Revision as of 14:39, 20 September 2023

Pamelia Lake (Cheryl Hill)

The trail to Pamelia Lake

• Start point: Pamelia Lake Trailhead
• End point: Pamelia Lake
• Hike Type: Out-and-back
• Distance: 4.4 miles
• Elevation gain: 800 feet
• High point: 3,900 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Seasons: June-November
• Family Friendly: Yes
• Backpackable: Yes
• Crowded: Yes

Hike Description

This easy family-friendly hike leads to a large and popular lake in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness. Mosquitoes are abundant in July, but by late summer the lake level drops significantly. Due to rising visitation and negative visitor impacts, limited entry permits have been in place at Pamelia Lake since 1995. You'll need to reserve a permit in advance on recreation.gov for both day and overnight trips.

The trail begins at the far end of the parking area by the signboards on the left. Cross the boundary into the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness. The climb is very gradual as you hike through the forest. The boulders you see piled up in the forest are from a debris flow that surged off the slope of Mt. Jefferson on November 6, 2006. Portions of this trail were buried and had to be reconstructed before it could be reopened.

After 2.2 miles reach a junction. The trail to Grizzly Peak goes right and the trail upstream along Hunts Creek to Hunts Cove goes left. Head straight on a path that leads down to the northwest tip of Pamelia Lake. You'll find campsites in the trees on either side of this path. Emerge from the trees and see the 52 acre lake stretched out before you. In late summer the water level may be low enough that you can walk on the exposed lakebed to the right and get a view of the tip of Mt. Jefferson peeking up above the ridge.

Return the way you came.

Fees, Regulations, etc.

• Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required
• Central Cascades Wilderness Permit required: $6 overnight permit; $1 per person day use (June 15th - October 15th)
• No camping within 100 feet of the high water mark of the lake.
• Campfires are permitted in the area (except during fire bans) and must be at least 100 feet from any lake, stream, or wet area, and below 5700' elevation.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder
• Green Trails Maps: Mt Jefferson, OR #557 and Three Fingered Jack, OR #589
• U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Detroit Ranger District
• U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Willamette National Forest
• Pacific Northwest Recreation Map Series: Willamette Cascades
• Pacific Northwest Recreation Map Series: Central Oregon Cascades
• Geo-Graphics: Mount Jefferson Wilderness
• National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington
• Adventure Maps: Mount Jefferson, Bull of the Woods & Opal Creek Wilderness Trail Map

Trip Reports

• Search Trip Reports for Pamelia Lake Hike

• Pamelia Lake Trail 6/30/08
• Recliner backpacking at Pamelia Lake 8-27-11 thru 8-29-11

Related Discussions / Q&A

• Search Trail Q&A for Pamelia Lake Hike

Guidebooks that cover this destination

• 101 Hikes in the Majestic Mount Jefferson Region by Matt Reeder
• 100 Hikes: Central Oregon Cascades by William L. Sullivan

More Links

• Pamelia Lake Trail #3439 (USFS)
• Pamelia Lake (Just Peachy)
• Pamelia Lake Overnighter (wanderingyuncks)
• Pamelia Lake Trail (AllTrails)
• Pamelia Lake, Grizzly Peak offer pocket of green amid increasingly burned Jefferson Wilderness (Statesman Journal)
• Hike to Pamelia Lake's 'permit entry zone' for preview of system that will limit Oregon hikers in 2020 (Statesman Journal)
• Pamelia Lake hike near Mount Jefferson offers stunning Cascade views and water scenery (Bend Bulletin)
• Analysis of Geomorphic and Hydrologic Characteristics of Mount Jefferson Debris Flow, Oregon, November 6, 2006 (USGS)

Contributors

• justpeachy (creator)