( Both the North Powder River (#1632) and Summit Lake Trails (#1635) begin at this trailhead. There's not much you can do about the smoke in Oregon this summer. Climb Diamond Peak: You dont need ropes to ascend the dramatic shield volcano that rises over Willamette Pass. I spent the rest of the day exploring surrounding islands and peninsulas and found many other outstanding campsites and unsuccessfully trying to catch fish. Due to our late start there was less lounging time at the cabin (Hoodoo's Crescent Lake Resort) than we wanted, but we were still able to enjoy some fishing, beer, and a nice dinner. east and climbs its apex at Elkhorn Mountain Summit (7,392 ft.). I wasted no time setting up my tent and organizing camp, then celebrating with a cool swim. Description. Its about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. Would you recommend Summit Lake Campground? When thinking about the timing of your hike and making sure you have enough daylight hours, keep in mind that the last 1.5 miles of this hike (the actual climb) will take between 1.5-2 hours and it is pretty slow going on the way down too. 1 post Page 1 of 1. Successful summit; Diamond Peak (8,744'), September 11 2016. values, and is a popular destination for outdoor people. Day Stats: Distance ~ 10.5 miles. Pass by a metal gate and begin an ascent along the Summit to Summit Motorway. until you reach Baker City. All Rights Reserved. 541-225-6300, Detroit Ranger District Unlike Odell Lake and Crescent Lake, Summit Lake has no major, single stream to feed it. We believe good things come from people spending time outside. Visit the Eastern Oregon Museum, which features Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 56 min to complete. The last 5 miles of Forest Service 7301 road past the Forest Service boundaryare recommended for high clearance vehicles only. Turn left on Forest Road 2160 and continue for approximately 1 mile then turn . Oregon Route 58 is of high importance as a freight corridor. It was a simple backtrack down the Climber's trail, the PCT, and back to camp at Rockpile Lake for the night. If that hike seems a little much, you can always stop at Marie and Rockpile Lakes, or explore Timpanogas Lake a little farther down the road. Three miles past Indigo Springs Campground, turn left on Timpanogas Road 2154. From there, explore the lake on day-trips via canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard. There is also a lot of primitive camping along the Pacific Crest Trail near Summit Lake, as well as near small ponds on the way to the Diamond Peak climber trail. Enter your email below to be notified when we get access. ", Diamond Peak, South Approach; Overview Map, Diamond Peak from East shore of Odell Lake, Alex pointing out the cairn marking the Climber's Trail, Summit Lake (looking south) from the Climber's Trail, One of many cairns along the Climbers Trail, Panorama from the false summit (looking north to the true summit), Images Best Time to Visit: Summer and Fall; Between Granite Follow this paved road half a mile and then turn right onto FSR 21. Deschutes National Forest. Shorter but very rough route:This route includes a long stretch on a very rutted, difficult-to-drive road. Turn left at a very faint sign for Summit Lake and FSR 6010 and follow this awful rutted road a few short miles to Summit Lake Campground. Turn left at a very faint sign for Summit Lake and FSR 6010 and follow this awful rutted road a few short miles to Summit Lake Campground. Share sensitive information only By the time evening arrived, Id arranged a nice place for reading and star-watching. Backcountry sites. Many are large enough for a tent or two and are ideal spots for camping or day use so long as youve made responsible plans for waste disposal. Difficult to reach. Follow this paved road half a mile and then turn right onto FSR 21. At 5,600 feet, the lake is filled by pure snowmelt there are no inlet creeks and the rocky geology means there isnt much sediment either. Directions: From Oakridge, continue east on Highway 58 for 1.8 miles to a "Hills Creek Dam" sign between mileposts 37 and 38. Turn off PCT to the unmarked "Climber's Trail" to the false summit then summit. I brought my backpacking gear, an inflatable kayak and made sure to include a shovel. Diamond Peak. Three miles past Indigo Springs Campground, turn left on Timpanogas Road 2154. It was at this point we saw the first other people since the cabin at Crescent Lake; a small group of day hikers were making their way down "skiing" down the scree field (looked way more fun than trodding up). skiing and snowmobiling in winter. an extensive collection of pioneer antiques. Development: Small campground with three official sites, small boat ramp and pit toilet. **If you Google directions to Summit Lake DO NOT take the suggested route even if Google says it is faster. This 106-mile loop is a voyage through gold booms, ghost towns and the Still hadn't run into anyone else on the trail. This section of the Pacific Crest Trail is extremely mellow and only gains a total of 1,010 feet of elevation during the entire 4.45 miles that you are on it. years, the Powder is an excellent fishery for stocked and native rainbow Follow this paved road 32 miles. We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. The "Wild and Scenic" John Day River is recognized for outstanding to a downhill ski resort that's served up great powder since 1933. Oregons second-largest lake and one of the worlds clearest Waldo Lake is a natural phenomenon and a bucket-list experience. Uncrowded. Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. Santiam Summit to Square Lake and Round Lake Trail. From the false summit you will hike along Diamond Peak's spine another 0.4 miles to the top, gaining your last 545 feet of elevation. Please consider the weather when making your plans. Diamond Peak summit is one of the best and most underrated summit hikes in the Oregon Cascade range. This is just one of the great singletrack trails in the Crescent Lake area. If you have trekking poles, put them away at the false summit so that you can have both of your hands free for maneuvering, (view of the spine from the false summit - picture by Holly Voltin). Hike the PCT: The Pacific Crest Trail runs alongside Summit Lake and can be hiked to the north or south. Day 2 was uneventful, dawn wake up, breakfast, pack camp and head back to the car. Following a generally east-west route over the summit of the southern Cascade Range, the road passes through miles of forestland and provides brief views of Mount McLoughlin. For this story, Im spotlighting my three favorite lakes in the area Timpanogas, Summit and Waldo. During good water It is the primary route between the Willamette Valley and south-central Oregon, including the Klamath Falls region. Turn right for half a mile. Of the three lakes featured here, Waldo is the most famous, developed and consequently crowded. #2. 2023 Hipcamp, Inc. All rights reserved. 3106 Pierce Parkway SuiteD For details on the route, buy the book "100 Hikes in the Willamette Cascades" by William Sullivan. Turn left onto Timpanogas Road 2154. Their stories live on in Granite's abandoned buildings. Day 0 we left the house later than planned, took OR-58 southeast out of Eugene and about 1.5 hours later we arrived at Crescent Lake. For the way down, be careful to not go the wrong way. From the junction the climber trail immediately starts going steeply uphill. Try driving here in a low-clearance vehicle and your muffler might fall off. Soon, the Byway turns west and joins the Powder River. Early September in Oregon forecast good weather (no storms), day/night temps 70s/40s. reaching Blue Springs Summit (5,864 ft.), a popular snowmobiling venue. It also is the preferred route to points further southeast, including Reno, Nevada.Finally, it is an important alternate route for traffic moving up and down the West Coast, as bad weather frequently closes Interstate 5 . (14), Non-intimidating profile with easy "bail out" (1 overnight but could be accomplished as a day hike; easy water access; easy car/frontcountry access), No particular gear, weather, altitude, or environmental concerns, Just over 10 miles, ~3,400' gain, 2,950' loss, Sleeping Altitude: ~ 6,000' (USGS topo marks Marie Lake @ 6,014'; Rockpile Lake @ 6,037'), Sleeping altitude ~ 4,800' (4,000+ gain via car), Successful summit; Diamond Peak (8,744'), September 11 2016. For reference, a Subaru Crosstrek barely made it 3 years ago. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The path is well worn and becomes clear; however you may opt for talus-hopping as it may make for faster travel. Follow 4200-141 west about one mile to the campground. Please contact us with questions and comments. There are dispersed campsites around the lake as well. Scouting photos and logs show a non technical hike with maybe some Class II/III route finding towards the summit. It connects the Cowhorn Creek Trail to Summit Lake. After 2 rough miles, the trailhead will be on your left. Download Our New Official Recreation App! Many crossovers/CUVs/light SUVs could probably handle the road but just be aware: it's not a matter of traction (having AWD). Follow this paved road half a mile and then turn right onto FSR 21. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 2 min to complete. Shortly after hitting timberline you will come to a very obvious spot where the rocky/boulder section starts. Occasionally Diamond Peak would come into view, peeking through the trees, a concrete reminder of our goal. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. Activities Bicycling Camping & Cabins Fishing Turn left at a very faint sign for Summit Lake and FSR 6010 and follow this awful rutted road a few short miles to Summit Lake Campground. You can tour the city's downtown to see fine examples of turn-of-the-century You may pick up your race packet on Friday at Summit Christian College anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Saturday, May 6th. 541-822-3381, Middle Fork Ranger District This is a great PCT. This made the trip an easier sell to Alex who enjoys his creature comforts (running water, cold beer) and facilitated logistics overall. The official headwaters of the Willamette River is this pretty lake at the base of little-known Cowhorn Mountain. All three selections here are fairly wild and camping-centric, but you can also get a more civilized experience at Crescent Lake and Odell Lake resorts. The only campground on Summit Lake. Map Information, See accessible adventures at Detroit Lake & the McKenzie River Valley, Supervisor's Office Indeed, it is because of this view, this incredible location, that Summit Lake Campground is an absolute gem in spite of itself. 4431 Highway 20 Crowds: Moderate. This trailhead provides access for the Pacific Crest Trail at Summit Lake. We reached the summit about 3:30 pm, took our pictures and put our names in the summit register. 