North Oregon Cascades
Jefferson Lake
Length: 6.5 one_way miles
Low Point: 3100'
High Point: 4750'
Season: Summer/Fall
Low Point: 3100'
High Point: 4750'
Season: Summer/Fall
Scenery: 0/5
Difficulty: 0/5
Difficulty: 0/5
Submitted by: Forrest
Directions
From Highway 20, 1.5 miles east of Suttle Lake, turn north onto Forest Service Road 12 and follow this for about 11.5 miles. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 1290 for a half mile before turning left onto Road 1292. Follow this road for 2.5 miles to its end and the trailhead. *Note – mileages taken from map, so they may be slightly off.Trail Description
Jefferson Lake is a nice pleasant lake, but the hike to get there is anything but pleasant. In 2003, the B&B Complex fire torched much of the landscape (everything except for the Jefferson Lake area). The area is recovering, but with the absence of tall Ponderosa Pine trees, the trail has been taken over by brush. Finding the trail is still possible, but swimming through the brush through the stiff, and poky brush takes it's toll. The hike can be completed, but if you attempt it, you will be doing battle.
