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.
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
On the way down, I decided to check out Gibson Lake.
Viewpoint with Mt Hood and Olallie Butte views.
Nice fall color:
Finally the beautiful Gibson Lake.
Right before the last long turn on FR 4220, I decided to bushwhack down to Horseshoe Lake.
For the 2nd hike, bushwhacking started from Peninsula Campground through spooky dead forest.
View lake is beautiful with nice green color.
Upper Lake is relatively calm with Double Peaks in the background.
The last quarter mile before Double Peaks is very narrow and quite steep.
Great Mt. Hood view at the top
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.
From Cigar Lake, I bushwhacked to Top Lake and Timber Lake and finally to my car.
A no name lake between Top Lake and Timber Lake
For the third hike, I started at Lower Lake Campground to Lower Lake and Gifford Lake and bushwhacked back.
Low Lake with Olallie Butte:
Gifford Lake:
First Lake:
Fall color along FR 4960 between FR 46 and first bridge:
Olallie Lake Scenic Area Hikes
- Sean Thomas
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Re: Olallie Lake Scenic Area Hikes
Wow, sounds like quite a day! Thanks for posting your awesome photos.
- mattisnotfrench
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Re: Olallie Lake Scenic Area Hikes
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.
Author of Extraordinary Oregon!, PDX Hiking 365, 101 Hikes in the Majestic Mount Jefferson Region, and Off the Beaten Trail. Website: www.offthebeatentrailpdx.com
Re: Olallie Lake Scenic Area Hikes
Same here. I will end up at olallie every fall for great hiking and free campingmattisnotfrench 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.
This year I went rogue and went in the spring. Also great, also deserted, and also free