57600 McKenzie Hwy Bubba Suess. All loaded up, I pushed off from the shoreline and onto the water. camp at a number of islands and peninsulas, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. From The trail takes you through a beautiful forest and past many small ponds. Turn right at signs for Crescent Lake and follow FSR 60 for 7.2 miles around the north side of the reservoir. Leg 3 (Climber's Trail) would be the "toughest section." Within a few miles of each other, Grande Ronde Lake and Anthony Lake trout; a half-mile long paved trail offers river access. He is the author of the book Hiking Southern Oregon and can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Map. The portion of the PCT from Summit Lake to Diamond Peak provides the most popular approach route for climbing Diamond Peak. Official websites use .gov A .gov Grabbing your own little island in the sun on a pristine Cascade lake with a view of Diamond Peak isn't a bad way to pass the time. Or view a regional map of surrounding Los Angeles trails and campgrounds. Water Level: Seasonal average? The 6 miles of road NF-398 from Crescent Lake to Summit Lake is some of the roughest road you will ever experience in Oregon and the road gets worse every single year. 541-367-5168, McKenzie River Ranger District The Elkhorn Byway soon meets Close to adventures. The Summit to Summit event is on Saturday, May 6th, 2023, at the Summit Christian College campus in Gering, NE. These factors weighed heavily on my choosing Diamond Peak and this "southern route via Crescent and Summit Lakes." Island camping: There are many boat-in campsites where its possible to make camp via canoe or kayak. All these factors made it an easy decision to return for a summit run. Joseph, OR 97846 McKenzie Bridge, OR 97413 offer picturesque settings for camping and fishing, plus cross-country LockA locked padlock Even with these high clearance cars the 6 miles will likely take about 45 minutes to 1 . The next morning Id do more swimming and exploringbefore packing up and leaving Berry Island for the next traveler. If you have the misfortune of arriving before the mosquitoes have left, all the water clarity, Cascade views, pristine wilderness, and incredible sunsets wont mean a thing; the predominant memory will be of trill, bloodthirsty, aerial mobs. Valley in the Baker City area to mine gold. Diamond Peak sits within the Diamond Peak Wilderness which is part of Willamette National Forest. Total of 76.4 miles via Crescent Lake and NF-398 which requires a high clearance vehicle. State. 2023 www.statesmanjournal.com. Not only is South Sister a stunning image and visible from hundreds of miles throughout Central Oregon, but it is a great beginner climb to introduce hikers to high altitude mountain life. Even with these high clearance cars the 6 miles will likely take about 45 minutes to 1 hour to navigate. Summit Lake has a small first come first serve campground if you want to spend the night after a long day of summiting. (view to the south from Diamond Peak summit), *All pictures unless otherwise marked are taken by Franziska Weinheimer, connector trail and would eventually take you to. "Money itself is worth far more than anything you could possibly buy with it. There is a lot of wildlife here and in fall it is a popular hunting area. It's not completelyfree of flames and smoke, but it doesn't have massive closures in place. ( Look for rock "walls" This was my biggest worry from pre-trip planning because it was difficult for me to scout the road condition from the internet. (view looking south of the false summit from the spine), (view to the north from Diamond Peak summit). Directions: There are two routes from Willamette Pass Highway 58 in Oakridge. Emily Exit). Timpanogas also makes a wonderful base camp for hiking or backpacking. Regional discussion and conditions reports for Washington and Oregon. Then turn onto rough and rutted FSR 6010 for 6.5 miles to Summit Lake Campground. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors. Discover campsites, ranches, vineyards, farms, glamping, public parks and more. Print/PDF map. Days spent gliding across sapphire water in a canoe or kayak, weaving among islands and peninsulas in search of sand beaches and groves of huckleberries,is an experience close to heaven. 770 for another 2 miles. Sharing is caring, y'all. Gorgeous Cascade lake. Background on Diamond Peak can be found at Summit Posts' very helpfulpage. The Pacific Crest Trail meanders around Summit Lake, and the section that heads north is one of the most popular approaches for Diamond Peak. ) or https:// means you've safely United States. and '49 Jimmie, whose only companion was a rooster with whom he shared One area where the fires haven't been quite so bad isWillamette Pass, southeast of Eugene. Diamond Peak rises above the south shoreline, and numerous islands and inlets invite exploring via boat. Summit Lake is the smallest and most remote of the three-lake sequence that sits in the glaciated basin just east of Diamond Peak. Sweet Home, OR 97386 ) or https:// means you've safely Westfir, OR 97492 You will still have great views from there towards the south as well as to the east and west. Personally, I love bringing a hammock, lunch and book to Indigo. Early start because we have a 6.5 mile drive to the trailhead on an unimproved forest service road (FR398/6010 from Crescent Lake west towards Summit Lake/PCT); none of us had driven that route or type of road before and weren't sure if a Subaru Outback would handle it (it would be fine). For the best experience, bring a canoe or kayak and pack your gear onto the water, where youre allowed to camp at a number of islands and peninsulas. connected to the .gov website. Suite A Follow this road and signs for Summit Lake about 6.5 miles to a major (but barely marked) junction. We had a successful summit, everything went to plan, and we all enjoyed ourselves. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 7 h 28 min to complete. The first thing that grabs your attention about Summit Lake is the clarity of the water. At a fork take a slight right for 0.3 miles, then continue straight ontoNF-700 for 5.2 miles. At its western end, Dead Indian Road begins at its junction with Highway 66, just outside Ashland; at its east end, the road junctions with Highway 140 at Lake of the Woods. The solitude is deeper and more satisfying you might score your own swimming hole or viewpoint, andthere's littleconcern of an obnoxious group showing up next door.