11 articles found with the search of "oregon cascades"

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.

Leave the Path to Find Little Seen Tarn Lakes Above Green Lakes

There are hidden treasures in the Three Sisters Wilderness which can be found for those willing to leave the path and follow a compass or GPS to locate them. In particular, there are several beautiful tarn lakes located roughly a half mile off the Green Lakes trail which connects the Green Lakes valley with Park Meadow over the pass between South Sister and Broken Top. There is no path to these lakes, but people good with following a downloaded map can find them. The first four lakes can mirror views of South Sister and their general location can provide views toward Golden Lake as well.

Past the four lakes walking toward Broken Top, hikers can follow a general topography line on a map and find the other two tarn lakes located just below Broken Top. These two lakes can more easily be accessed by following the path next to the creek which flows into Golden Lake. Both of these tarn lakes are located in a cirque bordered by a moraine. On the lower lake, the beautiful blue water was flowing over the top of the moraine forming a waterfall flowing into the creek below in early August 2025. At other times, the water which flows into the creek comes out of a spring at the base of the moraine. At the upper lake, sometimes the voices of people on the top of the ridge overlooking Broken Top's No Name Lake can be heard, although they are not seen due to obstruction from topography and vegetation. 

The more direct route back to the trail is following the path down the creek to Golden Lake and from there, rejoining the Green Lakes Trail. Hikers can either return to Green Lakes over the pass or travel northeast to Park Meadow and from there to the Park Meadow trail head near Three Creeks. This second option will involve hiking through over 4.5 miles of burned forest, however. Both methods can be done in a long day, those coming from Green Lakes hiking over 18 miles and those coming from Park Meadow close to 17 miles. Others could pack in camping supplies and better explore and enjoy the day in the area.

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.

Cascade Mountain Hikes in Fall Can Have Unexpected Weather Conditions

Hiking in the Oregon Cascades in the fall can offer amazing experiences with stunning views, early snow, fall colors, and no need for forest passes. However, the weather can also change suddenly and hikers need to be prepared.

On October 26, 2024, the hike from Three Creeks Lake to Tam McArthur Rim began with low clouds covering the Cascades. The hike up from the trailhead (the sign was already covered for winter), to the rim experienced some wind, although much of the early part of the trail was in sheltered forest. Once reaching the rim, the winds really picked up, but the clouds also lifted so that the mountains (Broken Top, The Three Sisters, Mt Washington, Three Fingered Jack) could be seen.

Typically the unmaintained trail from Tam McArthur Rim to Broken Top and No Name Lake is fairly simple until hikers reach the cinder rim which is traversed before getting to Broken Hand. On October 26, the clouds lifted and the wind picked up. For those not prepared for wind chill, the gusty winds would have really impacted comfort. Hiking below Broken Hand rather than across the face made a lot of sense as the wind was getting even more fierce. Upon reaching the ridge overlooking No Name Lake, the wind was extremely strong and it was difficult to even stand; anything loose would have been blown off the ridge. Getting a few pictures and returning to a more sheltered space behind a rock outcropping made sense, as well as drinking hot drinks before attempting the trek back. Very few people traveled this hike to Broken Top this day, although upon returning to Tam McArthur Rim, there were a good number who had reached the rim in the afternoon once the weather warmed a bit. 

Anyone who hikes in the Cascades in the fall needs to be prepared for changing weather and unexpected situations. But for those who do, the rewards can be amazing.

If you are one of the people who love to climb mountains, you are probably familiar with the climber's trail which provides the established way to summit North Sister in the Oregon Cascades. For those not that ambitious but who love a long day hike, taking the trail part way will enable hikers to have amazing Cascades views plus close up access to Hayden Glacier on Middle Sister.

The route to Hayden Glacier starts at the Pole Creek Trailhead. This is the same trail that is taken to reach Camp Lake which provides for wonderful access to the north facing slopes of South Sister. The first 3.5 miles is through the burned forest of the 2012 Pole Creek fire, but after leaving burned woods, the trail enters healthy forest and the trek is shaded. Before hikers reach the North Fork of Whychus Creek, an unmarked trail intersects the main path. Climbers take this path (which has an optional loop up and back) to access the hike to summit North Sister.

The climbers' trail gains elevation quickly as hikers walk up the lower slopes of Middle and North Sister. The first mile or so remains in shaded forest, but as hikers gain elevation, they leave forest and start walking through the jumbled rock and ash of multiple moraines. At one time these were filled with glaciers, but these have mostly melted, leaving behind the steep gullies and loose stone scrapped off the mountains over thousands of years. Climbing up the moraines can be difficult, but coming down is harder as it is easy to slip on the loose stone. 

For those who do continue the technical climb up North Sister, it is recommended this be done in a group with people who really know what they are doing. For those of us who just enjoy a great, long day hike, the option to travel to Hayden Glacier is one very few do and it can be very rewarding. The entire trip, including the loop up and back the climber's trail, is under 3000 feet of elevation gain and less than 13 miles back to the Pole Creek Trailhead.