Oregon · Hiking

Walton Lake

3.6 mi
round trip
912 ft
climb
5,495 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Walton Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Ochoco National Forest. It doesn't name Walton Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Walton Lake is a 3.6-mile out-and-back hike in the Lookout Mountain Ranger District of Ochoco National Forest in Oregon. The trail is paved and rated moderate, with a total elevation gain of 912 feet over the course of the round trip. The Forest Service manages the land. The route rises from a low point of 5,159 feet to a high point of 5,495 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.76 miles, where the grade reaches 20%. Bikes are allowed on the paved trail, but horses are not. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show June highs around 78°F and September highs around 80°F. July and August are warmer, with highs near 89°F. Winter brings frequent snow days, with about 4 to 5 in January and December. The trail is open from June 1 through October 31, and the estimated trip time is about 1.5 hours. Round Mountain lies just 0.2 miles away, and Corral Loop is about 0.9 miles off. Slide Mtn offers cross-country skiing about a mile away, and Wildwood Campground is about 4 miles from the trail.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Walton Lake

    Best months: April–June and September–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

      41° / 23°

      11 wet · 4 snow

    2. Feb

      46° / 26°

      9 wet · 3 snow

    3. Mar

      53° / 29°

      10 wet · 2 snow

    4. Apr

      60° / 32°

      10 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      69° / 39°

      9 wet

    6. Jun

      78° / 44°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      89° / 50°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      88° / 48°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      80° / 41°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      65° / 33°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      49° / 28°

      10 wet · 2 snow

    12. Dec

      40° / 23°

      11 wet · 5 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Barnes Stn, OR, 33.7 mi away at 3,970 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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