Horse Lake
​Hike details:
Mileage: 9 mile loop w/ 1,050 ft. elevation gain
Approximate hike time: 3 hours 54 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low to medium
Highest elevation: 5,325 ft. Lowest elevation: 4,944 ft.
General location: 31 miles west of Bend - Three Sisters Wilderness - Deschutes National Forest
Accessible: July through mid-November (or until they close the Cascade Lakes Highway for the season)
(Best time to go is mid-August and September when there are no more mosquitoes. And October and early November when the fall colors are glorious).
Permits required: Day trips - Free self issue wilderness permit June 15 - October 15 available at the trailhead
Overnight trips - Central Cascades Wilderness Permit June 15 - October 15 available via recreation.gov
Northwest Forest Pass for parking
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes
Trail allows: Dogs, horses, camping
Possible dangers: N/A
Approximate hike time: 3 hours 54 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low to medium
Highest elevation: 5,325 ft. Lowest elevation: 4,944 ft.
General location: 31 miles west of Bend - Three Sisters Wilderness - Deschutes National Forest
Accessible: July through mid-November (or until they close the Cascade Lakes Highway for the season)
(Best time to go is mid-August and September when there are no more mosquitoes. And October and early November when the fall colors are glorious).
Permits required: Day trips - Free self issue wilderness permit June 15 - October 15 available at the trailhead
Overnight trips - Central Cascades Wilderness Permit June 15 - October 15 available via recreation.gov
Northwest Forest Pass for parking
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes
Trail allows: Dogs, horses, camping
Possible dangers: N/A
(trailhead parking)
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Description:Horse Lake Loop is an underrated loop hike in the Three Sisters Wilderness that can be a great day hike option to a swimmable lake with mountain views. You can also make this into a short backpacking trip, or add on other trails/side excursions, but remember - you will have to get a limited entry permit if you want to spend the night in the Three Sisters Wilderness.
The hikes starts at the Elk Lake trailhead, which is a popular place for Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers to come off trail and go to Elk Lake Lodge to pick up their resupply packages, or to hitch a ride into Bend. You will start on the Horse Lake Trail #2 which takes you through a stand of lodgepole pines. After 0.3 miles ignore the Elk Devils Trail #12 to the right and continue straight on for another 1.1 miles. |
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The forest changes from lodgepole pines to fir and hemlocks with small huckleberry bushes as undergrowth. The forest is lush and beautiful especially early in the summer season, and in the fall the huckleberry bushes turn beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red. At the 4-way junction with the Pacific Crest Trail you will continue straight on the Horse Lake Trail which will take you through some open meadows and more lodgepole pines.
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After another 1.8 miles you will come to a 3-way trail junction with the Red Hill Trail #3515. You will take the Red Hill Trail to the left, and after just 0.3 miles you will see another junction. This is where you will take a right onto the Horse Creek Trail #3514. Follow this trail for 0.5 miles and then take a left onto an unnamed trail that takes you around Horse Lake. Horse Lake is absolutely beautiful, and there is backcountry camping as well as fishing. You will have views of Red Hill and the tip of South Sister across the lake. On your way around the lake you will cross Horse Creek which feeds the lake, and after 0.7 miles you will arrive at another trail junction.
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(Horse Creek)
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(Horse Lake and South Sister)
If you want to add some mileage to your hike you could take a right at this junction and go 0.6 miles over to Mile Lake or 1.1 miles over to Park Lake. But if you want to stick to the 9 mile loop, take a left at the trail junction and hike 0.4 miles around a very lush and mosquito infested meadow (the bugs are generally the worst in the month of July) until you come to the junction with Red Hill Trail again. Take a right for just over 0.3 miles and then at a Y junction, take the left fork onto the Sunset Lake Trail #3515.1. You will see Sunset Lake after half a mile of being on this trail. If you didn't eat lunch at Horse Lake, this would make another good stopping point along your hike to eat lunch or a snack. From Sunset Lake the trail continues through a thick hemlock forest for another 0.8 miles until you come to a large meadow, which in July is covered in wildflowers, and here you will connect with the Pacific Crest Trail.
(Sunset Lake)
Hike northbound on the Pacific Crest Trail through the forest and past a small pond for 1.25 miles to a trail junction with the Island Meadow Trail. This is the trail that will complete the loop and take you back down to the Elk Lake Trailhead. The view from here is amazing and you will see Mount Bachelor, which even in August usually still has some snow patches leftover near the top. The Island Meadow Trail is a little bit more rocky and less forested, as it takes you downhill 285 feet in 1 mile and then you will arrive back at your car.
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The hike up to Elk Lake is very pleasant (especially if you don't go during the height of mosquito season - usually July). This trail stays relatively cool in the summer months because most of it is through the forest. Enjoy spending a few hours at Horse Lake for a little lunch and swim break, and then enjoy some miles on the famous Pacific Crest Trail. After the hike, head across the street for some delicious food and drinks at Elk Lake Resort, where during the summer they have live music on Saturday evenings.
(view of Mount Bachelor from the PCT junction)
Directions:
From Bend
- Drive SW Century Dr. which turns into the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway for 31.4 miles, then turn right at a sign for Elk Lake Trailhead which is across from the Elk Lake Resort entrance. Drive up the road for 0.2 miles and find the trailhead parking loop, which has room for about 30 cars. (Total of 31.6 miles)
- Drive OR-58 E for 79 miles to the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway/Crescent Cutoff Rd/NF-61. Turn left here and follow this road for 3.2 miles and then turn left at a sign for Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway. Stay on this scenic road for 37.4 miles, then turn left at a sign for Elk Lake Trailhead which is across from the Elk Lake Resort entrance. Drive up the road for 0.2 miles and find the trailhead parking loop, which has room for about 30 cars. (Total of 121 miles)
- Drive OR-62 east towards Crescent. After 55 miles at Union Creek you will merge left onto OR-230 and stay on this road for 23.8 miles and then turn right onto OR-138 for 17.7 miles. At the Diamond Lake Junction Cafe turn left onto US-97 north for 17.8 miles and then merge left onto OR-58 west towards Oakridge for 13.1 miles. Turn right at the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway/Crescent Cutoff Rd/NF-61 and follow this road for 3.2 miles and then turn left at a sign for Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway. Stay on this scenic road for 37.4 miles, then turn left at a sign for Elk Lake Trailhead which is across from the Elk Lake Resort entrance. Drive up the road for 0.2 miles and find the trailhead parking loop, which has room for about 30 cars. (Total of 170 miles)
- Total of 164 miles via Bend.
- Total of 195 miles via Mount Hood and Bend.
-This trail write-up is up to date as of August 2022-
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*Disclaimer: The trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense. Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.