Oregon · Hiking · Three Sisters Wilderness

Sunset Lake

3.2 mi
round trip
315 ft
climb
5,284 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Sunset Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Sunset Lake is a 3.2-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon's Three Sisters Wilderness, within the McKenzie River Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and is rated moderate, with a total elevation gain of 315 feet over the round trip. The climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 0.23 miles from the start, where the grade reaches 9 percent. The route begins at roughly 5,162 feet and peaks at about 5,284 feet before returning to the starting point. Horses are allowed, and the trail surface is natural. Bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Wickiup Dam show July highs around 83°F with only about three wet days, while winter highs sit near 40°F. That station sits nearly 900 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the hike run cooler. The Horse Creek Trail #3514 lies about 0.4 miles away, and Breezy Point and Red Hill are each about 1.2 miles off. Elk Lake Campground, about 2.9 miles away, is the closest place to camp.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Sunset Lake

    Best months: May–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

      40° / 21°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      43° / 22°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      48° / 26°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      54° / 30°

      10 wet

    5. May

      63° / 36°

      9 wet

    6. Jun

      71° / 42°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 47°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 46°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      75° / 38°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      62° / 31°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      46° / 26°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      38° / 21°

      13 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Wickiup Dam, OR, 23.3 mi away at 4,358 ft. The station sits about 900 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

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Island Meadow Trail

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Elk LakePhoto: David Doan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Elk Lake

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Katsuk Pond

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Horse Creek Trail #3514

Next door

25.24-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 3,589 ft elevation gain and loss.

Horse Lake Trail #2Photo: maprik, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Horse Lake Trail #2

~5 min drive

2.86-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 603 ft elevation gain and loss.

Quinn CreekPhoto: David Doan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Quinn Creek

~7 min drive

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South Sister ClimberPhoto: Bonnie Moreland (free images), Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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Nash Lake Trail #3527

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Quinn SpringsPhoto: David Doan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Quinn Springs

~7 min drive

Quinn Springs is a 1.50-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 80 ft of elevation gain.

Elk-DevilsPhoto: Bonnie Moreland (free images), Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Elk-Devils

~10 min drive

11.32-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 758 ft elevation gain.