Square Lake Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Santiam Pass Trailhead
- End point: Square Lake
- Hike Type: Out and back
- Distance: 4.6 miles
- Elevation gain: 560 feet
- High point: 5,085 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: Summer and fall: could easily be a good snowshoe in winter
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: No
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Hike Description
This is an easy hike that tours around an area that was burnt by the 2003 B&B fire and in two easy miles leads to an almost eerily quiet lake with a view of Three Fingered Jack. The hike is a good beginner backpack, especially for families.
The hike starts out at the Santiam Pass Trailhead, a well used access point for the Pacific Crest Trail just 20 miles out of the town of Sisters. The trail begins at the east end of the parking lot. After filling out a free self-issued wilderness permit, you will hike a few hundred feet and turn left (north) onto the PCT. After 0.2 miles you will reach the junction with Summit Lake Trail #4014 on the right. Turn right, and follow it as it traverses a slope of burnt forest to a saddle. From here, the trail drops towards Square Lake.
To get the view of Three Fingered Jack, you will want to be on the side of the lake that you see first (the south side). There should be an unmarked junction with a spur trail heading down there. If it seems like you missed it, the terrain is super easy for cross country travel. There is a campsite here with a great firepit, making this a great destination for backpacking with young children. The more adventurous might enjoy the view from the top of the butte to the southwest (Peak 5133). There are no trails, but you can scramble up the side (Class 3). Return the way you came, or you could keep going another two miles to Round Lake, where there is also a trailhead.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Green Trails Maps: Three Fingered Jack, OR #589
- 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
- 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
Regulations or Restrictions, etc.
- $5 parking fee or Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass)
- Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for overnight stays required ($6 reservation fee: June 15th - October 15th)
- A wilderness self-issue permit (available at trailhead) is required.
- Restrooms, picnic tables at trailhead
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Square Lake Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Square Lake Hike
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Day Hiking: Bend & Central Oregon by Brittany Manwill
- 101 Hikes in the Majestic Mount Jefferson Region by Matt Reeder
- 100 Hikes: Central Oregon Cascades by William L. Sullivan
- Oregon: The Creaky Knees Guide by Seabury Blair, Jr.
- Hiking Oregon's Central Cascades by Bruce Grubbs
- Hiking Central Oregon & Beyond by Virginia Meissner
More Links
- Old Summit Trail - Mt. Jefferson (USFS)
- Round Lake Trail (USFS)
- Pacific Crest Trailhead - Santiam Pass (USFS)
- Round and Square Lakes – 10/9/21 (wanderingyuncks)
- Backpack to Square and Booth Lakes (The Outbound)
- Square and Booth Lakes (Richard Hikes)
- Square Lake and Booth Lake - Mt Jefferson Wilderness, Oregon (Loomis Adventures)
- Square Lake (Cascade Ramblings)
Contributors
- Pyles_94 (creator)