Jefferson Lake
Jefferson Lake Trail is a 9.2-mile trail in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to hiking and horse and pack stock. It enters Mount Jefferson Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Deschutes National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 44.5827° N, 121.6776° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 44.6118° N, 121.7910° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 2 segments.
The trail
| Length | 9.2 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| Trail numbers | 4001 |
| Forest | Deschutes National Forest (unit 0601) |
| States | Oregon |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 06/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Wilderness
- Mount Jefferson WildernessFS · the whole line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
Jefferson Lake Trailhead No season published Wilderness restrictions apply in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness. Pamelia Lake – No camping within 100 feet of high-water mark of lake or any other water source Campfires are prohibited above 5,700 feet and within these lake basins: Marion Lake Ann Lake Table Lake Motorized and mechanical equipment (including bicycles and drones) are prohibited in the Wilderness Groups must be under 12 people and 12 head of stock Build campfires at least 100 feet away from water Pack in / Pack out! | under 0.1 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedTriple Butte Rx
18 mi from the trail midpoint · 40 acres
- PrescribedSlow Dxp/Lemiti Piles Rx - West
20 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedSpike Timber Sale Piles Rx - West
23 mi from the trail midpoint
- WildfireAustin
30 mi from the trail midpoint · 12,888 acres · 98% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Historic places nearby
Guidebooks for Oregon
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Jefferson Lake Trail?
The Forest Service records 9.2 miles under this name in Deschutes National Forest, the sum of 2 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Jefferson Lake Trail?
Hiking and horse and pack stock are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Jefferson Lake Trail start?
The line begins at 44.5827° N, 121.6776° W and ends at 44.6118° N, 121.7910° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Jefferson Lake Trailhead, under 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Jefferson Lake Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Mount Jefferson Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Mount Jefferson Wilderness
Where can I camp near the Jefferson Lake Trail?
Sheep Springs Horse Camp (0.3 mi), Candle Creek Campground (2.5 mi) and Lower Bridge Campground (3.3 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 6 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Jefferson Lake Trail?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Jefferson Lake Trail?
The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Jefferson Lake Trail?
Deschutes National Forest, Forest Service unit 0601. The trail is in Oregon.
Is there a fire near the Jefferson Lake Trail?
The interagency feed shows 4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Triple Butte Rx at 18 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 2 segments named Jefferson Lake in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0601. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.