Oregon · Hiking · Three Sisters Wilderness

Williams Lake

5.2 mi
round trip
1,056 ft
climb
5,122 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Williams Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Williams Lake is a 5.2-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon's Three Sisters Wilderness, within the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and is rated moderate, with a total elevation gain of 1,056 feet over the round trip. The climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at the start, where the grade reaches about 22%. The high point is 5,122 feet, and the route begins at roughly 4,629 feet. Horses are allowed, and the trail surface is natural. Bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Odell Lake show July and August highs around 73 to 74°F with only about three wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and regular snow days. The hike takes about 2.5 hours. Skookum Creek Campground is about a mile away, and Jack Pine Way and Irish Mountain are both within a mile. For paddling, Elk Creek is about 5.5 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Williams 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

      35° / 20°

      14 wet · 10 snow

    2. Feb

      38° / 21°

      13 wet · 9 snow

    3. Mar

      42° / 24°

      14 wet · 8 snow

    4. Apr

      46° / 28°

      11 wet · 4 snow

    5. May

      55° / 34°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      63° / 38°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      73° / 44°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 42°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 36°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 30°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      41° / 26°

      14 wet · 6 snow

    12. Dec

      34° / 20°

      15 wet · 10 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Odell Lake-East, OR, 20.9 mi away at 4,800 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.