43. Island Lakes Loop

Summary

Length – 10-mile loop

Difficulty – Moderate

Season – Summer to early autumn

Elevation range –4,980 feet – 6,200 feet

Human imprint – Moderate (Cedar Creek fuelbreak, mountain bikes)

Information - Willamette National Forest, Middle Fork Ranger District

Primary old growth features

Extensive stand of impressive old-growth mountain hemlock; large stand of old Engelmann spruce.

Description

A lovely loop past Island Lakes uses segments of four trails to sample remarkable snow-zone old growth interspersed with quiet wooded lakes. The eastern slopes of Fuji Mountain towards Waldo Lake harbor the finest stand of old mountain hemlock in central Oregon, while the forest near Gold Lake Bog hosts a unique concentration of large Engelmann spruce. While described as a loop starting from the Waldo Lake Road, alternative starting points are nearby and the hike can be enjoyed as shorter out-and back excursions.

Cross Waldo Lake Road and head up the Fuji Mountain Trail (3674) onto a gently sloping plateau. Although there are some large Douglas-fir and noble fir along the initial switchback, a younger forest quickly prevails and fuel treatment work done during the Cedar Creek Fire (2022) becomes evident. The trail was used to anchor a shaded fuelbreak as a contingency fireline, though the fire never reached the trail. Old western white pine that used to populate this area have mostly died out due to white pine blister rust.

After approximately 2 ½ miles, the trail comes to Birthday Lake, the first of several scenic lakes along the loop, and enters a much older mountain hemlock and Pacific silver fir forest. Turn right at a trail junction a half mile later onto the South Waldo Trail (3586) and begin the second segment of the loop. The trail heads northeast towards Waldo Lake on relatively level ground continuing through a beautiful open stand of impressive mountain hemlock, some well over 400 years old. Lower Island Lake, the most appealing lake in the cluster, is a great backdrop for a relaxing rest break.

The trail drops down towards another four-way trail junction a mile or so past Island Lakes. Turn right onto the Mount Ray Trail (3682) for the third segment of the loop and head southeast toward picturesque Pothole Meadow. Old forest continues most the way to the Waldo Lake Road with large noble fir becoming more common nearer the road.

To complete the loop, cross Waldo Lake Road and turn right once again onto the Gold Lake Trail (3677) a third of a mile later. This final trail segment bisects a unique stand of large, distinctive Engelmann spruce near Gold Lake Bog, an area reserved long ago for its botanical diversity. Please stay on the trail through here to protect bog vegetation. Take a short spur trail to the right toward your vehicle approximately two miles from the last trail junction.

25 years of change

The shaded fuelbreak prepared for the Cedar Creek Fire (2022) is quite noticeable; the older white pine have mostly died out; more mountain bike use now.

How to get there

Turn left (north) onto the Waldo Lake Road (FR 5897) off of Highway 58, approximately 22 miles southeast of Oakridge. Trailhead parking is on the right side of the road about 2 miles from the highway.