Information: Crescent Ranger District Office, (541) 433-3200. There are multiple cairns along the route to help find your way but again, not really necessary. The PCT junction with the Marie Lake Trail was clearly marked and we turned West towards Camp (sorry don't have a picture). And that means you might have a little slice of Summit Lake all to yourself. Thielsen and Summit Lake where you came from. Day 2 was uneventful, dawn wake up, breakfast, pack camp and head back to the car. From Hoodoo's (above) we simply drove west along Crescent Lake's north shore until we hit FR 398/6010 which continued directly west to Summit Lake and the Pacific Crest Trail head parking lot (roughly: 43.4632, -122.1341). Summit Lake Campground | Outdoor Project 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. in the valley, head south to Haines, the "biggest little town in McKenzie Bridge, OR 97413 Go island camping at spectacular lake hidden in Oregon mountains, Diamond Peak: Climbing Oregon's misshapen mountain. Longer but less rough route:From Oakridge, head east on Highway 58 for 2 miles and turn right at a sign for Hills Creek Dam. Water Level: Seasonal average? Summit Lake Campground - Crescent, Oregon | Free Camping Near You Fair warning. Though Nighttime low 38F. on official, secure websites. 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). ) or https:// means you've safely on official, secure websites. of wildlife including osprey, bald eagles, deer and elk. Diamond Peak rises above the south shoreline, and numerous islands and inlets invite exploring via boat. This road should not be attempted unless you have a very high clearance Jeep or 4Runner. An official website of the Within a few miles of each other, Grande Ronde Lake and Anthony Lake peaks in view here form the backdrop for the Anthony Lakes Recreation Look for rock "walls" It was a nice easy hike through typical Pac NW conifer forest along the PCT. Summit Lake is the smallest and most remote of the three-lake sequence that sits in the glaciated basin just east of Diamond Peak. Sign up to receive our newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. The highway has several distinct stretches, and is the main east-west highway through Roseburg, and provides access to Crater Lake National Park from the north. Coordinates: 43.46253, -122.13376 ADVENTURES NEAR SUMMIT LAKE At a Glance Activities Bicycling Hiking Horse Riding & Camping Alerts & Warnings Willamette NF Fire Closures View All Forest Alerts Recreation Areas Westfir, OR 97492 You'll pass by a water tank and the road becomes dirt. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. Escape to three of Oregon's most beautiful lakes this September Day Stats: Distance ~ 10.5 miles. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. All Rights Reserved. The trail is open to foot and horse (or other pack stock) travel only. Mountain biking the trail that circles the lake also is popular, as is hiking to various spots in the Waldo Lake Wilderness. As we neared treeline things got more scrubby and we kept an eye out for the cairn which would mark our junction with the Climber's Trail. Turn left onto Timpanogas Road 2154. The Pacific Crest Trail meanders around Summit Lake, and the section that heads north is one of the most popular approaches for Diamond Peak. Summit to Summit Run/Walk Event - Home - Facebook 541-962-8500, 201 East Second St. Note that the "road" into Summit Lake is a rutted and potholed dirt road that you really need a vehicle with some . Please post partners requests and trip plans in the, "Most people are other people. This option requires more planning and there are plenty of regulations about where youre allowed to put down a tent. I, not being from Oregon and having to fly in, was dependent on others for the drive in to the trailhead. It's the fixed rocky terrain that will punish low ground clearance cars. Santiam Summit to Square Lake and Round Lake Trail. Smoke will likely obscure some of your views this summer, but normally, you can see the Three Sisters, Diamond Peak and Mount Thielsen at the top. Zillow has 2385 homes for sale. Try this 13.8-mile out-and-back trail near Crescent, Oregon. ( Follow this road and signs for Summit Lake about 6.5 miles to a major (but barely marked) junction. Diamond Peak Summit - Hike Oregon Note: Some of the data is off due to the different combinations of information sources (topo maps, GPS tracker) I spliced together. Travel east from Oakridge, Oregon for 2 miles and turn right on Kitson Springs County Road (Forest Road 23), continue for 0.5 miles and turn right on Forest Road 21 (Diamond Drive). Discover campsites, ranches, vineyards, farms, glamping, public parks and more. Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Headquarters and WhitmanRanger District, 1550 Dewey Ave Oregon Route 138 - Wikipedia This 106-mile loop is a voyage through gold booms, ghost towns and the After 2 rough miles, the trailhead will be on your left. Continue straight ontoNF-770 for 0.7 miles, then continue ontoFS-6000. For 80 years, boisterous Granite produced Keep in mind this area is infested with mosquitoes from mid-June to mid-August. the railroad helped Baker City outlive many similar boom towns. Diamond Peak summit is one of the best and most underrated summit hikes in the Oregon Cascade range. Then turn onto rough and rutted FSR 6010 for 6.5 miles to Summit Lake Campground. full access. Phone Number. General Information Directions: From Baker City, Oregon head north on Highway 30 toward Haines for approximately 10 miles; In Haines turn left and follow the Anthony Lake Highway signs for approximately 11 miles to Foothill Road; Turn left on Foothill Road and go south for approximately 3.5 miles to Bulger Flat Lane (County Road 566); Turn right on Bulger Flat Lane and head west and south west . all his meals. We left camp about 11:30 am (didn't note the time we arrived Rockpile Lake) heading East on the short Marie Lake Trail back to the PCT where we would turn North to continue towards the Climber's Trail and Diamond Peak. (view of Summit Lake, Cowhorn Mountain, Sawtooth Mountain & Mount Thielsen). Its about more than standing on the mountain top. Regional discussion and conditions reports for Washington and Oregon. Diamond Peak: Central or Southern Cascades? Shorter but very rough route: This route includes a long stretch on a very rutted, difficult to drive road. All loaded up, I pushed off from the shoreline and onto the water. An official website of the Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Road to Summit Lake Near Diamond Peak Oregon. The highlight is an easy-moderate hike of 5 miles round-trip to stunning Indigo Lake. To be sure, there are plenty of pullouts along the primitive roads that follow the north and west shores, but most are in the dense lodgepole and ponderosa growth and miss the sun. This is the last push to the false summit. 541-523-6391, 3502 Highway 30 continues west, past fields of dredge tailings (the earth disturbed by These rocks are loose so choose your footing wisely and just take it slow. Turn, to stay onNF-2154 for 2.5 miles. All rights reserved. Mosquitoes are usually scarce by mid-August, and September is a safer bet. up with the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway at the North Fork John Day Campground. 2023Outdoor Project. United States government. Emily Exit). Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. He is the author of the book Hiking Southern Oregon and can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Try visiting in June, July or early August and youll get massacred by bloodthirsty hoards of tiny vampires that seem to laugh out loud if you try mosquito repellant. From Pendleton, Oregon: Travel Interstate 84 east for 34 miles to Exit 243 (Mt. It's much steeper going than the PCT was, but its solidly within Class I territory. Dead Indian Memorial Road - The Oregon Encyclopedia Summit Lake has a small first come first serve campground if you want to spend the night after a long day of summiting. Springfield,OR 97477 Background on Diamond Peak can be found at Summit Posts' very helpfulpage. Three campgrounds on the shore offer quiet, peaceful places for families, friends and couples. Oregon Route 58 - Wikipedia Crowds: Moderate. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock We were hoping that the trail in to Summit Lake off of US Forest Service road 2154 was open so we road our bikes up there today. Nighttime was utterly silent on Berry Island, and, in a small way, I missed the conversations I often have with follow campers. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. Address Forest Road 6010 Crescent, Oregon GPS: 43.462227, -122.133168 Elevation: 5564' Get Directions Management Public - Forest Service (Official) Website The road in is Dirt. LockA locked padlock The weather continued to be perfect so we didn't feel rushed. Photos (131) Directions. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. In addition to the recreational opportunities on Summit Lake, the campground is just steps away from the Pacific Crest Trail and the hike to Diamond Peak and Marie and Rockpile Lakes. As well as being the third tallest mountain in the state of Oregon. Full of deep ruts and large boulders, the road is treacherous any time of the year but particularly in early summerdue to late snowmelt that makes it easy to get stuck in snow or mud. (541) 383-5300. . Directions:There are two routes from Willamette Pass Highway 58 in Oakridge. I wasted no time setting up my tent and organizing camp, then celebrating with a cool swim. