Oregon · Hiking

Lemish Lake

0.5 mi
round trip
157 ft
climb
5,081 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Lemish Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Deschutes National Forest. It doesn't name Lemish Lake, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

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

Lemish Lake is a short, easy hike in the Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District of Oregon's Deschutes National Forest, about half a mile long and with a total climb of about 157 feet. The trail is an out-and-back, and the high point is about 5,081 feet, with the start at roughly 5,009 feet. The trailhead is Lemish Lake Trailhead, and the Forest Service manages the land. The route is natural-surfaced and allows both horses and bikes. The steepest stretch comes early, at about 0.09 miles in, with a grade of about 7 percent. 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. Winter brings highs in the mid-30s and regular snow days from December through February. Nearby, Charlton Trail #19 is about 0.4 miles away, and Many Lakes Trail #15 and the Metolius-Windigo Trail are each about 1.7 miles off. Little Cultus Campground is about 2 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 Lemish 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, 17.2 mi away at 4,800 ft. 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

~9 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)

~10 min drive

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

North ShorePhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

North Shore

~8 min drive

3.42-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 279 ft gain.

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Pacific Crest Trail_def

~5 min drive

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

Charlton Lake Trail #3593Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Charlton Lake Trail #3593

~9 min drive

1.66-mile out-and-back trail to Charlton Lake in Oregon with 208 ft gain.

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Charlton Trail #19

Next door

14.24-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,180 ft elevation gain and loss.

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Many Lakes Trail #15

~3 min drive

9.34-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 1,023 ft elevation gain and loss.

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Metolius-Windigo Trail

~9 min drive

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

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

Harralson Tie Trail

~10 min drive

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

HIKE

Metolius-Windigo Trail

~7 min drive

13.48-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,369 ft elevation gain and loss.