The Six Lakes Trailhead near Elk Lake is the gateway to far more lakes than merely six. The rolling forests in this portion of the Three Sisters Wilderness are polka-dotted with blue. An easy walk up this trail reaches the first two large lakes, with small beaches suitable for children. For a longer hike, continue to the picturesque shelter at Cliff Lake. Backpackers can explore even farther through these lake-dotted forests to Mink Lake. Expect mosquitoes all of July.

Start by driving …

The unmarked side trail to Cliff Lake is easy to miss. The trick is to watch for . . .

Other Options

The 18-mile round trip hike to Mink Lake will interest backpackers, though the . . .

This chapter is an excerpt from 100 Hikes : Central Oregon Cascades