Camp Lake from Pole Creek Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Pole Creek Trailhead
- Ending Point: Camp Lake
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike type: In and out
- Distance: 14.2 miles
- Elevation gain: 2000 feet
- High Point: 6,980 feet
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Seasons: Summer and early fall
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: Yes
Contents |
Description
This hike takes you to a scenic (and relentlessly windy) alpine lake between South Sister and Middle Sister. The lake is a popular destination, so don't expect solitude. Save this one for a period of good weather as the high elevation and exposure make it a poor place to camp in bad weather. Also be aware that the first 3.7 miles of the hike are through forest burned in the 2012 Pole Creek Fire, so there is no shade. Campfires are not allowed at Camp Lake and a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit is required for overnight stays between June 15th and October 15th.
The Pole Creek Trail heads south from the trailhead, climbing uphill through an area burned during the 2012 Pole Creek Fire, which incinerated 26,000 acres. The trail gets pretty dusty by late summer. On your return trip to the trailhead, you'll get views through the snags of Mount Washington, Black Crater, Mount Jefferson, and Mount Hood on a clear day.
At 1.4 miles, you'll reach the junction with the Green Lakes Trail and turn left. Losing a bit of elevation, the trail heads north and crosses Soap Creek at 2.1 miles. On the other side of the creek is the trail junction with Camp Lake Trail #4074 and a campsite on the right.
Turn right on the Camp Lake Trail, which gradually climbs through the burnt snags. 3.7 miles from the trailhead reach the edge of the burn and enter the cool shady forest.
At 4.7 miles the trail crosses the North Fork Whychus Creek. There is no formal bridge here, but as of 2020 there was a sturdy fallen tree just upstream from the trail that served as a good crossing. Shortly after crossing the creek, reach the junction with the Demaris Lake Trail. If you wish to make a detour to see this lake, it's about a mile one way.
The trail climbs up some steep rocky switchbacks. The trail makes a switchback uphill to the left where there is a fine view of North Sister. Beyond this point, the trail is quite scenic and as you hike, you'll get views of Broken Top and all three of the Sisters at various spots. Paintbrush, heather, and other alpine wildflowers bloom in August.
At 7.1 miles the official trail ends at the northeast end of Camp Lake. South Sister towers over the other side of the lake.
You will find a few campsites to the right, but most of the campsites are in the trees above the lake to the left. Remember to camp at least 200 feet from the shore. Campfires are not allowed anywhere in this area.
EXTENDING YOUR HIKE
You can follow an unofficial user trail to explore the Chambers Lakes on the other side of the ridge. The trail follows the north shore of Camp Lake, crosses a meadow, and climbs steeply up a rocky slope before continuing over the ridge. The two lakes have very large moraines at the far end. There is no outlet stream from the two lakes - the outlet flow is underground.
When the "trail" gets to the lower of the two lakes, it peters out to nothing. Just go down to the lake and walk along the left (south) shore. At the end of the lake, go to the left (southwest), possibly on a faint trail or possibly on a snowfield. There's about a mile of "trail" that is very faint or non-existent.
About 1/4 mile past the lower lake, the trail becomes more visible again. It follows along the bottom of a valley. There are some fairly steep downhill spots. It would be difficult if you weren't on the trail. About 1/2 mile past the lower lake, the trail reaches a gradually sloping meadow area. Here, the trail follows a small stream (Separation Creek). This stream is somewhat silty and can dry up in September.
At mile 9.9 (from Pole Creek Trailhead) and 6430 feet elevation is the Pacific Crest-Camp Lake Trail Junction. The junction is between Separation Creek and Reese Lake which is east of the PCT. There are some campsites around Reese Lake, and the best drinking water is from the lake. The lake is big enough to provide good water, even at the end of the summer.
If you're going up to the Chambers Lakes from the PCT, it's a little difficult to find the trail. The trail is obvious, but unmarked. If you can't find the trail, just go along Separation Creek a short distance, and then you will easily be able to find the trail, which starts out on the north side of the creek, and then follows the creek for about a mile on the south side. Alternatively, if you can find Reese Lake, the trail runs just south of it.
To return to the Pole Creek Trailhead, you could go back the way you came, or you could make a loop by going either direction on the PCT - see the Three Sisters Loop Hike. Either way, it's about 22 miles back to the Pole Creek Trail and another 1.4 miles back to the trailhead.
There are also a couple of other major lakes in the Chambers Lakes chain to the south of Camp Lake within about a mile and 1000 feet of elevation gain.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Green Trails Maps: Three Sisters #621
- Green Trails Maps: Bend – Three Sisters #622SX
- Geo-Graphics: Three Sisters Wilderness Map
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Sisters Ranger District
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Deschutes National Forest
- Pacific Northwest Recreation Map Series: Willamette Cascades
- Pacific Northwest Recreation Map Series: Central Oregon Cascades
- Adventure Maps: Three Sisters Wilderness Trail Map
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Bend – Three Sisters
Fees, Regulations, Facilities, etc.
- Self-issued wilderness permit
- Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required
- Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for overnight stays required ($6 reservation fee: June 15th - October 15th)
- Vault toilet, picnic table, information kiosk
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Camp Lake
- Camp Lake 09/15/2018
- Camp Lake/Three Sisters Wilderness (2016)
- Camp and Chambers Lakes, 3 Sisters 9.16.09
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Camp Lake
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Day Hiking: Bend and Central Oregon by Brittany Manwill
- 100 Hikes: Central Oregon Cascades by William L. Sullivan
- Backpacking Oregon by Douglas Lorain; revised by Becky Ohlsen (Separation Creek Loop)
- Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
- Oregon's Southern Cascades: Camping & Hiking by Tom Stienstra & Sean Patrick Hill
- Pacific Northwest Hiking by Scott Leonard & Sean Patrick Hill
- Central Oregon Wilderness Areas by Donna Ikenberry Aitkenhead
- 60 Hiking Trails: Central Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Hiking Central Oregon & Beyond by Virginia Meissner
More Links
- Pole Creek Trail (USFS)
- Camp Lake Trail (USFS)
- Camp Lake Hike (Northwest Hiker)
- Camp Lake (Just Peachy)
- "Camp Lake Trail into Three Sisters Wilderness one of Oregon's best hikes" (OregonLive)
- "Camp Lake and Chambers Lakes make a monster hike" (The Nugget Newspaper)
- Demaris and Camp Lakes - July 2019 (Ruddy Hill Press)
- Pole Creek to Camp Lake (Chambers Lakes) (Scott Dawson)
- Backpacking to Camp Lake – Three Sisters Wilderness (Let's Go Exploring)
- Pole Creek Trail to Camp Lake – Three Sisters Wilderness (Oregonnater)
- Pole Creek Fire: One Year Later (Oregon Forest Resources Institute)