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 7 h 28 min to complete. We found a nice already well established campsite at Rockpile lake and in the interest of time decided not to continue to Marie Lake but quick pitched our tents, had a quick lunch, drop unnecessary gear and head to the summit. Summit Lake, which alsoishome to a boat ramp, outhouse and small campground, is a classic high-risk, high-reward outdoor experience. Follow this paved road half a mile and then turn right onto FSR 21. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/wallowa-whitman/recarea/?recid=80827. ontoUS Forest Service Rd 21 then almost immediately turn, ontoNF-21. Follow this paved road 32 miles. Map Information, See accessible adventures at Detroit Lake & the McKenzie River Valley, Supervisor's Office Its about more than standing on the mountain top. We reached camp just after 6pm. Turn left onto the access road and follow the road to the right. It's unmarked but noted to be a "well worn booth path" with a cairn marking its junction with the PCT. Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. As a bonus, Odell and Crescent Lakes are nearby for frontcountry access and stagingpurposes(I chose Crescent Lake for this trip). Apparently, some people have trouble understanding the concept of burying their poop on the lake's islands and the Forest Service has made bringing a shovel a requirement. Clarkston, WA 99403 541-367-5168, McKenzie River Ranger District Hike to Wildhorse Lake, Princeton, Oregon - The Outbound You will still have great views from there towards the south as well as to the east and west. With a population of 130, Sumpter is a shadow of Fire restrictions stillwerein place, so I was without a campfire, which is just as well since Id need to haul out wood from the mainland. and the town of Granite sprang up. 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. A 4-by-4 high clearance vehicle is recommended for both. Or view a regional map of surrounding Los Angeles trails and campgrounds. This was my biggest worry from pre-trip planning because it was difficult for me to scout the road condition from the internet. Map showing recreational areas. Three miles past Indigo Springs Campground, turn left on Timpanogas Road 2154. Summit Lake Trail In the Oregon Cascades Recreation Area, this trail begins from the Summit Lake Trailhead on Forest Road 6010, crosses Windy Lakes Trail #50, and ends at the Oldenberg Lake Trail #45. There are a few different routes up the mountain, but the route starting at Summit Lake is by far the easiest. Print/PDF map. Before you leave town, be sure to gas up, as no services are available Trailhead (Pacific Crest Trail) to campsite (Rockpile vs. Marie Lake), lunch, drop off extra gear, then on towards the summit. enchanting natural beauty of the Elkhorn Mountains. There are dispersed sites around the lake. Willamette National Forest - Pacific Crest Trailhead - Summit Lake Diamond Peak, southern route via Crescent/Summit Lakes camp at a number of islands and peninsulas, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Island camping isnt allowed. Download the Pacific Northwest Forest Service Recreation App! The lake, second in size to Crater Lake, allows no motorized boats, giving kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, etc. The Summit to Summit event is on Saturday, May 6th, 2023, at the Summit Christian College campus in Gering, NE. Call a ranger to learn more about this camp at My GPS tracker was off for Day 1 Leg 1 (turned it on after lunch); Day 2 I left it on after we already got in the car and started driving which is the reason for the inconsistencies. Both the North Powder River (#1632) and Summit Lake Trails (#1635) begin at this trailhead. Planned for night temps to low 40s. The summit is spectacular though and offers views of the rest of Diamond Peak's arms, and you can see Waldo Lake, Willamette Pass, Maiden Peak, the Three Sisters and Mt. Follow this paved road half a mile and then turn right onto FSR 21. This is just one of the great singletrack trails in the Crescent Lake area. 541-822-3381, Middle Fork Ranger District 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. The roads are mostly paved to four campgrounds. A small wooden sign proclaimed the site Berry Island (elevation 5,650 feet), the perfect nighttime home. connected to the .gov website. Once you get back down to the PCT it is easy cruising though. Then turn onto rough and rutted FSR 6010 for 6.5 miles to Summit Lake Campground. Climb Diamond Peak: You dont need ropes to ascend the dramatic shield volcano that rises over Willamette Pass. 