Oregon · Hiking · Three Sisters Wilderness

Water Holes

20.2 mi
round trip
3,098 ft
climb
5,130 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Water Holes open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Water Holes is a hard hike in the Three Sisters Wilderness, part of the McKenzie River Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest in Oregon. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a natural-surface out-and-back that starts at about 4,221 feet and climbs to about 5,130 feet, with a total gain of about 3,098 feet over the round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 8.9 miles, where the grade reaches 32%. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Wickiup Dam weather station show July highs around 83°F with only about three wet days, while winter highs sit in the low 40s and bring rain on roughly 13 days a month. The trail sits right beside Nash Lake and the Nash Lake Trail #3527, both within a quarter mile. Horse Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 0.8 miles away, and Alder Springs Campground is about 8.8 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Water Holes

    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, 28.8 mi away at 4,358 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

Buck MeadowsPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Foley RidgePhoto: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Substitute PointPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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NASH LAKE

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14.7-mile out-and-back trail to Nash Lake in Oregon with 2,760 ft elevation gain.

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Sunset Lake

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PROXY FALLSPhoto: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Bear Flat Trail #3301

~7 min drive

6.85-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,490 ft gain.