Muskrat Lake

Distance: 9.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 600 feet.

Muskrat Lake is a pretty, like marshy lake and marks the entryway into the deeper sections of the heart of the Cascade Lakes in the Three Sisters Wilderness. There is also a cool shelter, built in the 1920’s by either a beaver trapper or someone attempting ot raise muskrats, depending on your source. That cabin has really started to deteriorate over the last 10 years, so if you’re into the kind of thing, the sooner you visit, the better.

The hike begins from the Winopee Lake Trailhead near just past the Cultus Lake boatramp and campground. The trail starts out heading along the shore to Cultus Lake. This lake can be very busy with boaters and just people hanging out and swimming in the summer, bust as fall sets in, can become very peaceful. At about ¾ of a mile you will pass by Little Cove Boat-in Campground. It’s worthwhile to pop down to the sandy beach and enjoy the views across the lake to Cultus Mountain.

Keep heading west on the Winpoee Lake Trail and at 2.3 miles you will encounter the Metolius Windigo Trail. Pass this by and continue for another quarter mile come to another junction with the Metolius Windigo Trail, with that trail heading straight and continuing around Cultus Lake. Head right and stay on the Winopee Lake trail and begin a short, easy climb into the Three Sisters Wilderness.

After another ¾ miles through a lodgepole pine forest, you will reach the junction with the Teddy Lakes trail. The Teddy Lakes are a couple of small lakes and a worth the short side trip if you are up for it, although neither is anything spectacular. Lower Teddy Lake will almost be immediately on the left side of the trail, down a hill and through the trees. There isn’t a trail heading to it, and the shores are marshy so its hard to get to close, but it is just down that hill.

Upper Teddy Lake is a half mile down the trail and this time, the trail pretty much goes right to the southern shore, making it an easier lake to visit. Once done, head back down the Teddy Lake trail to the Winopee Lake trail junction, and continue on your way to Muskrat Lake.

The trail transitions into a much more lush forest and you will reach Muskrat Lake in about 1.2 miles from the Teddy Lakes junction. You will be able to see little arms of it and the marsh gras through the trees, but the trail will soon put you right on the edge of the wetlands. There are tons of beavers making a home long with lake, which help to contribute to its varying water level. If it is low enough, you can walk around through the grass, and get a nice look at the cabin. Just keep your eyes peeled for pot holes that could send you 3 or 4 feet down into the water. They can be hard to see in the tall grass until you are right on top of them.

Directions

The trailhead for Muskrat Lake is located at the Winopee Trailhead at Cultus Lake. Cultus Lake is found along the Cascades Lake Highway and can be reached from a number of directions, with 26 miles past Mt Bachelor on the Cascade Lakes Highway when coming from Bend, 23 miles west of Sunriver on NF-40, which puts on the Cascade Lakes Highway just a mile north of the Cultus Lake turnoff, or 32 miles north of Crescent Lake Junction again, on the Cascade Lakes Highway. When you see the turnoff for the lake, follow the road for 1.8 miles towards the lake. The road will split, with the left heading towards the resort. Go right towards the campground. The paved road will take a sharp left towards the boat ramp after a quarter mile. Continue straight as the road transitions to gravel and then dirt. Follow this for .7 miles until it ends in a small parking area with an information kiosk. This is your trailhead.

Things to Know

Passes:A Central Cascades Wilderness Permit is required if you plan on camping in the wilderness between June 15th and October 15th. The permits will be available from recreation.gov and will go on sale in early April. If you are day hiking, a free issue wilderness permit is required upon entering the wilderness.

Dogs: Allowed and must be on leash or under voice command at all times.

Usage: Light.

Bugs: Mosquitos can be horrible in this area but start dying back in August.

Open Season: The Cascade Lakes Highway closes seasonally and is usually open from around Memorial Day until mid Novemeber, depending on the year and the amount of snow they get. Expect snow along the trail well into June.