Oregon · Hiking · Bull of the Woods Wilderness

West Lake Way

2.0 mi
round trip
643 ft
climb
4,702 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is West Lake Way open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Clackamas River Ranger District. It doesn't name West Lake Way, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Clackamas River Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

West Lake Way is a 2-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon's Bull of the Woods Wilderness, within the Clackamas River Ranger District of Mt. Hood National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail's natural surface makes it an easy walk for a day in the wilderness. The route rises from about 4,450 feet to about 4,700 feet, with a total gain of 643 feet over the round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about a mile in, where the grade reaches 13 percent. The climb is gentle enough to fit into a longer outing in the area. 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, while winter highs there stay in the upper 30s. Schreiner Peak and Mother Lode are both about a mile away, and Welcome Lakes is about 1.5 miles off. For an overnight stay, Elk Lake Campground sits roughly 4.8 miles from the trail.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit West Lake Way

    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, 31.1 mi away at 3,750 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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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