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Waldo Lake
Directions: Travel east on Highway 58 from the City of Oakridge for 23 miles to Forest Road 5897 (Waldo Lake Road). Follow the signs to Waldo Lake.
Length: Varies
The Hike: There are many, many different routes you can hike at Waldo Lake--you really just have to show up and make a choice. You can either start from the South Trail Area, the North Trail Area, or the West Trail Area; from those areas, the trails branch out. Waldo Lake itself is beautiful and a gorgeous place to spend a day.
Larison Cove
Directions: Travel east on Highway 58 from the City of Oakridge for 2 miles to Kitson Springs County Road. Turn right and proceed on Kitson Springs County Road for 0.5 miles to Forest Road 21. Turn right and continue for 3 miles to the trailhead at Larison Cove. Turn right into the trailhead parking lot.
Length: 6.3 miles
The Hike: The trail travels along Larison Creek, winding through old growth Douglas-Fir, Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Incense Cedar, Vine Maple, Big Leaf Maple, ferns, Salal and Ceanothus on the drier sites. Larison Cove is a wonderful spot for kayaking, playing in the water, having a picnic, or even just lounging with a book.
Erma Bell Lakes
Directions: From Highway 58, turn north at the sign for Westfir, then left onto North Fork Road (Road 19). Drive up North Fork Road until you come to gravel Road 1957; turn right, and drive to the Skookum Creek Campground where the trailhead begins.
Length: 5.5 miles
The Hike: On this level hike, you will pass three mountain lakes, known collectively as the Erma Bell Lakes. The Middle Lake is the best stopping point for picnicking or playing in the water.
Rosary Lakes
Directions: From Oakridge drive southeast of Highway 58 to Willamette Pass. Just beyond the Willamette Pass ski area, park in the Pacific Crest Trail parking lot, which is located on the north side of the road.
Length: 7 miles
The Hike: This hike takes you past three lakes as well—the Rosary Lakes—as well as through dry forests (in the summer—snowy forests in the winter) and some rocky terrain. A wonderful day hike with a picnic—a possible camping destination as well.
Marilyn Lakes
Directions: Proceed east on Hwy. 58 from the Oakridge Ranger Station for 29 miles to Gold Lake Road #500. Follow Gold Lake Road for 2 miles to Gold Lake Campground parking lot and the trailhead.
Length: 1 mile
The Hike: This short trail leads to upper and lower Marilyn Lakes and ends on Gold Lake Road. There are beautiful views from the upper lake, of Diamond Peak.
Islet Beach
Directions: From Oakridge, take Highway 58 to the start of Waldo Lake Road. Stay on this road for awhile until you see the sign for Islet Campground; turn left. Follow signs to the boat ramp and look for the nearby trailhead.
Length: 2.5 miles
The Hike: This is one of the few beaches on Waldo Lake to which you must hike. (On the hike, you pass several others—stop if you so choose.) But once there, you have a warm, sunny beach away from the noise (usually) to yourself.
Salt Creek Falls and Diamond Creek Falls
Directions: Turn off from Highway 58 6 miles west of Willamette Pass (21 miles east of Oakridge). Park at the signed turnout for Salt Creek Falls; the hiking trail begins at the picnic area.
Length: 2.4 mile loop
The Hike: There are a number of short off-shoots from the main trail which will lead you to other falls or to Salt Creek, but the real treats are Salt Creek Falls and Diamond Creek Falls. A trail leads to an area at the base of Diamond Creek Falls, which is a lovely spot to stop and have a picnic, or simply to rest before moving on to Salt Creek Falls.
Bobby Lake
Directions: Proceed east from the Middle Fork Ranger Station on Hwy 58 for 27 miles to the Waldo Lake Road 5897. Follow the Waldo Road for 5 ½ miles to trailhead on the right.
Length: 1.5 miles
The Hike: This easy walking trail wanders through park-like stands of mountain hemlock before turning off to the right and heading down to Bobby Lake. The lake offers fishing, swimming, and several good campsites. The trail continues along the north shore of the lake and into the Deschutes National Forest, coming out on a forest road in the Davis Lake area.
