Difference between revisions of "Burnt Lake Hike"
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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=== Guidebooks that cover this hike === | === Guidebooks that cover this hike === | ||
| + | * ''60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Portland'' by Paul Gerald | ||
| + | * ''Best Hikes Near Portland'' by Fred Barstad | ||
| + | * ''Hiking Mount Hood National Forest'' by Marcia Sinclair | ||
| + | * ''One Night Wilderness: Portland'' by Douglas Lorain | ||
* ''Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver'' by Douglas Lorain | * ''Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver'' by Douglas Lorain | ||
| + | * ''100 Classic Hikes in Oregon'' by Douglas Lorain | ||
* ''Portland Hikes'' by Art Bernstein & Andrew Jackman | * ''Portland Hikes'' by Art Bernstein & Andrew Jackman | ||
* ''100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington'' by William L. Sullivan | * ''100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington'' by William L. Sullivan | ||
| + | * ''100 Oregon Hiking Trails'' by Don & Roberta Lowe | ||
* ''70 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades'' by Don & Roberta Lowe | * ''70 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades'' by Don & Roberta Lowe | ||
* ''62 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades'' by Don & Roberta Lowe | * ''62 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades'' by Don & Roberta Lowe | ||
* ''Oregon Hiking'' by Sean Patrick Hill | * ''Oregon Hiking'' by Sean Patrick Hill | ||
| + | * ''Pacific Northwest Hiking'' by Scott Leonard & Sean Patrick Hill | ||
| + | * ''Best Hikes With Dogs: Oregon'' by Ellen Morris Bishop | ||
=== More Links === | === More Links === | ||
Revision as of 21:04, 26 November 2015
- Start point: North Burnt Lake Trailhead
- End point: Burnt Lake
- Trail Log:
- Hike Type: In and out
- Distance: 6.6 miles
- Elevation gain: 1420 feet
- High Point: 4,100 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Summer into Fall
- Family Friendly: Yes, for older kids
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: Yes
Contents |
Description
The rough and rutted road to the North Burnt Lake Trailhead doesn't deter the throngs of day hikers and weekend backpackers that head up the Burnt Lake Trail. Overnighters at Burnt Lake need to camp in one of the designated sites as the lake shores have seen much traffic and restoration is underway. The trailhead is accessible early in the season, but the bowl wherein Burnt Lake nestles holds snow until much later, which means route finding can become an issue, especially if you plan to continue up to East Zigzag Mountain. This is an excellent hike for forest wildflowers in July.
The Burnt Lake Trail #772 begins wide and gentle on an old road track in a lush forest that was burned over in the late 19th century. Start to the right of the trail sign, where you pass through a stile. The principal tree cover here is Douglas-fir, western hemlock, silver fir and vine maple. Pass the map board and sign in at the wilderness permit box. Burnt Lake Creek runs down to the right and is shaded by red-cedar. Large, scorched stumps, mainly cedars, are all that remain of the magnificent old-growth forest. Lady fern, devil's club, sword fern, starry solomon plume, oxalis, and bunchberry form a lush groundcover. Gradually ascend. A spur to the right leads down to a tributary of Burnt Lake Creek. Cross the creek after this and round another large cedar snag. Then, cross several small creeks using plank walks. Another spur to the left leads down into the Lost Creek valley for views from the top of multi-tiered Lost Creek Falls and a campsite. To get a head-on view of the falls requires more of a scramble and bushwhack.
The trail switchbacks up from here and makes a traverse, crossing a creek and then making a long traverse up. Small creeks gush from springs above the trail. The path dips to cross a creek reeking of skunk-cabbage. The trail crosses a plank bridge and enters a Sitka alder clearing. Cross Burnt Lake Creek and head up to Burnt Lake, keeping right. At a spot marked B, No Camping Here, one can go left to the shore and get a classic view of Mount Hood reflected in the still waters. The woods encircling the lake are composed of silver fir, cedar, hemlock, Sitka alder and mountain ash. The trail heads up to a junction with the circular path around the lake. You can take this path around Burnt Lake to reach other designated campsites. A mini-bushwhack will take you to a shallow tarn just southeast of the lake.
Many day hikers, and most of those camping overnight here, will continue to the viewpoint on East Zigzag Mountain. Be cautioned, however, that early in the season, when the slopes are still snow-covered, it is very easy to go off track on the way back down from East Zigzag Mountain and find yourself plunging into the trailless drainage of the West Fork of Burnt Lake Creek.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Self-issued wilderness permit
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Green Trails Maps: Government Camp, OR #461
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Zigzag Ranger District
- Discover Your Northwest: Mt. Hood National Forest North: Trail Map & Hiking Guide
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Mt. Hood National Forest
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount Hood
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Burnt Lake Hike
- Castle Canyon, 15-July-2012
- Castle Canyon & TDH Mtn. Wildflower Update
- Castle Canyon
- Rd 19 & Castle Canyon
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Burnt Lake Hike
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Portland by Paul Gerald
- Best Hikes Near Portland by Fred Barstad
- Hiking Mount Hood National Forest by Marcia Sinclair
- One Night Wilderness: Portland by Douglas Lorain
- Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver by Douglas Lorain
- 100 Classic Hikes in Oregon by Douglas Lorain
- Portland Hikes by Art Bernstein & Andrew Jackman
- 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington by William L. Sullivan
- 100 Oregon Hiking Trails by Don & Roberta Lowe
- 70 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe
- 62 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
- Pacific Northwest Hiking by Scott Leonard & Sean Patrick Hill
- Best Hikes With Dogs: Oregon by Ellen Morris Bishop
More Links
- Castle Canyon Trail #765 (USFS)
- Castle Canyon Hike (Northwest Hiker)
- Castle Canyon (Dandelion's Expedition)
- Castle Canyon - Oregon, United States (Every Trail)
Page Contributors
- bobcat (creator)