Oregon · Hiking · Waldo Lake Wilderness

Blair Lake

6.8 mi
round trip
2,007 ft
climb
5,081 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Blair Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Willamette National Forest. It doesn't name Blair Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Blair Lake is a 6.8-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon's Waldo Lake Wilderness, within the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest. The trail climbs about 1,000 feet one way, with a total round-trip gain of about 2,000 feet, and the high point reaches 5,081 feet. The route is rated hard, and the steepest stretch comes at about 1.7 miles in, where the grade reaches 32 percent. The trail is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The Forest Service manages the land. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Odell Lake show July and August highs around 73 to 74°F with only about three wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and regular snow days. The trip takes about 3.5 hours, and the trail is open year-round. Six Lakes and Upper Quinn are both within a third of a mile. Skookum Creek Campground is about 3.6 miles away, and the Lost Art Area climbing area is about 4.9 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Blair Lake

    Best months: May–October. 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

      35° / 20°

      14 wet · 10 snow

    2. Feb

      38° / 21°

      13 wet · 9 snow

    3. Mar

      42° / 24°

      14 wet · 8 snow

    4. Apr

      46° / 28°

      11 wet · 4 snow

    5. May

      55° / 34°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      63° / 38°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      73° / 44°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 42°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 36°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 30°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      41° / 26°

      14 wet · 6 snow

    12. Dec

      34° / 20°

      15 wet · 10 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Odell Lake-East, OR, 19.2 mi away at 4,800 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Waldo Mountain Trail #3592Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Waldo Mountain Trail #3592

~6 min drive

2.22-mile out-and-back trail at Waldo Mountain with 758 ft gain.

Salmon LakesPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Salmon Lakes

~7 min drive

2.61-mile out-and-back trail to Salmon Lakes in Oregon with 423 ft gain.

Jim Weaver Loop(waldo Lake)Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Jim Weaver Loop(waldo Lake)

~9 min drive

19.81-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 7,223 ft elevation gain/loss.

Rigdon LakesPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rigdon Lakes

~7 min drive

4.16-mile out-and-back trail to Rigdon Lakes in Oregon with 455 ft gain.

HarralsonPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Harralson

~9 min drive

2.09-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 6,108 ft elevation gain.

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Six Lakes

Next door

10.44-mile out-and-back trail with 1,288 ft gain in Oregon.

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GANDER LAKE

~5 min drive

1.42-mile out-and-back trail with 1,235 ft gain and 4,881 ft max elevation

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Upper Quinn

Next door

Upper Quinn is a 1.08-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 61 ft of elevation gain.

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Winchester Ridge

~2 min drive

10-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,543 ft gain.

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Williams Lake

~5 min drive

5.20-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 845 ft elevation gain.