1.9 hr
Overview
NOTICE: Trails in this area were affected by the 2020 Lionshead Fire. Please check current closures in the Mt. Hood National Forest before planning an outing. This loop option, mostly within the Olallie Lake Scenic Area, uses the Lodgepole, Red Lake, and Pacific Crest Trails, finishing with a short stretch of the Russ Lake Trail, to visit a series of lakes and meadows in an area once buried under a Pleistocene ice sheet several hundred feet thick. You will get many views of nearby Olallie Butte from various points during the hike, and Mount Jefferson thrusts its ancient volcanic plug to the south. The Lodgepole Trail, the former alignment of the old Skyline/Pacific Crest Trail, crosses several source creeks of the main branch of the Clackamas River and is little traveled; during the return along the Pacific Crest Trail on the lower slopes of Olallie Butte, you may encounter PCT through hikers towards the end of summer. The mileage above does not include short side trips to Gifford, Top, Olallie, Russ, and Jude Lakes. Doing all of these would make a hike total of about 14.5 miles. The trail heads into woods with Olallie Meadows on your left. Come to the Lodgepole-Russ Lake Trail Junction and go right. Where the trail rises, keep right at the unmarked Lodgepole-Lodgepole Tie Trail Junction, where a short connector joins to the Pacific Crest Trail. Reach FR 4220 and cross it. The trail drops into mountain hemlock, silver fir, noble fir, and lodgepole pine woods. Come to a junction and keep right (Left goes to the Triangle Lake Horse Camp). At another junction, go left on the “wet” trail, which takes you to the marshy shores of Triangle Lake and great views of Olallie Butte. A sign says “Triangle Lake 4560’”. You may not be able to continue here through the water, so cut into the woods a few yards to join the “dry” trail. Head around the north shore of Triangle Lake. Sickle-top lousewort blooms everywhere in late summer. The trail veers right and drops in mountain hemlock woods with some grand fir. Rise over a l
Trail Stats
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577 m
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Photos
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