Oregon · Hiking · Mount Jefferson Wilderness · Near Sisters

Jefferson Lake

18.2 mi
round trip
2,589 ft
climb
5,262 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Jefferson Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Deschutes National Forest. It doesn't name Jefferson Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Deschutes National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Jefferson Lake is a hard hike in Oregon's Mount Jefferson Wilderness, within the Sisters Ranger District of Deschutes National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back of about 18 miles, with a total elevation gain of roughly 2,589 feet, and it reaches a high point of about 5,262 feet. The route is natural-surfaced and open to horses, and it is managed by the Forest Service. The climb is rolling, with the steepest stretch at about 6.6 miles in, where the grade reaches about 21 percent. The trail starts at an elevation of about 3,196 feet and ends at a similar level, so the total gain and loss are each about 2,589 feet. 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. The trip is estimated to take about 7.5 hours, and the trail is open year-round. Sheep Springs Horse Camp is about 0.4 miles away, and Jefferson Creek Trailhead is about 2.2 miles away. Candle Creek Campground and Cabot Lake Trail #4003 are both within about 3 miles.

Around this trail

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

    Sheep Springs Horse Camp

    Campground

    Campground · 0.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    HOLA

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 9 mi
  • If it rains

    Kiwanis club

    Attraction

    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 Jefferson 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, 16.6 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

Jefferson Creek TrailheadPhoto: DBerry2006, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Jefferson Creek Trailhead

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Green RidgePhoto: DBerry2006, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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HIKE

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West Metolius River TrailPhoto: DBerry2006, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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West Metolius River TrailPhoto: DBerry2006, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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

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

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~10 min drive

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Minto PassPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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