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. United States. ( 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. They might be covered by smoke during a trip, but that will depend on which way the wind is blowing. Access to the campground is rough in good conditions, and excessive rain may make the road impassible, not to mention snow. After the less-than-enjoyable drive, I arrived at Summit Lake and got my first view. Oregon Department of Transportation. Then follow signs for Timpanogas Lake 9.3 miles to the campground. That particular trip was my first to the Cascades and Oregon. Its about protecting what sustains us. The summit is fairly large and flat and during non-windy conditions (which is rare) you could even spend the night up there and witness a life changing sunset and sunrise. 44125 North Santiam Highway SE 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. They are basalt boulders capped with enough topsoil to support the native flora, each its own little Cascade terrain. 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. **If you Google directions to Summit Lake DO NOT take the suggested route even if Google says it is faster. He is the author of the book Hiking Southern Oregon and can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Thanked: 183 times in 105 posts. It is not a bad climb if ridden from north to south either. Summit Lake: 2 Reviews, Map - Oregon | AllTrails Even with these high clearance cars the 6 miles will likely take about 45 minutes to 1 . Byway tour, head south on Oregon Route 7. For 80 years, boisterous Granite produced gold and some legendary characters . (541) 383-5300. Their stories live on in Granite's abandoned buildings. 509-758-0616, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest on Facebook, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest on Twitter. Heading north takes you into the Diamond Peak Wilderness, withhighlights such as Rockpile and Marie lakes. reaching Blue Springs Summit (5,864 ft.), a popular snowmobiling venue. Please contact us with questions and comments. around the rock spires, the only slightly sketchy part of this whole hike. Hard 4.4 (40) Deschutes National Forest. Directions: From Oakridge, continue east on Highway 58 for 1.8 miles to a Hills Creek Dam sign between mileposts 37 and 38. United States. Follow signs to campgrounds or boat ramps. A grove of drooping pines provided shade, and the shoreline included large basalt boulders on one side and a sliver of sand beach on the other. Summit Lake | Outdoor Project . Contact the Middle Fork Ranger District for details (541-782-2283). Coordinates: 43.41151,-122.114059. Then bear right onto Road 21 and follow this paved route 31.2 miles. If you are not wanting to maneuver the rock holds to get past the spires on the way to the summit you can stay at the false summit. Sleep early for pre-dawn start. At its widest point, near Eagleville, the Warners are only 15 miles wide. All Hosts should review and adhere to these standards around providing a positive Hipcamp experience, being a thoughtful neighbor, and serving as a responsible citizen. These factors weighed heavily on my choosing Diamond Peak and this "southern route via Crescent and Summit Lakes." into Phillips Lake, which is a popular boating and fishing spot. All rights reserved. an extensive collection of pioneer antiques. Please consider the weather when making your plans. It is the primary route between the Willamette Valley and south-central Oregon, including the Klamath Falls region. The 7,664-foot mountain is one of the least-climbed peaks in the Cascade Range. There is very little ground vegetation some of which consists of dwarf huckleberry. Primitive campground. Diamond Peak sits within the Diamond Peak Wilderness which is part of Willamette National Forest. The only campground on Summit Lake. Trailhead address: Old Topanga Canyon Road & Summit to Summit Motorway, Topanga, CA 90290. We made slow but steady progress to the false summit (about 3 pm) without issue. 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). Zach Urness has been an outdoors writer, photographer and videographer in Oregon for nine years. Dipping into the best of Oregon's mountain lakes Park. Diamond Peak is absolutely incredible and one of Oregon's most underrated summits! Diamond Peak Via Pacific Crest Trail. Score! Even though this is the Pacific Crest Trail, besides the few weeks that the bubble of thru-hikers come through, this area is not as well traveled as some other areas in Central Oregon because it is so remote. Turn right at signs for Crescent Lake and follow FSR 60 for 7.2 miles around the north side of the reservoir. Oregon. Visit the Eastern Oregon Museum, which features Enter your email below to be notified when we get access. After 0.5 miles, turn, ontoNF-398 for 2.1 miles. Upon arrival, I met a family that has been coming here for 20 years. At a junction turn, NF-398 at a sign for Summit Lake. Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota. Deschutes National Forest. By clicking Agree and join Hipcamp, I agree to Hipcamps. 370). We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. Development: Small campground with three official sites, small boat ramp and pit toilet. Mt. Hood National Forest - Summit Lake Campground - US Forest Service 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. Summit Lake Campground is the little campground that could. The TripCheck website provides roadside camera images and detailed information about Oregon road traffic congestion, incidents, weather conditions, services and commercial vehicle restrictions and registration. There is a lot of wildlife here and in fall it is a popular hunting area. 3106 Pierce Parkway SuiteD For reference, a Subaru Crosstrek barely made it 3 years ago. Backtrack to trailhead/car, drive to Crescent Lake, home. Theres something unique about camping on an island. Despite these charms, the lake remains uncrowded due to three major major problems:awful road access, late snowmelt and mosquitoes. Instead, the pure, clear water you see in Summit Lake comes straight from years of Cascade snowmelt and rain, and in turn this lake becomes a primary source for the much larger . made by early Chinese gold miners along Granite Creek, as they set aside and '49 Jimmie, whose only companion was a rooster with whom he shared Know as well that all the roads around Summit Lake are primitive at best, and youll want a high-clearance, four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle to negotiate them. 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. Elevation: 3,100' gain, 2,700' loss. There's not much you can do about the smoke in Oregon this summer. Small. by Bubba Suess Fri Jun 22, 2012 3:25 am, Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests. In All these factors made it an easy decision to return for a summit run. Posts: 726. The Summit Lake Campground is a great base for exploration. Just be sure to check the. Soon, the Byway turns west and joins the Powder River. People do catch brook trout here, but theyre small and a challenge to hook given the clear water. 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. 2023Outdoor Project. Hike up South Sister (10,358 ft.), Oregon's third tallest mountain, for incredible views and a great introduction to high-altitude hiking. There are probably better ways to spend a day, but I cant think of any. But in order to enjoy it, youll have to make sure you are visiting Summit Lake after mosquito season, which sometimes ends as early as August. Copyright 2023. It can be done as a day trip but makes for a great overnighter for families/kids or those wanting a less strenuous backpacking experience (especially if you only plan to head to Marie/Rockpile Lakes). Ten miles down the road, gold was discovered in Bull Run Creek in 1862, Discover and book tent camping, RV parks, cabins, treehouses, and glampingeverywhere from national parks to blueberry farms. its glory days when miners produced over $10 million in gold ore, and Waldo Lake, less than a two hour drive from Eugene, Oregon is a pristine lake nestled into the Cascade Mountain range. Follow this road and signs for Summit Lake about 6.5 miles to a major (but barely marked) junction. Situated in Kalmath National Forest right on Oregon's southern border, this remote dispersed campground is close to the Pacific Crest Trail and Mt. 46375 Highway 58 When Forest Road 73 ends A five-pound website belongs to an official government organization in the As planned, the trip was a complete success. 2023 Hipcamp, Inc. All rights reserved. Bachelor in the distance to the north. It wasnt much less than an acre in size but it had character. Some sites/trip reports indicate a permit was needed to park but I couldn't that up and we didn't use/have one. Camp and hike at the birthplace of the Willamette River From Oakridge, head east on Highway 58 for 2 miles and turn right at a sign for Hills Creek Dam. United States. Timpanogas also makes a wonderful base camp for hiking or backpacking. General Information Directions: From Sandy, OR - follow Highway 26 south approximately to Primary Forest Route 42. Turn right onto Forest Service Road 3113 and travel about 0.8 miles to the access road to Summit Guard Station. until you reach Baker City. The ideal time to visit Summit Lake is early September, after Labor Day, when the weather is warm enough for swimming but the nights are cool enough to eliminate mosquitoes. This trailhead provides access for the Pacific Crest Trail at Summit Lake. They said Summit Lake gets a fair amount of visitors on August and September weekendsbut stays mostly quiet mid-week. The Staley Fire is somewhatnear Timpanogas and Summit, but both remain open to the public.