Muskrat Lake
Hike Details:
Mileage: 10.2 miles out and back 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 - Deschutes National Forest - Three Sisters Wilderness
Suggested seasons: Summer, fall
(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: Northwest Forest Pass for parking
Day trips - Self issue wilderness permit Memorial Day - Oct. 31
Overnight trips - Limited Entry Permit May 28 - Sept. 22, 2021
Pit toilet at trailhead: No but there is one nearby at the resort or campground
Trail allows: Dogs, horses, camping
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 - Deschutes National Forest - Three Sisters Wilderness
Suggested seasons: Summer, fall
(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: Northwest Forest Pass for parking
Day trips - Self issue wilderness permit Memorial Day - Oct. 31
Overnight trips - Limited Entry Permit May 28 - Sept. 22, 2021
Pit toilet at trailhead: No but there is one nearby at the resort or campground
Trail allows: Dogs, horses, camping
Description:
The Winopee Lake Trail is one of those lesser known trails in Oregon that lead to many beautiful hidden lakes and overlooked backpacking options in the Three Sisters Wilderness. To do a moderate day hike to Muskrat Lake start at the Winopee Lake trailhead, which is essentially just the end of a spur road. 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.
(Cultus Lake)
(Cultus Cove & Cultus Mountain)
After checking out Cultus Cove with 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 almost immediately you will see another trail junction. The trail to the left is the Many Lakes Trail #13 and you can ultimately go to Deer Lake and Little Cultus Lake. Continue straight through a forest of very small lodgepole pines, for another 0.8 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 series of two small lakes along a short 0.9 mile out and back trail. Teddy Lakes are beautiful but due to the amount of down trees around the lakes they don't make for great camping destinations. After doing the short 0.9 mile side trip to Teddy Lakes, continue on the Winopee Lake Trail for another 1.22 miles to Muskrat Lake.
(the larger of the two Teddy Lakes)
(Muskrat Lake shelter)
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 the lake. They actually built a dam that raised the lake 4 feet and has now flooded the cabin. It now sits a few feet under water and continues to collapse with every passing year. 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. If you are backpacking and want to continue, you can go on to Winopee Lake, only a little over a mile down the trail.
Overall, this relatively flat trail is perfect for those looking for solitude and a little bit of historic sightseeing. 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 thing 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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