Oregon · Hiking

Gold Lake

Gold LakePhoto: Bonnie Moreland (free images), Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
9.2 mi
round trip
2,503 ft
climb
5,763 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Gold Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Willamette National Forest. It doesn't name Gold 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.

Gold Lake is a 9.2-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon's Willamette National Forest, within the Middle Fork Ranger District. The trail starts at about 5,754 feet and climbs to 5,763 feet, with a total elevation gain of 2,503 feet for the round trip. The most difficult stretch comes at about 2.7 miles in, where the trail reaches a 12% grade. Bikes and horses are both allowed on this natural-surface route, managed by the Forest Service. 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 lows in the mid-40s and only about three wet days a month. That station sits roughly 960 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. The hike makes a good pairing with other trips in the area. Twins Peak is just 0.1 mile away and Bobby Lake about 0.7 mile off. Shadow Bay campground is 1.5 miles away, and Gold Lake Campground is about 4.3 miles from the trailhead.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Gold 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, 9.5 mi away at 4,800 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Twins PeakPhoto: Bonnie Moreland (free images), Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Twins Peak

Next door

6.18-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 7,650 ft elevation gain.

Bobby Lake TrailPhoto: Bonnie Moreland (free images), Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Bobby Lake Trail

~1 min drive

0.78-mile out-and-back trail at 5,643 ft elevation in Oregon

Mt. Ray Trail #3682Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mt. Ray Trail #3682

~7 min drive

8.32-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 2,310 ft gain/loss and 6,178 ft max elevation.

HIKE

Metolius-Windigo Trail

~7 min drive

40.72-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 3,734 ft elevation 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.

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

Shadow Bay Shoreline

~2 min drive

2.66-mile out-and-back shoreline trail in Oregon with 366 ft gain.

Cupit Mary Meadow Trail #3560Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Cupit Mary Meadow Trail #3560

~9 min drive

3.1-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,311 ft elevation gain and loss.

High Divide Trail #3572Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

High Divide Trail #3572

~4 min drive

9.54-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,936 ft elevation gain and loss.

KOCH MOUNTAINPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

KOCH MOUNTAIN

~8 min drive

2.12-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 684 ft elevation gain and loss.

Skyline Bike Trail #4383Photo: Šarūnas Burdulis from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Skyline Bike Trail #4383

~9 min drive

3.37-mile out-and-back bike trail in Oregon with 382 ft gain.