Oregon · Hiking · Mount Jefferson Wilderness · Near Sisters

Temple Lake

Temple LakePhoto: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.4 mi
round trip
202 ft
climb
4,532 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Temple Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Detroit Ranger District. It doesn't name Temple 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.

Temple Lake is an easy out-and-back hike of about 0.44 miles with a total elevation gain of 202 feet, set in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness on the Detroit Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest in Oregon. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail runs on natural ground. The route rises from 4,443 feet to 4,532 feet, with the steepest part at about 0.24 miles in, where the grade reaches 10%. The climb is gentle enough that the round trip takes about half an hour, and the trail stays within the wilderness. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Santiam Junction run to highs around 76°F in July and August, though that station sits roughly 780 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures up high run cooler. The open season runs from June 1 to October 31, and the nearest neighbors are Turpentine Lake Trail (unofficial) at about 1.1 miles and Marion Mountain at 1.2 miles. For paddling, Marion Creek is about 2.6 miles away, and Marion Forks Campground is roughly 4.7 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Camp Pioneer (BSA Cascade Pacific Council)

    Campground

    Campground · 1.5 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Hoodoo Mountain Resort

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 10 mi
  • If it rains

    Kiwanis club

    Attraction

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sisters

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Temple 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, 7.9 mi away at 3,750 ft. The station sits about 800 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

Turpentine Lake Trail (unofficial)Photo: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Turpentine Lake Trail (unofficial)

~2 min drive

1.92-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 380 ft gain and 4,734 ft max elevation.

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

Marion Lake Trail 3436

~4 min drive

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

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

Minto Pass

~4 min drive

9.40-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,008 ft gain

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

Marion Lake Outlet

~4 min drive

0.96-mile out-and-back trail to Marion Lake Outlet in Oregon.

Pine RidgePhoto: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pine Ridge

~3 min drive

4.50-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 907 ft gain.

HIKE

Turpentine

~2 min drive

11.20-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,212 ft gain

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

Marion Lake

~4 min drive

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

HIKE

MARION LAKE

~4 min drive

3.32-mile out-and-back to Marion Lake in Oregon with 1,376 ft gain

HIKE

Blue Lake

~6 min drive

8.05-mile out-and-back trail to Blue Lake in Oregon with 1,963 ft gain

HIKE

Marion Mountain

~2 min drive

1.72-mile out-and-back trail to Marion Mountain in Oregon with 521 ft of elevation gain.