Oregon · Hiking · Sky Lakes Wilderness

Snow Lakes

Snow LakesPhoto: ex_magician, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
13.0 mi
round trip
1,743 ft
climb
6,757 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Snow Lakes open right now?

No closures listed

The Forest Service lists no closures for Fremont-Winema National Forest.

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

Snow Lakes is a 13-mile out-and-back hike in the Sky Lakes Wilderness, part of the Klamath Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest in southern Oregon. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is rated hard, with a total climb of about 1,740 feet and a steepest stretch of about 22% at roughly 5 miles in. The route starts at about 6,000 feet and reaches a high point of about 6,750 feet. Horses are allowed, and the trail is natural-surface, not accessible. Bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show July and August highs around 69°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the low 30s and rain on most days. Several other trails sit close by, including South Rock Creek Trail and Isherwood Trail, and Fourmile Lake Campground is about 7 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Snow Lakes

    Best months: June–September. 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

      33° / 20°

      18 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 19°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      36° / 20°

      18 wet

    4. Apr

      40° / 23°

      16 wet

    5. May

      49° / 29°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      57° / 34°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 41°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      69° / 42°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      63° / 37°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      51° / 30°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      38° / 23°

      16 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 19°

      18 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Crater Lake Nps Hq, OR, 22.9 mi away at 6,485 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive