Clear Lake (Cheryl Hill)

• Start point: Clear Lake Trailhead
• End point: Clear Lake Trailhead
• Trail Log: Trail Log
• Hike Type: Loop
• Distance: 5.3 miles
• High point: 3,100 feet
• Elevation gain: 280 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Seasons: June-November
• Family Friendly: Yes
• Backpackable: No
• Crowded: Yes

Hike Description

3,000 years ago a lava flow dammed the McKenzie River and created this lake, which lives up to its name. This pleasant hike takes you on a loop around the lake. You can head south past the picnic shelter to hike this trail counter-clockwise, but this description will take you clockwise.

From the parking lot in front of the store, walk down the road past the cabins. Just beyond cabins 19 and 20, at the point where the road curves up the hill, you will find the trail heading off along the lake shore. You will get glimpses of the lake through the trees, and soon it is more marsh than lake.

At 0.9 miles cross a bridge over Ikenick Creek then bear right. You are now doubling back on the other side of the marsh, but soon you will reach a view looking south to the store with the tops of the Three Sisters poking up in the distance on a clear day.

The trail curves back north again and at 1.7 miles you will cross Fish Lake Creek. You are now on the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail.

Fees, Regulations, etc.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder
• Clear Lake Loop Trail #4341 (USFS)
• McKenzie River National Recreation Trail #3507 (USFS)

Trip Reports

• Search Trip Reports for Clear Lake Loop Hike

Related Discussions / Q&A

• Search Trail Q&A for Clear Lake Loop Hike

Guidebooks that cover this destination

• 100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades by William L. Sullivan

More Links

• Clear Lake Loop Trail #4341 (USFS)

Contributors

• justpeachy (creator)