Beaten Trail. Website: www.offthebeatentrailpdx.com

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-Q-
Posts: 1433
Joined: July 5th, 2008, 10:42 pm

Re: Olallie Lake Scenic Area Hikes

Post by -Q- » October 5th, 2015, 11:14 pm

mattisnotfrench wrote:Nice photos! To answer your question, nobody goes to Olallie after Labor Day so you usually have the place to yourself this time of year. That's why I go there a lot around this time. :D
Same here. I will end up at olallie every fall for great hiking and free camping :P

This year I went rogue and went in the spring. Also great, also deserted, and also free :mrgreen:

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