Oregon · Hiking · Mount Jefferson Wilderness · Near Sisters

Bowerman Lake

6.4 mi
round trip
1,106 ft
climb
5,119 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 16 h ago

Is Bowerman Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Detroit Ranger District. It doesn't name Bowerman Lake, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Bowerman Lake is a 6.4-mile out-and-back hike in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, part of the Detroit Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest in Oregon. The trail climbs from about 4,525 feet to 5,119 feet, with a total gain of 1,106 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 2 miles in, where the grade reaches 24%. The route is rated hard, and the Forest Service manages the land. The trail is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The trip takes about 2.5 hours, and the trail is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Santiam Junction, which sits well below the trail, show July and August highs around 76°F with lows near 42°F. Winter is cold, with January highs around 38°F and lows near 24°F. Nearby, Marion Lake Trail 3436 and Minto Pass are both within about 2 miles. Marion Forks Campground is about 7 miles away, and the North Santiam River offers paddling about 6.6 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Camp Pioneer (BSA Cascade Pacific Council)

    Campground

    Campground · 4.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    The Boathouse

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 10 mi
  • If it rains

    Kiwanis club

    Attraction

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sisters

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Bowerman 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

      38° / 24°

    2. Feb

      41° / 24°

    3. Mar

      44° / 26°

    4. Apr

      49° / 29°

    5. May

      58° / 35°

    6. Jun

      65° / 38°

    7. Jul

      76° / 42°

    8. Aug

      76° / 42°

    9. Sep

      69° / 39°

    10. Oct

      56° / 33°

    11. Nov

      42° / 28°

    12. Dec

      36° / 23°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Santiam Junction, OR, 8.9 mi away at 3,750 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Marion Lake Trail 3436Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Marion Lake Trail 3436

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Minto PassPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Minto Pass

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Marion Lake OutletPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Marion Lake Outlet

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Three-Fingered Jack Climbers TrailPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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Temple LakePhoto: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Pine RidgePhoto: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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HIKE

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