Oregon · Hiking · Waldo Lake Wilderness

Salmon Lakes

Salmon LakesPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
2.6 mi
round trip
578 ft
climb
5,562 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Salmon Lakes open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Willamette National Forest. It doesn't name Salmon Lakes, 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.

Salmon Lakes is an easy out-and-back hike in Oregon's Waldo Lake Wilderness, within the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest. The trail is about 2.6 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 578 feet, and it is managed by the Forest Service. The route starts at roughly 5,300 feet and climbs to about 5,560 feet, with the steepest stretch at around 0.75 miles in. The climb is front-loaded, and the trail is natural-surfaced. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Odell Lake show July and August highs in the low 70s with only about three wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and regular snow days. The hike takes about an hour. Islet Campground and North Waldo are both about 4 miles away, and Wahana is about 1.7 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 Salmon Lakes

    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, 15.5 mi away at 4,800 ft. The station sits about 800 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

Waldo Mountain Trail #3592Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Waldo Mountain Trail #3592

~3 min drive

2.22-mile out-and-back trail at Waldo Mountain with 758 ft gain.

Koch Mountain Trail #3576Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Koch Mountain Trail #3576

~4 min drive

3.52-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 664 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)

~7 min drive

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

Cupit Mary Meadow Trail #3560Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Cupit Mary Meadow Trail #3560

~3 min drive

3.1-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,311 ft elevation gain and loss.

KOCH MOUNTAINPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

KOCH MOUNTAIN

~4 min drive

2.12-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 684 ft elevation gain and loss.

HIKE

Black Creek

~7 min drive

7.40-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,813 ft elevation gain.

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

Rigdon Lakes

~5 min drive

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

~7 min drive

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

HIKE

Wahana

~3 min drive

12.66-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 651 ft elevation gain.