California · Hiking

Paynes Lake

Paynes LakePhoto: Calaina, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
3.2 mi
round trip
1,427 ft
climb
6,488 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Paynes Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Klamath National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Klamath National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Paynes Lake is a moderate out-and-back hike in the Scott River Ranger District of Klamath National Forest in northern California, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 3.2 miles long, with an elevation gain of 1,427 feet, taking you from a low point of about 5,033 feet to a high of about 6,488 feet. The route is natural-surface, and the climb is spread across the full length of the hike. The most comfortable time to go is typically late spring through early fall, when temperatures at the trail's lower end run in the 60s and 70s, based on typical averages from a nearby weather station. Winter brings cold and frequent rain, so plan for that if you're hiking in the off-season. Several other trails sit close by. Duck Lake and Horse Range Creek are each about 0.9 miles away, and Albert Lake Trail is about 1.2 miles off. For an overnight stay, Idlewild campground is about 6.4 miles away.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Duck LakePhoto: theforestprimeval, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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HORSE RANGE CREEKPhoto: Calaina, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Lipstick LakePhoto: Calaina, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Hogan LakePhoto: Calaina, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Albert Lake TrailPhoto: Calaina, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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HorseshoePhoto: theforestprimeval, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Eaton LakePhoto: theforestprimeval, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Eaton Lake

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Horse Range TrailPhoto: Calaina, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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