9 articles found with the search of "canyon meadow"

The Hike to Carl Lake is Little Known

Many in Central Oregon know of the hike to Three Fingered Jack via Canyon Meadow. This trailhead to this hike is accessed from Jack Lake which is at the end of Forest Service Road 1234 in the Mt Jefferson Wilderness. Forest Service Road 1234 splits off Forest Service Road 1230 roughly two miles off paved Jack Lake Road. If instead of turning on 1234 to the Jack Lake Trailhead, people wanting a different experience can continue on 1230 for seven miles to reach the Cabot Lake (Carl Lake) trailhead (the last two miles of this road is rough). 

The first mile and a half of this hike is through the recovering burned forest of the B & B complex fire of 2003, but after that, the hike is in old growth forest. Two miles in the trail passes an overgrown and uncleared spur that can take hikers to Cabot Lake, a lovely forest lake. The trail has numerous blueberry bushes and in the fall, interesting mushrooms. After a series of switchbacks climbing a ridge, the trail levels out and passes three small unnamed lakes until at five miles the trail reaches Carl Lake.

Carl Lake is a lovely, deep blue, glaciated, trout filled alpine lake. There are also many camping spots dotted around the lake for those who wish to spend some time enjoying the area. For those wishing more hiking challenges, past the south side of the lake is a trail that goes to Shirley Lake and beyond it, climbs to reach the Pacific Crest Trail. Two tenths of a mile south on the PCT is a spur trail trail west that hikers can use to summit South Cinder Cone. For those who do, the views toward Mt. Jefferson to the north and Three Fingered Jack to the south are truly outstanding. 

Day hikers can enjoy the entire trip from the trailhead up South Cinder Cone and back in 14.28 miles and see very few if any people.

What's in the August 2025 Bend Premier Newsletter?

• It is Taking Longer to Sell Bend Homes
• Gyro Smash Tacos
• Selling in Summer Versus Fall: What Changes and What Doesn't
• The Wildflowers Are Blooming at Canyon Meadow at Three Fingered Jack
• Home Price Forecasts for the Second Half of 2025

The Wildflowers are Abundant in Central Oregon's Canyon Meadow in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness

The heavy snow experienced during the winter of 2024-2025 delayed the opening of the most popular Central Oregon hikes until later in the summer. However, the heavy snow also provided extra moisture in the soil which has resulted in a fabulous wildflower season. Among the best areas for wildflowers in the Central Oregon Cascades is Canyon Meadow, part of the hike to the base of Three Fingered Jack. Canyon Meadow hike is a moderate loop that takes hikers from Jack Lake to the meadow and then returns through the burned forest resulting from 2003's B & B complex fire. However, for those wanting a more challenging hike, taking the unmaintained spur from Canyon Meadow to Three Fingered Jack provides for spectacular views and a tough scramble up the moraine of Jack Glacier (unofficial name) which is mostly gone. The aqua blue of the glacial lake was especially stunning the beginning of August. Hikers can climb the moraine until they reach the ridge connecting Three Fingered Jack with the unnamed colorful hoodoo next to it. The flat top of the ridge can be a great location for lunch or a snack before taking the slow trek down the moraine back to the more established trail. There is a side trail that can be taken to the upper meadows following the stream which exits the moraine. The upper meadow was stunning with blooming wildflowers the beginning of August. Once the lower meadow is reached, the loop back to Jack Lake can be taken, although much of this is in burned forest. Another option is to return the way hikers arrived at Canyon Meadow rather than continuing the loop through the burned forest. This will add elevation and distance, however.

All in all, for those not taking the loop but returning the way to Jack Lake that they arrived at Canyon Meadow, the entire hike is roughly 8 miles and just shy of 1800 feet of elevation gain.

What's in the October 2024 Bend Premier Real Estate Newsletter?

• Bend Home Sales Are Up
• Easy Cheeseburger Soup
• Fall Activities in Central Oregon
• Canyon Meadow Hike
• The Top Three Reasons Affordability is Improving

Canyon Meadow is a Permitted Hike in the Mt Jefferson Wilderness

Canyon Meadow is a relatively easy hike in Central Oregon if limited to just the meadow loop which takes trekkers through burned forest, old growth forest and the meadow back to the beginning at Jack Lake. However, many will take the one way climb past the meadow up to the base of Three Fingered Jack. This adds significant elevation gain as well as beautiful views of Three Fingered Jack, sometimes including mountain goats and technical climbers on the craggy top of the mountain. For those adventurous enough to climb the loose rock and pumice past the glacial lake onto the ridge separating Three Fingered Jack from the nearby unnamed hill, the views south toward the Three Sisters and Mt. Washington and the views north toward Mt. Jefferson are spectacular. 

Scrambling down the loose scree from the view points takes time, and trekking poles can be very helpful. Once the difficult section of the hike is passed, people can return the way they had come, or for a difference experience they can hike down the meadow following the stream that flows from the moraine holding the glacial lake. During certain times of the year, this path can be through acres of lupine dominated wildflowers. For those who take the entire Canyon Meadow loop as suggested, the trip results in over 1600 feet of elevation gain and under eight miles in length.