Clear Lake Loop Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Clear Lake Trailhead
- End point: McKenzie River-Clear Lake Trail South Junction
- Hike type: Loop
- Distance: 5.3 miles
- Elevation gain: 280 feet
- High point: 3,100 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: June-November
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Yes
Contents |
Hike Description
Three thousand years ago a lava flow dammed the McKenzie River and created Clear Lake, which certainly lives up to its name. This pleasant hike takes you on a loop around the lake (also an excellent snowshoe in the winter). 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, and 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. Soon the lake comes back into view. At 2.25 miles, the trail heads inland to skirt around Great Spring, the source of the McKenzie River. The water percolates up from the lava rock below and forms a small beautiful pool before flowing out to the lake beyond.
Shortly after the spring you will pass by the store where you started, just right across this narrow section of Clear Lake. The trail leaves the trees behind and enters an area of lava. This stretch can be hot in summer, but is very pretty in autumn when the scattered foliage turns color.
You will reach a section of trail that was once paved, but the pavement is now crumbling and eroding. Pass the boat launch at Cold Water Cove Campground, and continue south. Soon the trail curves west around the southern shore of the lake. At four miles, you'll reach a junction where the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail continues straight towards Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls. To complete the loop, turn right.
Cross the footbridge over the lake's outlet where the McKenzie River heads south. The rest of the hike is easy, a one-mile stroll through the forest back to the day use area and the store.
Fees, Regulations, Facilities, etc.
- Picnic area, restrooms, resort with cabins
- Campgrounds nearby
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Clear Lake Loop Trail #4341 (USFS)
- McKenzie River National Recreation Trail #3507 (USFS)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: McKenzie River Ranger District
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Willamette National Forest
- Pacific Northwest Recreation Map Series: Willamette Cascades
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington
- Adventure Maps: McKenzie River, Oregon, Trail Map
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Clear Lake Loop Hike
- McKenzie River Trail - Koosah Falls, Sahalie Falls, Clear Lake, and Blue Pool
- McKenzie River Trail and Santiam Wagon Road Trail
- Clear Lake Snowshoe
- Benson,Scott,Clear Lake & Sahalie,Koosah & McKenzie 9/14&15
- Blue Pool/ Sahalie/ Koosah/McKenzie/Clear Lake 5/13&14
- McKenzie River/ Sahalie & Koosah Falls/ Clear Lake 3/23
- Skylight Cave/ McKenzie River / Clear Lake 6/4&5
- Clear Lake, Proxy, Blue Pool, Sahalie, Koosah Falls 4/22-23
- Clear Lake loop snowshoe 1/14
- South to the sunshine, Clear Lake 11/5
- Clear Lake Loop, Sahalie/Koosah Falls 7/11
- March sunburn, Clear Lake Loop Trail 3/9/12
- Clear Lake 3/21
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Clear Lake Loop Hike
Guidebooks that cover this destination
- Best Hikes With Kids: Oregon by Bonnie Henderson & Zach Urness
- Best Hikes with Children: Western & Central Oregon by Bonnie Henderson
- 100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Central Oregon Cascades by William L. Sullivan
- Best Short Hikes in Northwest Oregon by Rhonda & George Ostertag
- Best Old-growth Forest Hikes: Washington & Oregon Cascades by John & Diane Cissel
- 50 Old-Growth Hikes in the Willamette National Forest by John & Diane Cissel
- Hiking Oregon's Central Cascades by Bruce Grubbs
- Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
- Pacific Northwest Hiking by Scott Leonard & Sean Patrick Hill
- Oregon's Southern Cascades: Camping & Hiking by Tom Stienstra & Sean Patrick Hill
- Trail Running: Bend & Central Oregon by Lucas Alberg
More Links
- Clear Lake Loop Trail #4341 (USFS)
- McKenzie River National Recreation Trail #3507 (USFS)
- Clear Lake Loop Trail (Hiking Central Oregon)
- Clear Lake Loop in Willamette National Forest (Hikespeak)
- Clear Lake (Hike Oregon)
- Your Guide to Exploring Clear Lake, Oregon (Oregon Is for Adventure)
- Clear Lake Trail (Outdoor Project)
- Clear Lake Loop (Hiking Project)
- Hike around Clear Lake (The Outbound)
Contributors
- justpeachy (creator)