Island Lakes Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Shadow Bay Trailhead
- End Point: Lower Island Lake
- Trail Log:
- Hike Type: In and out
- Distance: 10.2 miles
- Elevation gain: 1330 feet
- High Point: 6,215 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Mid-summer into fall
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Description
For a dash of the Waldo Lake Wilderness and some secluded lakes just south of the wilderness, try this in-and-out hike on well-maintained trails. Waldo Lake is one of Oregon’s largest natural lakes and is also considered one of the purest lakes in the world. This is because few streams enter the lake to add nutrients that encourage plant growth. This hike takes you to old-growth montane woods, a historic shelter, bountiful huckleberry patches, and after passing several small lakes, two picturesque larger lakes just off the trail. Note that the Waldo Lake Trail and the trails south of the wilderness boundary are used and maintained by mountain bikers.
Find the Waldo Shoreline Trail heading into a lichen-draped mountain hemlock woodland at the east end of the parking area. Blue diamonds on trees denote this is a cross-country ski route. Engelmann spruce, silver fir, noble fir, and western white pine also form the forest canopy here as you hike through huckleberry, grouseberry, and bear-grass. Cross a footbridge, and keep right at the Waldo Lake-Waldo Shoreline Trail Junction to join the Waldo Lake Trail #3590, additionally labeled as the Jim Weaver Loop Trail. Pass a wilderness kiosk, and drop to pass over a footbridge and cross a boggy seep of skunk-cabbage and wood fern. After a couple more footbridges, you’ll see a spur to the right that leads to a beach and views to a small forested island just offshore. A second spur a little later takes you to a campsite and a closer view of the island. The trail now veers away from the lakeshore to circle around a lush meadow at the lake’s southern end. Cross a footbridge, and note the large hemlocks and spruces. At a trail junction, go right to take a look at the South Waldo Shelter, with its shake roof, wood stove, picnic table, and sleeping platform. The shelter is maintained by Lewis & Clark College Outdoors.
From the shelter, cross a footbridge over a creek, and arrive at the Waldo Lake-South Waldo Trail Junction. Make a left here, and fill out a form at the wilderness permit box. Cross a marsh-marigold bog, and start ascending a slope in shady forest with a huckleberry understory. This is prime berry-picking territory in late August/early September! You can see the outline of Mount Ray looming ahead through the trees. Pass a meadow on your left before the trail levels to cross another boggy expanse. The trail rises more steeply on an eroded tread, but eventually passes over a saddle. Exit the wilderness, and drop down a lupine-lined tread to pass an unnamed lake. Reach the four-way South Waldo-Mt. Ray Trail Junction.
Continue straight from the junction on the South Waldo Trail: It’s 1.8 miles from here to Upper Island Lake. The trail is well-maintained by mountain bikers, and traverses a slope of mountain hemlocks. It then crosses a boggy, mossy brook, where you’ll get a view to Mount Ray, before it winds up very steeply to an old-growth bench. Continue hiking up to a broad, wooded bench with boulder outcroppings in a wide-open understory. The trail drops, and you’ll pass a ski trail sign for Jo Ann and Lorin Lakes. Hike through a small lupine/woodrush meadow, and wind down to pass an unnamed lake to your left. Soon see Upper Island Lake to the right. Cross a shallow gully with its own pond, and head right through the trees to the shore of the lake, which has a small rocky island. Lower Island Lake is more picturesque, and lies below the trail. Recross the gully, and then go right to bushwhack down a steep slope to the lake, also of course, with its signature island. Return to the trail, and head back the way you came.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Northwest Forest Pass required
- Self-issued wilderness permit
- Restrooms, picnic area, campground nearby
- Share non-wilderness trails with mountain bikers
- Lots of mosquitoes until August
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Waldo Lake Wilderness
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Middle Fork Ranger District
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Willamette National Forest
- Pacific Northwest Recreation Map Series: Willamette Cascades
- Adventure Maps: Oakridge, Oregon Trail Map
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Island Lakes Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Island Lakes Hike
Guidebooks that cover this destination
- none
More Links
- Jim Weaver Loop Trail (Waldo Lake Trail) #3590 (USFS)
- South Waldo Trail #3586 (USFS)
- Waldo Lake Wilderness (USFS)
- Waldo Lake (Atlas of Oregon Lakes)
- Waldo Lake (Wikipedia)
- Waldo Lake – Gem of the Cascades (Oregon Wild)
Page Contributors
- bobcat (creator)