Hike Oregon
  • Home
  • *Store*
  • About the author
  • How to use this site
  • Resources
    • Videos
  • Best Oregon Hikes
    • Top 10 Oregon Spring Hikes
    • 20 Best Oregon Waterfall Hikes
    • Top 10 Oregon Hikes for Kids
    • Top One Night Backpacking Trips in Oregon
    • 5 Weekend Backpacking Trips in Oregon
    • Top 10 Swimming Spots In Oregon
    • Top 10 Oregon Summer Hikes
    • Top Fall Foliage Hikes In Oregon
    • Top 10 Oregon Fall Hikes
    • Sno-Parks In Central Oregon
    • Top 10 Oregon Winter Hikes
    • Top Low Elevation Winter Hikes
  • Portland
    • Hamilton Mountain
    • Dog Mountain
    • Coyote Wall
    • Mitchell Point
    • Forest Park
    • Powell Butte
    • Table Rock
    • Multnomah/Wahkeena Falls
    • Latourell Falls
    • Trillium Lake
    • East Zigzag Mountain (members only)
  • Salem
    • Abiqua Falls
    • Silver Falls State Park
    • Little North Santiam
    • Henline Falls
    • Opal Creek
    • Whetstone Mountain
    • Marion Lake to Marion Mountain
    • Jefferson Park
    • Olallie Butte (members only)
    • South Breitenbush Gorge (members only)
    • Battle Ax Mountain (members only)
    • Dome Rock and Tumble Lake (members only)
  • Sweet Home
    • Crescent Mountain
    • Iron Mountain
    • McDowell Creek Falls
    • Middle Santiam River (members only)
    • Lower Soda Creek Falls (members only)
    • Rooster Rock (members only)
  • McKenzie Bridge
    • Macduff Mountain
    • Proxy Falls
    • Clear Lake
    • Sahalie/Koosah Falls
    • Blue Pool
    • Erma Bell Lakes
    • Olallie Mountain
    • Horsepasture Mountain
    • Tidbits Mountain
    • Rainbow Falls Overlook (members only)
    • Frissell Point (members only)
    • Chucksney Mountain (members only)
    • Substitute Point (members only)
    • Castle Rock (members only)
  • Sisters/Santiam Pass
    • Coffin Mountain
    • Ray Benson Sno-Park
    • Three Creek Sno-Park
    • Maxwell Sno-Park
    • Potato Hill Sno-Park
    • Black Butte
    • Tam McArthur Rim
    • Three Sisters Loop
    • Black Crater
    • Scott Mountain
    • Obsidian Trail
    • Three Fingered Jack Loop
    • Canyon Creek Meadows
    • Patjens Lakes
    • Chush Falls (members only)
    • Rockpile Lake (members only)
    • Santiam Lake (members only)
    • Camp Lake (members only)
    • Park Meadow to Golden Lake (members only)
  • Bend/Redmond/La Pine
    • Chimney Rock
    • Tumalo State Park
    • Tumalo Falls
    • Tumalo Mountain
    • Broken Top to No Name Lake
    • Green Lakes
    • Moraine Lake
    • South Sister Summit
    • Muskrat Lake
    • Paulina Peak
    • Peter Skene Ogden Trail (members only)
  • Eugene
    • Ridgeline Trail pt. 1
    • Ridgeline Trail pt. 2
    • Mount Pisgah Summit
    • Mount Pisgah Arboretum
    • Shotgun Creek
    • Mt. June
    • Lawler
    • Tire Mountain
    • Goodman Creek
    • Brice Creek
    • Trestle Creek Falls
    • Moon Falls
    • Elijah Bristow State Park
    • South Willamette Trail (members only)
    • Eula Ridge (members only)
    • Eagle's Rest (members only)
  • Oakridge
    • Big Bunchgrass Ridge
    • Gold Lake Sno-Park
    • Deception Creek
    • North Salmon Creek
    • Salt Creek Falls
    • Waldo Lake Loop
    • Rosary Lakes
    • South Waldo Lake loop
    • Fawn Lake Loop
    • Windy Lakes
    • Divide Lake
    • Diamond Peak Summit
    • Timpanogas Lake to Cowhorn Mtn.
    • Wall Creek Warm Springs (members only)
    • Moon Point (members only)
    • The Twins (members only)
    • Bobby Lake (members only)
    • Lillian Falls (members only)
    • Middle Fork Willamette Trail (members only)
    • Pool Creek Falls (members only)
    • Flat Creek to Dead Mountain (members only)
    • Larison Creek (members only)
    • Larison Rock (members only)
    • Eddeeleo Lakes (members only)
    • Waldo Mountain Lookout (members only)
    • Blair Lake to Mule Mountain (members only)
    • Rigdon Lakes loop (members only)
  • Oregon Coast
    • Cascade Head
    • Drift Creek Falls
    • Sweet Creek Falls
    • Alsea Falls
    • Kentucky Falls
    • Marys Peak North Ridge
    • Marys Peak East Ridge
    • Hobbit Trail to Heceta Head
    • Cooks Ridge (members only)
    • Horse Creek (members only)
    • Siltcoos Lake (members only)
    • William Finley Wildlife Refuge (members only)
  • Southern Oregon
    • Fall Creek Falls
    • Watson Falls
    • Mt. Thielsen
    • The Watchman
    • Mount Scott
    • The Pinnacles
    • Lower Table Rock
    • Pilot Rock
    • Wagner Butte
    • Mt. McLoughlin
    • Lemolo Falls (members only)
    • Fern Falls (members only)
  • Eastern Oregon
    • Painted Cove
    • Mount Howard
    • Anthony Lake Loop
    • Schneider Cabin (members only)
    • Strawberry Lake & Falls (members only)
  • Oregon PCT sections
    • PCT: Hwy. 58 to Charlton Lake
    • PCT: Santiam Pass to Rockpile Lake
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Leave No Trace
    • Top Tips For Hiking With Infants And Toddlers
    • Poison Oak, Ivy and Sumac
    • How to dress for cold weather hikes
    • Hiker Holiday Gift Guide 2019
    • Outdoor Holiday Gift Guide 2018
    • Hiking Holiday Gift Guide 2017
  • Reviews
    • Outdoor Herbivore Backpacking Food Review
    • Osprey Aura AG 65 Backpack review
    • Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 review
    • REI Quarter Dome 1 review
  • Adventure Stories
    • Hiking The Rae Lakes Loop
    • 110 Miles on the PCT
    • The Loop Around Three Fingered Jack
    • Jefferson Wilderness

