Oregon · Hiking

Helen Lake

0.6 mi
round trip
260 ft
climb
5,367 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Helen Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Helen Lake is a short, easy out-and-back hike in the Middle Fork Ranger District of Oregon's Willamette National Forest, about 0.6 miles long and rising about 110 feet from the trailhead. The route starts at roughly 5,244 feet and reaches a high point of about 5,367 feet, with the steepest stretch at the beginning, where the grade reaches about 9 percent. The trail is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The Forest Service manages the land, and the hike is open year-round, with an estimated half-hour to complete it. 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 only about three wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and regular snow days. Field Lake lies just 0.1 mile away, and Taylor Butte is about 0.3 mile off. For an overnight stay, Skookum Creek Campground and North Waldo are both about 3.7 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Helen 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, 18.3 mi away at 4,800 ft. The station sits about 600 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

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

Harralson

~6 min drive

2.09-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 6,108 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)

~6 min drive

19.81-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 7,223 ft elevation gain/loss.

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

Rigdon Lakes

~6 min drive

4.16-mile out-and-back trail to Rigdon Lakes in Oregon with 455 ft gain.

HIKE

Pacific Crest Trail_def

~5 min drive

16.86-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 3,127 ft elevation gain.

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

Harralson Tie Trail

~7 min drive

1.26-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 176 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Six Lakes

~5 min drive

10.44-mile out-and-back trail with 1,288 ft gain in Oregon.

HIKE

Whig and Torrey Way

~3 min drive

4.14-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 127 ft gain.

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

CHARLTON LAKE

~7 min drive

3.0-mile out-and-back trail to Charlton Lake in Oregon with 397 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Blair Lake

~5 min drive

6.80-mile out-and-back trail to Blair Lake in Oregon with 1,412 ft gain.

HIKE

Williams Lake

~5 min drive

5.20-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 845 ft elevation gain.