Wasco Lake Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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- Start point: Jack Lake Trailhead
- Ending Point: Wasco Lake
- Hike type: Out and back
- Distance: 5.2 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 390 feet
- High point: 5,280 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: July - September
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: No
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Hike Description
While hordes of hikers use the Jack Lake Trailhead to access popular Canyon Creek Meadows, fewer hikers head towards Wasco Lake. The short hike to reach the lake makes this a good destination for beginning backpackers. Most of the route is through an area burned in the 2003 B&B Complex Fires. Indeed, almost the entire shoreline of the lake burned, so be prepared for a few downed trees and lack of shade.
From the trailhead, follow the trail around the east side of Jack Lake. Climb gently up the slope with views of Three Fingered Jack to your left. At 0.5 miles, cross the wilderness boundary, and then immediately reach a trail junction. Hikers headed to Canyon Creek Meadows turn left here, but for this hike turn right on Old Summit Trail #4014.
The trail passes through burned forest with views of Mount Jefferson between the snags on your right. The trail starts making a gradual descent and enters a stand of unburned trees. At 1.7 miles reach a junction and turn right, immediately crossing bridgeless Canyon Creek.
At 2.2 miles reach the south end of Wasco Lake where all the trees are burned. The trail follows the western shoreline to the north end and a patch of unburned trees at 2.6 miles. There are several campsites clustered in this small stand of intact forest. Looking south across the lake you can see the top of Three Fingered Jack.
More secluded Minto Lake is about half a mile north of Wasco Lake on the Old Summit Trail. En route, you will pass the switchbacking trail to Minto Pass on the Cascade Crest.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Green Trails Maps: Mt Jefferson, OR #557S; Mount Jefferson, OR #557; Three Fingered Jack, OR #589
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Sisters Ranger District
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Deschutes National Forest
- Pacific Northwest Recreation Map Series: Willamette Cascades
- Pacific Northwest Recreation Map Series: Central Oregon Cascades
- Geo-Graphics: Mount Jefferson Wilderness
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington
- Adventure Maps: Mount Jefferson, Bull of the Woods & Opal Creek Wilderness Trail Map
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Vault toilet, picnic tables
- Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required at the trailhead
- Central Cascades Wilderness Permit required: $6 overnight permit; $1 per person day use (June 15th - October 15th)
- Self-issued wilderness permit; wilderness rules apply
- No camping within 100 feet of water or trails. Please respect the environment and other hikers
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Wasco Lake
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Wasco Lake
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- 101 Hikes in the Majestic Mount Jefferson Region by Matt Reeder
- 100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Central Oregon Cascades by William L. Sullivan
- Oregon: The Creaky Knees Guide by Seabury Blair, Jr.
- Hiking Oregon's Central Cascades by Bruce Grubbs
- Hiking Central Oregon & Beyond by Virginia Meissner
More Links
- Jack Lake Trailhead (USFS)
- Old Summit Trail - Mt. Jefferson (USFS)
- Wasco Lake (Just Peachy)
- Wasco and Minto Lakes Loop (Roaming Log
- Wasco Lake is a less-crowded hiking destination (The Nugget Newspaper)
Contributors
- justpeachy (creator)