Windy Lakes

​
Windy Lakes trail map
Get the printable version of this hike

Hike Details:

Mileage: 10.8 miles out and back w/ 1,270 ft. elevation gain
Approximate hike time: 4 hours 15 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.5 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low
General location: 45 miles southeast of Oakridge - Deschutes National Forest
Suggested seasons: Summer, fall
(Best time to go is late-August, September, when there are no bugs but temperatures are still warm enough to swim. You can also go in early November and catch the first snowfall here, which is stunning).
Permits required: N/A
Pit toilet at trailhead: No
Trail allows: ​Dogs, camping, horses, mountain biking
Meek Lake trailhead sign

Description:

Windy Lakes are some of the most secluded lakes in the Deschutes National Forest because the trailhead has such limited accessibility. This hike is great for a great option for a short backpacking trip and the lakes are a wonderful cool escape for those hot summer days. After braving the insanely rough 3.5 mile drive from Crescent Lake to the trailhead, you will find the Meek Lake trailhead with plenty of parking on your right. Make sure you don't take the trail that heads off to the right though, that will take you over to Snell Lake, take the trail on your left with the sign for Meek Lake 1/2 mile. 
Crossing Summit Creek
(Summit Creek crossing)
Meek Lake trail in August
Meek Lake in fall
(Meek Lake in October)
The trail trends downhill for 0.2 miles where you will cross Summit Creek. This creek is fairly wide and can either be pretty full with snow melt or totally dried up, depending on when in the season you hike here. Then the trail regains the elevation that you just lost and at the 0.5 mile mark you will hit the absolutely stunning Meek Lake. There is primitive dispersed camping here.
Meek Lake camping spot
Cauliflower mushroom
(Cauliflower mushroom)
As you make your way through the forest you will encounter many ponds (there are 22 in total on this hike). They range in sizes from small bogs to what actually look to be small lakes. If you hike here in the fall (October) the ground cover foliage and grasses along the shoreline of the ponds will be turning beautiful bright reds, oranges and yellow colors. You can also be sure to find many mushrooms along the trail. 
Meek Lake trail
Ponds along the Meek Lake Trail
One of the ponds along the Meek Lake Trail
Meek Lake trail ponds
Windy Lakes sign
At the 2.7 mile mark you will come to a trail split. Stay to the left here, the trail to the right is the Oldenberg Skyline Trail and will take you to Summit Lake. Continue on for another 1.3 miles, passing North Windy Lake until you come to another trail junction. Here the Oldenberg Skyline Trail continues to the east (over to Suzanne and Darlene Lakes where you can also camp), you will continue heading south. 
Windy Lakes pond with camping
East Windy Lake August
(East Windy Lake in August)
East Windy Lake October
(East Windy Lake in November)
Right after the junction you will come to East Windy Lake. This one has an awesome peninsula for camping. This lake is especially great for kids because the shoreline is very shallow and warm, perfect for the kids to play in the water. Around the 5 mile mark you will come to Third Windy Lake. This one is very shallow and the marshy bottom makes it hard to wade out to where it gets deep enough to swim. There is some camping at this lake too. 
Swimming at Third Windy Lake
(Third Windy Lake)
The only lake that really doesn't have any camping is South Windy Lake. From Third Windy Lake to South Windy lake the trail trends downhill just a little bit for 0.4 miles. South Windy Lake sits in a bowl, making it the greenest of the lakes and when the first snowflakes fall here, it is absolutely magical at this lake. Even though this lake isn't great for swimming or camping, it is where the trail ends and it is definitely worth the look. 
South Windy Lake October
(South Windy Lake at first snowfall)
Overall, this trail is absolutely perfect for those who want to take a dip in alpine lakes. You can easily do this as a day hike since there is minimal elevation gain and therefore it is rated moderate instead of difficult like other hikes with this amount of mileage. The trail is generally well maintained (unlike the road in), with no large rocks or roots in the trail and there are definitely no areas where the trail is off camber. This would be the perfect trail to take little kids on if you wanted to just go to Meek Lake and enjoy the water or introduce them to an easy backpacking trip. 
Windy Lakes pond

