Oregon · Hiking · Sky Lakes Wilderness

Cliff Lake

0.6 mi
round trip
128 ft
climb
6,276 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Cliff Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in High Cascades Ranger District. It doesn't name Cliff 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.

Cliff Lake is a short, easy hike in the Sky Lakes Wilderness, part of the High Cascades Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests in southern Oregon. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is about 0.6 miles long, with a total climb of about 128 feet. It is an out-and-back route, and the steepest stretch comes early, at about 5% grade. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 69°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the low 30s and rain on most days. The trail is natural-surface and not accessible. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. The Rogue Wolf Loop and Lake Ivern are both within half a mile, and the Seven Lakes Trail and Devils Peak are about 0.8 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Cliff Lake

    Best months: June–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

      33° / 20°

      18 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 19°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      36° / 20°

      18 wet

    4. Apr

      40° / 23°

      16 wet

    5. May

      49° / 29°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      57° / 34°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 41°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      69° / 42°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      63° / 37°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      51° / 30°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      38° / 23°

      16 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 19°

      18 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Crater Lake Nps Hq, OR, 17.4 mi away at 6,485 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. 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

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Rogue Wolf LoopPhoto: cm195902, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rogue Wolf Loop

Next door

An 18-mile point-to-point Oregon trail through Rogue River wilderness.

Lake IvernPhoto: cm195902, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lake Ivern

Next door

3.69-mile out-and-back trail to Lake Ivern in Oregon with 292 ft gain.

Devils PeakPhoto: cm195902, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Devils Peak

~1 min drive

2.47-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 523 ft elevation gain.

Snow LakesPhoto: ex_magician, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Snow Lakes

~10 min drive

13-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,421 ft gain.

HIKE

THREEMILE LOOP

~10 min drive

17.06-mile out-and-back out-and-back in Oregon with 3,545 ft elevation gain

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

Nannie Creek Trail

~4 min drive

1.81-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 995 ft gain

Donna LakePhoto: cm195902, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Donna Lake

~6 min drive

1.60-mile out-and-back trail to Donna Lake in Oregon with 83 ft gain.

South Fork WildernessPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

South Fork Wilderness

~11 min drive

9.77-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon's South Fork Wilderness with 1,223 ft gain.

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

Divide

~6 min drive

5.80-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,337 ft elevation gain.

SKY LAKES CUTOFFPhoto: cm195902, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

SKY LAKES CUTOFF

~7 min drive

3.54-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 702 ft gain and loss.