Wasco Lake is a lesser known local trail destination

Most local hikers seem to be familiar with Wasco Lake only by virtue of a trail sign pointing away from the much more popular Canyon Creek Meadows loop trail. In reality, Wasco Lake is a nice little destination itself.

The trail takes off from the Jack Lake Trailhead; it's relatively easy and is less than a five-mile round trip. Instead of following the recommended clockwise loop to Canyon Creek Meadows, take the counterclockwise direction when the trail forks in the vicinity of the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness boundary.

About a mile into the hike, the trail meets up with Canyon Creek near a scenic waterfall. This locale is currently part of a restoration program, and the Forest Service asks that hikers remain on the trail in this area to help speed the restoration process.

Shortly after this spot, the trail forks; and a weathered sign clearly points the way to Wasco Lake on the right fork. The trail crosses Canyon Creek at a good crossing that offers three ways to ford. Some of us employed the large-rock-hopping method; and some forded by wading, which was not at all difficult. There is also a narrow log here for a tightrope-type crossing.

Almost all of this hike is within the boundaries of the 2003 B & B burn, but there is also a large unburned stretch on this route that offers shade during the hike. Unfortunately, we seem to be adding more and more of these "burn hikes" to the Sisters Country every year.

Natural reforestation is actively underway and, as usual, lodgepole pines are leading the charge. In this area, however, the new trees are decidedly more mixed-forest than I've seem in most of the burned-over regions. Many of the new seedlings include a variety of firs; spruce and white pine are also in evidence.

Another plant that is doing very well in the burn area is manzanita. These evergreen shrubs with the reddish orange bark have already grown several feet high in many areas. A member of our party pointed out that the plant's name derives from the Spanish for "little apples." Sure enough, many of the bushes had green berries that resembled tiny Granny Smith apples.

The trail was well maintained; but, as we approached the lake, we had to climb over quite a few fallen trees. Surprisingly, by the time we headed back out, most of those trail blockades had been removed, because a Forest Service trail crew was clearing the trail behind us!

Forest Service representatives were also checking hikers for wilderness permits. We saw one hiker (not in our party, of course) who was caught without a permit. Forest Service officials advised that the maximum penalty for non-compliance is a $200 fine.

Wilderness permits are free and available at trailheads, so there is just no reason not to comply. I had filled out our permit at the parking lot and was thanked by the Forest Service staff for doing so. It was the first time I've actually been checked.

Another objective on our list was to check out the condition of the trail between Wasco Lake and Minto Lake. For months, Forest Service trail updates have been warning about "Heavy blowdown conditions!"

A recent Forest Service bulletin stated, "Fire-killed trees from the B & B Wildfire of 2003 are falling with increasing frequency. Many of the trails in the Jefferson Wilderness will likely experience heavy blowdown conditions...Be aware Brush Creek, Minto Lake, and Sugar Pine Ridge Trails have been in a 'no current maintenance' condition due to heavy blowdown and erosion/fire damage since 2004."

The trail bulletin goes on to say that the trails "are considered extremely difficult to impossible to follow and are not recommended."

Well, I'm here to tell you that the warning is an understatement. We went on by the "no maintenance" sign and followed the trail without much difficulty for a couple of hundred yards, doing a little light trail clearing as we went. Soon, however, we lost the trail entirely. Minto Lake isn't all that far, and I continued on for about a quarter of mile. I scouted around a fair bit, and the Forest Service's description of the trail as "extremely difficult" isn't exactly accurate because the trail is just gone.

After that little fiasco, we went back to Wasco Lake for a very refreshing and well-deserved swim. The water is extremely clear, but the irregular rocky bottom is covered with several inches of very soft, loose ooze, so the footing was little awkward while getting launched.

After our swim, we lunched in a scenic grove of survivor trees on the north side of the lake. Most of the lakes in the burned forest have a strip of shoreside trees that survived as the flames swept on by.

We saw a few other hikers that day, but the area around the lake was certainly not crowded. Judging by the number of cars in the parking lot, however, the Canyon Creek Meadows were having a very busy day.

To reach the Jack Lake Trailhead by the usual route, take Highway 20 west from Sisters for 12 miles. Turn right onto Jack Lake Road. Stay on paved Forest Road #12 for 4.3 miles to a right-turning curve, where you make a left turn toward Jack Creek. Cross the one-lane Jack Creek Bridge and continue straight about a mile and a half until the pavement ends. Follow the sign to Jack Lake on gravel road 1234 for about another five miles to where the road ends.

At press time, however, the first mile of the Jack Lake Road was closed for replacement of the Lake Creek road crossing. There are many ways to circumvent the closure from the Camp Sherman side. If in doubt, just follow the detour signs. Forest Service officials expect the road closure to remain in effect until sometime after Labor Day.