Sky Lakes Wilderness

Located in the Rogue River and Winema National Forests in Oregon.

A new addition to the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS), Sky Lakes became a wildernesson June 26, 1984, twenty years after Mountain Lake's inclusion in the same system. However it wasmanaged as a special use area for many years.

The Sky Lakes Wilderness extends southward from Crater Lake National Park to Oregon Highway 140and includes land on two National Forests, the Rogue River and the Winema. The area is dominated onthe south by Mount McLoughlin (9,495 feet), and, as one proceeds northward to the National Park, theterrain levels out into a broad plateau like ridge that is dotted with many glacier carved lakes. The highlyscenic Pacific Crest Trail traverses the entire length of the Wilderness. The 116,300 acre area isextremely popular with hikers and campers because of its accessibility to day users from a large area ofsouthern Oregon and its scenic characteristics.

Sky Lakes serves as important elk (and other wildlife) habitat, and it is used by the famous Union Peakherd, which summers in the higher elevations of Crater Lake National Park. The heard is one of many in the area.

There are three major lake basins (Sky Lakes, Seven Lakes, and Blue Canyon) included in the wilderness,containing scores of sparkling, crystal clear alpine lakes, creeks, and icy cold springs. In addition to themany trails that access Sky Lakes from the east and west, the Pacific Crest Trail traverses the wildernessthe entire north-south length, winding over 35 miles. In total, there are over 140 miles of trails in thewilderness.

A common day hike and non-technical mountain climb is the Mount McLoughlin Trail, located in thesouthern portion of the wilderness. The five-mile hike to the 9,495 foot summit of the mountain is rated asdifficult, but the panoramic view is worth the climb. It is the highest peak in Southern Oregon, and thehighest point in the Cascade Range between the Three Sisters and Mount Shasta.

To get to the trailhead take Forest Service Road #3650 north off Highway 140, near the Klamath/Jacksoncounty line. The trail up to the summit is clearly marked by blazed trees, piled-up rock cairns and old ForestService telephone poles that lead to a former lookout. However, each year a number of people become lost onthe descent, usually due to coming down a different route than was used when climbing the mountain. It isbest to descent the mountain keeping the telephone poles in sight until you find the trail that leaves the ridge.If you lose the trail, travel to the east or southeast, which will take you either to the Pacific Crest Trail or toHighway 140.

The summer recreation season usually begins in late June after the winter snowpack melts and the trailsbegin to dry out. In early July, the flowers are blooming, the fish are jumping, and the days are warm andblue. The weekdays offer more opportunities to enjoy the solitude of the wilderness then the weekends.Holiday weekends are most crowded. The snowstorms of October bring the summer season to a close.Cross-country skiing is becoming a more popular winter activity on the lower portions of the wildernesstrails. However, these trails are not designed for skiing, so caution is advised.

Summer temperatures range from highs in the high 80's to lows below freezing. Commonly the summerhighs are 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit, with lows of 40-50 degrees. Thunderstorms are a common summerpattern, and it can snow in any month, so be sure to check local weather before setting out.

Fish stocked in the Sky Lakes lakes include brook trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Kokanee. Thelater is only stocked at Fourmile lake. Cutthroat are currently only stocked in Big Heavenly Twin andIsherwood lakes.

For further information contact:

Rogue River National Forest
P.O. Box 520
333 West Eighth St.
Medford, OR 97501
(503) 858-2200

Winema National Forest
2819 Dahlia
Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601
(503) 883-6714