Oregon · Hiking · Mount Jefferson Wilderness

Pamelia Lake

0.6 mi
round trip
359 ft
climb
4,026 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Get a permit

Pamelia Limited Entry Area · overnight

Reserve on Recreation.gov

Is Pamelia Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Detroit Ranger District. It doesn't name Pamelia Lake, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Detroit Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Pamelia Lake is a short, easy hike in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, part of the Detroit Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest in Oregon. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is about 0.6 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 359 feet over the out-and-back route. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows horses. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.23 miles, where the grade reaches 24 percent, but the climb is gentle overall. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Santiam Junction weather station show July and August highs around 76°F with lows near 42°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s. Grizzly Peak sits just 0.1 miles away, and Hunts Creek and Pamelia Lake Trail 3439 are both within a mile. For paddling, Pamelia Creek is about 2.6 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Pamelia 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, 15.9 mi away at 3,750 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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Hole in the Wall Overlook Trail

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

Table Lake Cutoff

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Table Lake Trail #4003

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

Minto Pass

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Marion Lake OutletPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Marion Lake Outlet

~11 min drive

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Marion Lake Trail 3436Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Marion Lake Trail 3436

~11 min drive

5.14-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,857 ft elevation gain and loss.

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Hunts Creek

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13.60-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 3,091 ft elevation gain.

Marion LakePhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Marion Lake

~11 min drive

1.00-mile out-and-back trail to Marion Lake in Oregon with 364 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Grizzly Peak

Next door

5.50-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,326 ft elevation gain