Oregon · Hiking · Opal Creek Wilderness

Twin Lakes

8.0 mi
round trip
2,850 ft
climb
4,589 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 1 h ago

Is Twin Lakes open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Detroit Ranger District. It doesn't name Twin Lakes, 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.

Twin Lakes is a hard hike in Oregon's Opal Creek Wilderness, part of the Detroit Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest. The route is an out-and-back of about 8 miles, with a total elevation gain of 2,850 feet. The trail starts at roughly 4,564 feet and climbs to a high point of about 4,589 feet, then descends back to the starting point. The steepest stretch comes at about 3 miles in, with a grade of about 23 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Santiam Junction show July and August highs around 76°F with lows near 42°F. That station sits about 800 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. The trip takes about 4 hours. The Whetstone Trail #546 lies less than a mile away, and Silver King Lake is about a mile off. Elk Lake Campground is about 2.3 miles away, and the Little North Santiam River offers paddling about 3.3 miles from the trail.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Twin 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

      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, 30.5 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.

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HIKE

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~1 min drive

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