Directions:

From Bend
  • Drive US-97 south for a total of 46.9 miles, then turn Turn right onto Crescent Rd/Crescent Cutoff Rd. for 12 miles until you T-into OR-58. Turn right onto OR-58 west for 3.5 miles, then turn left onto OR-429 for 2.2 miles. Turn right onto Crescent Lake Rd/NF-60 for 1.2 miles and at a Y junction stay right on NF-60 for 3.8 miles. You will see a dirt road on your right, make a very sharp right turn onto NF-398 and stay on this road for 3.5 miles until you see the Meek Lake trail on your left and the Snell Lake trailhead on your right (there is room to park). **Keep in mind that NF-398 is one of the worst dirt roads in Oregon and it does not get maintained. Some of the potholes are as big as a small car (my Subaru Crosstrek fit into a few of the holes) and the combination of the super fine dusty dirt, the large holes and the huge rocks makes this a very tricky 3.5 miles. It took us 45 minutes to navigate this road, but it can be done with smart driving. I have even taken a '96 Volvo Station Wagon up this road before but that was 5 years ago. Vehicles that are recommended on this road are Jeeps, Subarus and large 4WD trucks. (Total of 73.8 miles)
From Eugene
  • Drive on OR-58 east for a total of 69.3 miles, then turn right OR-429 for 2.2 miles. Turn right onto Crescent Lake Rd/NF-60 for 1.2 miles and at a Y junction stay right on NF-60 for 3.8 miles. You will see a dirt road on your right, make a very sharp right turn onto NF-398 and stay on this road for 3.5 miles until you see the Meek Lake trail on your left and the Snell Lake trailhead on your right (there is room to park). **Keep in mind that NF-398 is one of the worst dirt roads in Oregon and it does not get maintained. Some of the potholes are as big as a small car (my Subaru Crosstrek fit into a few of the holes) and the combination of the super fine dusty dirt, the large holes and the huge rocks makes this a very tricky 3.5 miles. It took us 45 minutes to navigate this road, but it can be done with smart driving. I have even taken a '96 Volvo Station Wagon up this road before but that was 5 years ago. Vehicles that are recommended on this road are Jeeps, Subarus and large 4WD trucks. (Total of 87.8 miles)
From Medford
  • 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 and then use the left lane to take the exit onto OR-58 west. Stay on OR-58 for 16.6 miles, then ​left onto OR-429 for 2.2 miles. Turn right onto Crescent Lake Rd/NF-60 for 1.2 miles and at a Y junction stay right on NF-60 for 3.8 miles. You will see a dirt road on your right, make a very sharp right turn onto NF-398 and stay on this road for 3.5 miles until you see the Meek Lake trail on your left and the Snell Lake trailhead on your right (there is room to park). **Keep in mind that NF-398 is one of the worst dirt roads in Oregon and it does not get maintained. Some of the potholes are as big as a small car (my Subaru Crosstrek fit into a few of the holes) and the combination of the super fine dusty dirt, the large holes and the huge rocks makes this a very tricky 3.5 miles. It took us 45 minutes to navigate this road, but it can be done with smart driving. I have even taken a '96 Volvo Station Wagon up this road before but that was 5 years ago. Vehicles that are recommended on this road are Jeeps, Subarus and large 4WD trucks. (Total of 144 miles)
From Salem
  • It is a total of 149 miles via Eugene.
From Portland
  • It is a total of 192 miles via Eugene.
*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.

HIKED HERE RECENTLY?! PLEASE LEAVE A TRIP REPORT BELOW:

© Hike Oregon 2021
P.O. Box 41911
​Eugene, OR 97404
Proudly powered by Weebly