Oregon · Hiking · Mount Washington Wilderness · Near Sisters

Hand Lake

Hand LakePhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
5.6 mi
round trip
1,046 ft
climb
5,290 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Hand Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Hand Lake is a 5.6-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon's Mount Washington Wilderness, within the McKenzie River Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and is rated moderate, with a total elevation gain of 1,046 feet over the round trip. The route starts at about 4,800 feet and climbs to a high point of 5,290 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 2.4 miles in, where the grade reaches 15%. The trail is on natural surface and allows horses, but bikes are not permitted. The trip takes about 2.5 hours, and the route is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Santiam Junction, which sits about 1,500 feet lower, 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, the Hand Lake Cutoff and Hand Lake Cutoff #4344 both lie within a mile. The Scott Trail #3531 is about 1.5 miles away, and the Benson Lake/Scott Lake Complex campground is about 1.6 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Benson Lake/Scott Lake Complex.

    Campground

    Campground · 1.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    McDonald's

    Fast food

    On your way back · 16 mi
  • If it rains

    Clearwater Gallery

    Gallery

    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 Hand 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, 14.2 mi away at 3,750 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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

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

HAND LAKE CUTOFF

~1 min drive

1.08-mile out-and-back trail with 425 ft elevation gain in Oregon

Scott Trail #3531Photo: Bonnie Moreland (free images), Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Scott Trail #3531

~3 min drive

10.54-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,914 ft elevation gain/loss

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

Scott Mountain

~3 min drive

3.20-mile out-and-back trail to Scott Mountain summit in Oregon.

Pct - Oregon Section FPhoto: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pct - Oregon Section F

~7 min drive

107.17-mile point-to-point trail in Oregon, managed by the Forest Service.

Hand Lake Cutoff #4344Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hand Lake Cutoff #4344

~1 min drive

1.16-mile out-and-back trail with 322 ft gain and loss in Oregon.

Benson Lake Trail #3502Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Benson Lake Trail #3502

~3 min drive

11.3-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 2,597 ft gain/loss and 5,538 ft max elevation.

North Matthieu LakePhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

North Matthieu Lake

~8 min drive

4.18-mile out-and-back to North Matthieu Lake in Oregon with 802 ft gain

HIKE

Deer Butte Trail #3508

~10 min drive

17-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 3,077 ft elevation gain and loss.

Scott-Obsidian TiePhoto: Bonnie Moreland (free images), Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Scott-Obsidian Tie

~3 min drive

1.12-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 79 ft elevation gain.

Millican CraterPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Millican Crater

~9 min drive

8.30-mile out-and-back trail at Millican Crater in Oregon