Sherar Burn Road - a white-knuckle experience (Tom Kloster)

Remains of the old garage that now marks the upper trailhead (Tom Kloster)

Kinzel Lake Road to the lower trailhead and campsites (Tom Kloster)

• Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
• Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
• Latitude, Longitude: 45.25559, -121.86253
• Elevation: 4500 feet
• Driving time from Portland: 2.25 hours

Hikes starting here

• Devils Peak Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

Hikes including this trailhead

• Green Canyon-Salmon River Loop Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

Fees and Regulations

• none

Driving Directions

A pair of overlapping trailheads to Devils Peak are reached by following the Sherar Burn Road for six bumpy miles beyond the Fir Tree Trailhead. So if you've had enough by the time you've reached that point, consider hiking to Veda Lake, instead! Although a recent grading project filled in some of the most astounding potholes, the nine mile ride to the terminus at Devils Peak remains an adventure, and one best attempted in a high-clearance vehicle. The reward for enduring the access road is a relatively easy, scenic hike to Devils Peak, or a slightly longer trip from remote Kinzel Lake.

To reach the trailhead, drive on Highway 26 to Government Camp, then proceed 0.3 miles past the Timberline Road intersection to the Still Creek Campground road. Turn right, and travel through the campground, exiting on the south end, where the road turns to gravel. Turn right on E. Chimney Rock Road (Forest Road 126) when you reach the Summit Meadow area after approximately one-third mile, and continue to a four-way intersection. Go straight, passing a “Sherar Burn Road” sign (Forest Road 2613), and more ominously “End Maintenance”.

From here, the road is bumpy, though it was re-graded in 2004 to cover some of the more notorious boulders and potholes. Follow this road for just over 9 miles to a possibly unmarked fork, where the short spur road to the left drops to Kinzel Lake and the spur road to the right ends at the foundation of an old supply garage that once served the Devils Peak lookout. For the shorter hike, take the right fork and park in the turnaround. From this upper trailhead, one sign marks the Kinzel Lake Trail (no. 665), which drops to the lake (and alternate trailhead) in 0.3 mile, while another marks the Hunchback Trail (no. 793), which climbs toward Devils Peak.

For the slightly longer hike that provides campsites, continue down the left road spur to the primitive Kinzel Lake campground, then walk to the west end to locate the Kinzel Way Trail, following it uphill for 0.3 mile to the upper trailhead.

Page Contributors

• Splintercat (Tom Kloster) (primary)