Square Lake Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Santiam Pass Trailhead
- End point: Square Lake
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: out and back
- Distance: 4.4 miles
- Elevation gain: 200 ft"ft" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: Summer and fall: could easily be a good snowshoe in winter
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Hike Description
This is an easy hike that tours around an area that was burnt by the 2003 B&B fire (learn more about that here: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/recreation/wilderness/mtjeff-postfire/tour/index.html ) and in 2 easy miles leads to an almost eery-quiet lake with a view of the nearby cascade volcano, Three Fingered Jack. It starts out at the Santiam Pass Trailhead- a well used access point for the pct just 20 miles out of the town of Sisters. From the parking lot find the wilderness permit self use station and the beginning of the trail. Start out north on the pct (left) and go 0.3 miles to the junction with the square lake trail and into the Jefferson Wilderness. Go right and follow it through the burnt forest 2 miles til you see Square Lake. To get the view of Three fingered Jack, you will want to be on the side of the lake that you see first (South side). There should be an unmarked junction with a spur trail heading down there. If it seems like you missed it, the terrain is super easy for cross country travel. There is a campsite here with a great firepit making this a great destination for backpacking with young children. The more adventurous might enjoy the view from the top of the butte to the southwest, there are no trails but you can scramble up the side (class 3-4). Return the way you came or if you had a shuttle arranged you could keep going another 2 miles to round lake.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Regulations or Restrictions, etc.
Wilderness Permit Required (you can fill them out at the TH)
Trip Reports
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Related Discussions / Q&A
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Guidebooks that cover this hike
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Contributors
- Pyles_94 (creator)