Happy Lake
- 0.9 mi
- round trip
- 204 ft
- climb
- 5,341 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Oct
- best months
Is Happy Lake open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Willamette National Forest. It doesn't name Happy Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.
Cedar Creek Fire Closure
Agency closure covering Willamette National Forest · Order 06-18-10-26-04 · USFS · Willamette National Forest
FIRE CLOSURES: Current wildfire closures on the Willamette National Forest
Agency alert covering Willamette National Forest · USFS · Willamette National Forest
2026 Active Wildfire
Agency alert covering Middle Fork Ranger District · USFS · Middle Fork Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Willamette National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Happy Lake is an easy, short hike in the Diamond Peak Wilderness, part of the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest in Oregon. The trail runs about a mile, from a low point of 5,273 feet to a high of 5,341 feet, with a total climb of 204 feet for the round trip. The route is natural-surfaced and suited to horses, which are allowed, while bikes are not. That makes it a practical outing for riders on horseback, as well as for hikers. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Odell Lake-East weather station 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 frequent snow days. Diamond Peak and Blue Lake, both about 1.6 miles away, are the closest hikes. Indigo Springs campground is about 4.9 miles off, and the Middle Fork Willamette River offers canoeing about 6 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Shelter Cove Resort & Marina8 mi away
- Casey's Riverside RV Resort22 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Oct
Best time to visit Happy 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.
Jan
35° / 20°
14 wet · 10 snow
Feb
38° / 21°
13 wet · 9 snow
Mar
42° / 24°
14 wet · 8 snow
Apr
46° / 28°
11 wet · 4 snow
May
55° / 34°
9 wet · 1 snow
Jun
63° / 38°
6 wet
Jul
73° / 44°
3 wet
Aug
74° / 42°
3 wet
Sep
68° / 36°
5 wet
Oct
55° / 30°
9 wet · 1 snow
Nov
41° / 26°
14 wet · 6 snow
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, 11.3 mi away at 4,800 ft. The station sits about 500 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
Photo: opiebreath, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Yoran Lake
~7 min drive
8.02-mile out-and-back trail to Yoran Lake in Oregon with 1,113 ft of descent.
Photo: James Wellington, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)VIVIAN LAKE
~8 min drive
1.06-mile out-and-back trail to Vivian Lake in Oregon with 212 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)DIAMOND CREEK FALLS LOOP XC
~9 min drive
2.35-mile loop with 1,004 ft gain and 980 ft loss in Oregon.
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)WHITEFISH CREEK
~13 min drive
21.64-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,508 ft elevation gain/loss
Whitefish Creek Trail
~11 min drive
19.3-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,152 ft elevation gain and loss.
Photo: Don Henise, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Vivian Lake
~8 min drive
Vivian Lake is a 0.60-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 34 feet of elevation gain.
Photo: neverbutterfly, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Devil's Garden
~10 min drive
2.40-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,362 ft gain.
HIKE
Diamond Peak Trail #3699
~10 min drive
9.94-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,437 ft gain.
HIKE
Vivian Lake Trail #3662
~4 min drive
11.32-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 3,069 ft elevation gain.
Photo: opiebreath, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Deer Creek
~9 min drive
2.00-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 97 ft gain and 244 ft loss.