Muskrat Lake
​Hike details:
Mileage: 10.2 miles round trip w/ 885 ft. elevation gain
Approximate hike time: 4 hours 26 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low
General location: 40 miles southwest of Bend - Three Sisters Wilderness - Deschutes National Forest
Highest elevation: 4,945 ft. Lowest elevation: 4,675 ft.
Accessible: Mid-June to the end of November
(Best time to go is September, October and early November when the temperatures are a little bit cooler and in October the resort closes so there are no more loud boats on Cultus Lake).
Permits required: Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for overnight only (June 15 - October 15 via recreation.gov). For day use throughout the season you will need a free self issue wilderness permit & Northwest Forest Pass for parking.
Pit toilet at trailhead: No but there is one nearby at the resort or campground
Trail allows: Dogs, horses, camping
Possible dangers: N/A
Approximate hike time: 4 hours 26 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low
General location: 40 miles southwest of Bend - Three Sisters Wilderness - Deschutes National Forest
Highest elevation: 4,945 ft. Lowest elevation: 4,675 ft.
Accessible: Mid-June to the end of November
(Best time to go is September, October and early November when the temperatures are a little bit cooler and in October the resort closes so there are no more loud boats on Cultus Lake).
Permits required: Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for overnight only (June 15 - October 15 via recreation.gov). For day use throughout the season you will need a free self issue wilderness permit & Northwest Forest Pass for parking.
Pit toilet at trailhead: No but there is one nearby at the resort or campground
Trail allows: Dogs, horses, camping
Possible dangers: N/A
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Description:The Winopee Lake Trail #16 is one of those lesser known trails in Central Oregon that leads to many beautiful hidden lakes and is a frequently overlooked backpacking option into the Three Sisters Wilderness. To do a moderate day hike to Teddy Lakes and Muskrat Lake, start at the Winopee Lake trailhead. There is no pit toilet at the trailhead, but you can use the pit toilet at the campground on the way in. The first 0.8 miles take you along the edge of Cultus Lake. After the resort closes in September, it is very quiet on the lake. There are three boat-in primitive campgrounds along the lake and you can camp here as a hiker as well. The first beach and primitive campsite you will come to is Cultus Cove.
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(Cultus Lake)
(Cultus Cove & Cultus Mountain)
After checking out Cultus Cove with a view of Cultus Mountain across the lake, the trail takes you another 1.6 miles, partially along the lake and through the forest until you see a trail junction. The trail to the right is the Metolious-Windigo Trail #99. Continue straight and after 0.2 miles you will see another trail junction. The trail to the left is the Many Lakes Trail #13 and this trail takes you to Deer Lake and Little Cultus Lake. Continue straight on the Winopee Trail #16 through a forest of very small lodgepole pines, for another 0.7 miles until you see a sign for Teddy Lakes.
(an example of what the trail tread looks like)
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Teddy Lakes is a set of two small lakes along a short 1 mile out and back trail. These lakes are beautiful but due to the amount of down trees around the lakes they don't make for great camping or swimming destinations. You can fish here and you will find rainbow trout in both of the lakes. After doing the short 1 mile side trip to Teddy Lakes, continue on the Winopee Lake Trail for another 1.2 miles to Muskrat Lake.
(the larger of the two Teddy Lakes)
(Muskrat Lake cabin - this cabin has broken down a lot more since this picture in 2016)
Muskrat Lake shelter was built by a trapper who was likely hunting beaver here, not muskrat. You can see signs of active beaver all around this lake. They actually built a dam that raised the lake 4 feet, which ultimately flooded the cabin. It now sits a few feet under water and continues to collapse with every passing year of wind and snow. It is a beautiful sight of nature reclaiming this once inhabited place. There are plenty of flat and open places to set up tents by Muskrat Lake. Because of its marshy nature, the lake is really difficult to fish in unless you have gators with you and can stand in the vegetation of the lake, but the brook trout you will find here are usually between 8 - 15 inches. If you are backpacking and want to add some mileage to your hike, you can keep going on the Winopee Lake Trail for another 2.4 miles to beautiful large Winopee Lake. This lake also has a lot of plant life along its shores, but there are some gorgeous camp spots here.
The Winopee Lake Trail is relatively flat and is perfect for those looking for solitude in the southern end of the Three Sisters Wilderness. Because the trail is easy and beautiful it's also the perfect place to take kids on their first backpacking trip. There is no exposure or rocky areas along this trail, and the only things to watch out for are possible blowdowns to step over or small roots in the trail. The only reason this trail is rated 'moderate' is because of the mileage. Enjoy this hike in the early fall months when the mosquitoes are gone and Cultus Lake is quiet and calm without boats. You will not regret checking out this hidden Oregon gem.
Directions:
From Bend
- Drive on US-97 south for 14.3 miles, then take exit 153 for S Century Dr toward Sunriver. Turn right onto S Century Dr/Lava Cast Forest Rd/NF-9720 (signs for Sunriver/Mt Bachelor) for 1.5 miles, and at the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit and stay on S Century Dr. for 0.6 miles. Continue onto Spring River Rd. for 2.4 miles, then continue straight onto Conklin Rd/NF-40 for 1.7 miles. Turn left onto Upper Deschutes Rd. for 5 miles, then Upper Deschutes Rd. turns slightly right and becomes 3 Trapper Rd/NF-40, stay on this road for 10 miles. Turn left onto Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway/Lava Lake Rd. for 1.2 miles, then turn right onto NF-4635 at a sign for Cultus Lake Campground & Resort. After 2 miles make a slight right onto Forest Service Rd. 4635 for half a mile and then right after the campground continue straight onto Forest Service Rd. 120 for 0.1 miles and find the trailhead on your left right before the end of the spur road. (Total of 40 miles)
- Drive on OR-58 east for a total of 72.7 miles, then turn left onto turn left onto Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway/Crescent Cutoff Rd/NF-61 for 3.2 miles. At a sign turn left onto Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway/NF-46 and stay on this road for 24.5 miles. At a sign for Cultus Lake Campground & Resort turn left. After 2 miles make a slight right onto Forest Service Rd. 4635 for half a mile and then right after the campground continue straight onto Forest Service Rd. 120 for 0.1 miles and find the trailhead on your left right before the end of the spur road. (Total of 111 miles)
- Take OR-62 east towards Crater Lake for 49.5 miles then take a slight left onto OR-230 north for 23.8 miles. Near Diamond Lake turn right onto OR-138 east for 17.7 miles until it T’s into highway 97. Turn left onto US-97 north for 17.8 miles then use the left lane to take the OR-58 W exit toward Eugene. Continue on OR-58 for 13.1 miles and then turn right onto Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway/Crescent Cutoff Rd/NF-61 for 3.2 miles. At a sign turn left onto Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway/NF-46 and stay on this road for 24.5 miles. At a sign for Cultus Lake Campground & Resort turn left. After 2 miles make a slight right onto Forest Service Rd. 4635 for half a mile and then right after the campground continue straight onto Forest Service Rd. 120 for 0.1 miles and find the trailhead on your left right before the end of the spur road. (Total of 160 miles)
- Total of 172 miles via Eugene.
- Total of 215 miles via Eugene.
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To get a more in-depth and personal view of this hike, watch the YouTube video.
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*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.
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