Yoran Lake Loop
Hike details:
Mileage: 11.3 mile loop w/ 1,215 ft. elevation gain
Approximate hike time: 4 hours 54 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail usage: Low on weekdays, medium on summer weekends
Highest elevation: 5,993 ft. Lowest elevation: 4,800 ft.
General location: 29 miles east of Oakridge - Diamond Peak Wilderness - Willamette National Forest
Accessible: Mid-June through mid-November
(Best time to go is August through mid-November to avoid early season mosquitoes).
Permits required: Free self issue wilderness permit June 15 - October 15 available at the trailhead
Northwest Forest Pass for parking
Pit toilet at trailhead: No but there is a bathroom at Shelter Cove Resort
Trail allows: Dogs, horses, camping
Possible dangers: N/A
Approximate hike time: 4 hours 54 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail usage: Low on weekdays, medium on summer weekends
Highest elevation: 5,993 ft. Lowest elevation: 4,800 ft.
General location: 29 miles east of Oakridge - Diamond Peak Wilderness - Willamette National Forest
Accessible: Mid-June through mid-November
(Best time to go is August through mid-November to avoid early season mosquitoes).
Permits required: Free self issue wilderness permit June 15 - October 15 available at the trailhead
Northwest Forest Pass for parking
Pit toilet at trailhead: No but there is a bathroom at Shelter Cove Resort
Trail allows: Dogs, horses, camping
Possible dangers: N/A
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Description:The Yoran Lake Trail is a wonderful loop that takes you through the Diamond Peak Wilderness to a number of beautiful lakes with mountain views. This loop is great for a long summer day hike or an easy one night backpacking trip and is easy enough for the whole family.
You will start at the Trapper Creek Trailhead and from there carefully cross the railroad tracks and heading into the woods. You will see the official trailhead sign/kiosk where from June 15 - October 15 you are required to fill out a free wilderness permit. From here you will hike just 0.1 miles to a Y trail split. The trail to the left is the Whitefish Creek Trail that takes you up to Diamond View Lake, and you will continue to the right on the Yoran Lake Trail. |
(bridge over Trapper Creek)
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(West Bay Creek crossing)
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Right after the trail split you will cross Trapper Creek via a log bridge and then you will continue on for 0.3 miles to another trail split where you will take a left to stay on the Yoran Lake Trail. You will cross West Bay Creek and continue through a mixed forest of subalpine fir and beautiful mountain hemlock trees that are covered in lichen. After 3.3 miles you will see a small foot path that spurs off to the left and goes to Karen Lake and right after that you will see Yoran Lake.
(Diamond Peak and Yoran Lake)
(Mount Yoran across Yoran Lake)
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(Yoran Lake)
Yoran Lake is absolutely gorgeous and like most lakes in the Diamond Peak Wilderness, it is very underrated as well. Across this blue/green colored lake you can see Diamond Peak as well as Mount Yoran, and the lake even has a little rock island in it. There is nice backcountry camping up above the lake, where you can see Diamond Peak even better. Yoran Lake is great for taking the kids to, because it is shallow and therefor it is one of the few lakes that actually warms up a bit later on in the summer. This would definitely be a great first time backpacking trips with the kids.
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(lake view from upper camping area)
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(Lils Lake)
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To continue the loop, follow the trail that heads around the east side of Yoran Lake and in half a mile you will come to Lils Lake, a very shallow lake that has a meadow on the east side. Continue on the trail through the meadow for another 0.25 miles until you come to the Pacific Crest Trail. Take the trail to the right (northbound) as it gently meanders downhill passing a few more lakes. In half a mile you will see Hidden Lake on your right, one of the most beautiful lakes with great flat camping spots. If Yoran Lake is too busy for camping, Hidden Lake is a wonderful alternative. 1 mile after Hidden Lake is Arrowhead Lake, and 1.4 miles after Arrowhead is Midnight Lake, another great camping spot. 1.3 miles after passing Midnight Lake, you will come to Pengra Pass, an obvious trailhead, where you will take the dirt road to your right. After walking on this dirt road for 0.3 miles, you will see a trail head back into the forest on your right. This is the Whitefish Creek Trail again, which you will follow for 1.3 miles, crossing West Bay Creek and Trapper Creek again and then you will arrive back at the Trapper Creek Trailhead.
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(Hidden Lake)
(Midnight Lake)
The Yoran Lake Loop is an absolutely wonderful late summer and autumn hike. Summer is great for swimming and camping, but if you want to avoid the mosquitoes going in the fall is the best. The huckleberry bushes turn a beautiful yellow and red in the fall and the air is gloriously crisp. Whether you are hiking this loop as a day hike or an overnight, you will love this easy trail, the beautiful scenery and the wonderful alpine lakes that you pass by along the way.
(spur road at Pengra Pass)
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(Whitefish Creek Trail)
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Directions:
From Oakridge
- Drive OR-58 E for a total of 26.6 miles, then at a sign for Shelter Cove Resort turn right onto NF-5810 for 2 miles. At a 4-way junction with the Shelter Cove Resort entrance, you will see a spur road on your right. There is not a lot of trailhead parking, and if it is full, you can park at Shelter Cove Resort but definitely go in and ask them if you need a special parking permit so that you don't get towed. (Total of 29 miles)
- Drive US-97 S for a total of 47 miles, then turn right onto Crescent Cut-off Rd. for 12 miles. Turn right onto OR-58 W for 10.4 miles and then turn left at a sign for Shelter Cove Resort onto NF-5810 for 2 miles. At a 4-way junction with the Shelter Cove Resort entrance, you will see a spur road on your right. There is not a lot of trailhead parking, and if it is full, you can park at Shelter Cove Resort but definitely go in and ask them if you need a special parking permit so that you don't get towed. (Total of 71.7 miles)
- Drive OR-62 E towards Crater Lake for 49.5 miles then take a slight left onto OR-230 N 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 N for 17.8 miles then use the left lane to take the OR-58 W exit toward Eugene. Continue on OR-58 W for 23.5 miles, then at a sign for Shelter Cove Resort turn left onto NF-5810 for 2 miles. At a 4-way junction with the Shelter Cove Resort entrance, you will see a spur road on your right. There is not a lot of trailhead parking, and if it is full, you can park at Shelter Cove Resort but definitely go in and ask them if you need a special parking permit so that you don't get towed. (Total of 142 miles)
- Total of 71 miles via Oakridge.
- Total of 133 miles via Oakridge.
- Total of 177 miles via Oakridge.
-This trail write-up is up to date as of June, 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.