Happy Lake
Directions: From Oakridge, proceed east on Highway 58 2 miles to Kitson Springs Road, turning right. Follow this road, as it becomes Forest Road 23 for approximately 16 miles to the trailhead on the left for Diamond Peak Trail #3699. Follow this trail south for about 25 miles to the Happy Lake Trail.
Length: 7 miles
The Hike: Happy Lake Trail is a short spur trail off of the north end of Diamond Peak Trail. It descends gently into a bowl which contains an extensive boggy meadow and the lake. Happy Lake offers an excellent opportunity for a true wilderness experience, as it is used little. The fishing is good here, and there are several good camp spots.
Blue Lake
Directions: Follow Hwy 58 two miles east of Oakridge to Kitson Springs Road. Turn right, and follow Kitson Springs Road (becomes Forest Road 23) about 30 miles to the junction with Road 2149, turn left. Continue on Road 2149 about 4 miles to the trailhead on the left 2149 about 4 miles to the trailhead on the left.
Length: 1.7 miles
The Hike: This lake, one of the larger lakes in the Diamond Peak Wilderness, offers excellent fishing and camping opportunities, as well as beautiful scenery. More adventurous may want to continue on this trail to the Diamond Peak Trail, which is the main north/south trail on the western side of the wilderness.
Opal Lake
Directions: Proceed east on Hwy 58 for two miles to Kitson Springs Road. Follow Kitson Springs Road for.5 miles to Forest Road 21, turn right. Continue on Road 21 for 32 miles to Road 2154. Turn left and follow the road for approximately 10 miles, to the trailhead on the right.
Length:.2 miles
The Hike: This short trail is a popular access for summer fishing, and fall mushroom and huckleberry picking. The trail leads to a small lake that has one camp site with a firering and picnic table. Those visiting this area, early in the season should be prepared for swarms of mosquitoes. The trail passes through dense, multi-aged stands of hemlock and silver fir.
Spirit and Moon Falls
Directions: From Highway 58, turn south on Patterson Mountain Road (Road 5840), then left onto Road 1790. The trailhead for Spirit Falls will be on your right. For Moon Falls, turn left from Road 1790 onto Road 1702-203 and proceed to the trailhead.
Length: Spirit Falls—0.7 miles, Moon Falls—1 mile
The Hike: Spirit Falls, a gorgeous 60-foot cascading waterfall, is a short hike and can easily be combined with the Moon Falls hike. At Spirit Falls, you will find a great picnic area and viewpoint overlooking the falls. At Moon Falls, the trail emerges near the base of the falls—plan on getting a little wet!
Rigdon Lakes
Directions: Follow Highway 58 for 24 miles southeast of Oakridge. Take a left on Forest Service Rd. 5897. Follow it 10 miles to North Waldo Campground; the trailhead is to the right of the restrooms.
Length: 3 miles
The Hike: The trail parallels the north shore of Waldo Lake for about two miles until the Rigdon Trail junction (Trail 3583). Turn right at the trail intersection for another mile to get to the first of the three Rigdon lakes, which has several peninsulas that are ideal for a picnic and several small islands that might tempt swimmers who don’t mind cold water.
Mt. Yoran
Directions: From Oakridge, follow Hwy 58 for 2 miles east to Kitson Springs Road and turn right. Continue on this road, as it becomes Road 23, for about 14 miles to Vivian Lake trailhead on the left (across from Hemlock Butte). Proceed on foot for one mile to the Mt. Yoran Trail.
Length: 3.8 miles
The Hike: This trail passes through dense forest, climbing up the main west spur to Mt. Yoran. As the trail approaches the treeline, it levels to parallel the mountain and finally sweeps into a bowl to Divide Lake - a small, 12 foot deep lake in a rocky pristine wilderness setting. Several other small lakes are also in the bowl.
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