Oregon · Hiking

Red Lake

Red LakePhoto: Infinite Dust, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.8 mi
round trip
235 ft
climb
5,193 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Red Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Clackamas River Ranger District. It doesn't name Red Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Red Lake is an easy, out-and-back hike of about 1.8 miles on natural trail in the Clackamas River Ranger District of Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon. The trail begins at about 4,994 feet, rises to a high point of 5,193 feet and returns to the starting elevation, with a total gain of 235 feet over the course of the round trip. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical July and August highs reach about 76°F with lows near 42°F, according to averages from a nearby weather station at Santiam Junction. That station sits roughly 1,400 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the hike run cooler. The trip takes about half a day. The trail lies close to several other places in the Olallie Lake area. Olallie Lake is about 0.4 miles away, and Timber Lake is about 0.5 miles away. The Olallie Lake Guard Station Cabin and Camp Ten (olallie) are both within a mile.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Red 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, 26.9 mi away at 3,750 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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

Olallie LakePhoto: Bonnie Moreland (free images), Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Olallie Lake

Next door

0.70-mile out-and-back trail to Olallie Lake in Oregon.

Red Lake Trail #719Photo: Infinite Dust, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Red Lake Trail #719

~1 min drive

5.32-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,512 ft elevation gain.

Monon LakePhoto: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Monon Lake

~2 min drive

4.20-mile loop trail at Monon Lake in Oregon with 382 ft gain.

Timber LakePhoto: Infinite Dust, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Timber Lake

Next door

1.2-mile out-and-back trail at Timber Lake in Oregon with 52 ft of elevation gain.

Climber's TrailPhoto: Nwcamera1, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Climber's Trail

~13 min drive

Short out-and-back climb with steady elevation gain near Oregon.

South Breitenbush GorgePhoto: oregondave, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

South Breitenbush Gorge

~14 min drive

3.00-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 769 ft gain.

Top LakePhoto: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Top Lake

~1 min drive

0.96-mile out-and-back trail to Top Lake in Oregon with 197 ft gain.

HIKE

Olallie Butte Trail

~4 min drive

6.98-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 3,482 ft gain and 7,175 ft max elevation.

Devil's Peak TrailPhoto: oregondave, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Devil's Peak Trail

~15 min drive

2.92-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 1,996 ft elevation gain.

Double PeaksPhoto: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Double Peaks

~2 min drive

0.70-mile out-and-back trail at Double Peaks in Oregon with 338 ft of elevation gain.