Oregon · Hiking

Alta Lake

0.2 mi
distance
4,876 ft
high point
Lollipop
route
Easy
difficulty
May–Sep
best months

Is Alta Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in High Cascades Ranger District. It doesn't name Alta Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · High Cascades Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Alta Lake is an easy hike of about 0.15 miles in the High Cascades Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests in southern Oregon. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is flat, with no elevation gain or loss. The lake sits at about 4,870 feet, with the start at roughly 4,865 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 85°F with lows near 42°F, while winter brings highs in the upper 30s and regular snow days from December through February. Middle Fork is about a mile away and Halifax about 2 miles. The Middle Fork Rogue River offers canoeing about 3 miles off, and Bessie Shelter, a campground, is about 3.5 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Alta Lake

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      39° / 19°

      13 wet · 6 snow

    2. Feb

      44° / 22°

      11 wet · 5 snow

    3. Mar

      50° / 25°

      11 wet · 4 snow

    4. Apr

      57° / 28°

      10 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      66° / 33°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 37°

      4 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 42°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 41°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      77° / 34°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      64° / 27°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      48° / 24°

      12 wet · 3 snow

    12. Dec

      39° / 19°

      14 wet · 7 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Chiloquin 12 Nw (Fort Klamath), OR, 14.7 mi away at 4,180 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Stage 2 Public Use Fire Restrictions (Forest-wide)

      Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests · Order dated September 4, 2026; seen Sep 3, 2026 → lifted Oct 28, 2026 · Forest Service

    • Stage 3 Public Use Fire Restrictions (Forest-wide)

      Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests · Order dated July 17, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Sep 3, 2026 · Forest Service

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