Linton Lake Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Linton Lake Trailhead
- End point: Linton Lake
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike type: Out and back
- Distance: 3.0 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 250 feet
- High point: 3,740 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: Mid summer through fall
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: Yes (there are campsites at the lake)
- Crowded: On weekends
Contents |
Hike Description
This is an easy hike that is good for kids. It works well as an overnight camping trip, but there are no bathrooms at the lake. You'll enjoy a nice short scenic walk through rhododendron and fir forests as well as over a small lava field at the high point of the hike. The trail can be crowded on weekends, so plan for a weekday hike.
The trail starts out at the Linton Lake Trailhead across Highway 242 from the Alder Springs Campground. From your car, cross the road, and look for a set of stairs leading up to a trail sign marking the Linton Lake Trail. From here, travel along the well graded trail under Douglas firs. The route is easy to follow and well maintained. The path comes to a closed off junction, and then starts a mild climb up a hill to the right at about 3/4 mile. The trail climbs up the hillside and then comes to a flat section with many lava boulders. This is the high point of the hike. The trail now descends in a few switchbacks. Then you see your first views of Linton Lake at 1 1/8 mile from the road. The route continues another 3/8 mile, descending along the lake edge to a group of campsites at one of the lake's two inlets, Obsidian Creek.
You can stop here and turn around, or set up a camp. You could also continue on a less traveled (and less crowded) route around the lake another 1/2 mile to another campsite area along the banks of the larger Linton Creek. There is also a nice view of the sunset from the Linton Creek campsites.
A side trip up Linton Creek to two major waterfalls is a fun adventure for those in good shape. See more about this side trip at the Linton Falls Add-on Hike page.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Green Trails Maps: Three Sisters #621
- Geo-Graphics: Three Sisters Wilderness Map
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: McKenzie 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
- Adventure Maps: Three Sisters Wilderness Trail Map
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Bend – Three Sisters
Regulations or Restrictions, etc.
- Self-issued wilderness permit needed
- Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required
- Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for overnight stays required ($6 reservation fee: June 15th - October 15th)
- Fishing permit needed to fish for people ages 14 and up
- Highway 242 closed from mid-fall through mid-spring
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Linton Lake
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Linton Lake
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Best Hikes With Kids: Oregon by Bonnie Henderson & Zach Urness
- Best Hikes with Children: Western & Central Oregon by Bonnie Henderson
- 100 Hikes: Central Oregon Cascades by William L. Sullivan
- Central Oregon: Walks, Hikes & Strolls for Mature Folks by Marsha Johnson
- Hiking Oregon's Central Cascades by Bruce Grubbs
- 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
- Hiking Central Oregon & Beyond by Virginia Meissner
- 60 Hiking Trails: Central Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Central Oregon Wilderness Areas by Donna Ikenberry Aitkenhead
More Links
- Linton Lake Trail #3519 (USFS)
- Linton Lake Hike (Outdoor Project)
- Linton Falls from Linton Lake (wanderingyuncks)
- Proxy Falls and Linton Lake (OregonAdventures)
- "Linton Lake is an easy low-elevation hiking destination" (The Nugget Newspaper)
- Linton Lake: Three Sisters Wilderness (Cascade Ramblings)
- Linton Lake (Northwest Wildflowers)
Contributors
- pyles_94 (creator)