Hiking trails · Clear Lake · Highway 126 near the McKenzie headwaters
Clear Lake Loop
USFS Trail #4341
An easy, nearly flat 5-mile loop around the glass-clear lake where the McKenzie River is born, past lava flows, old growth and the Great Spring.
★Highlights around the loop
StartClear Lake ResortRowboats, a café, restrooms and water at the trailhead.
All the way roundMirror-still waterOn calm mornings the forest reflects perfectly in the lake.
~mi 1.5Lava fieldCross a 3,000-year-old flow of jagged black rock.
NearbyWaterfalls LoopSahalie and Koosah Falls, a few minutes south.
Down the riverTamolitch Blue PoolWhere the McKenzie reappears in an unreal shade of blue.Mileages are approximate, counterclockwise from Clear Lake Resort.
Trail map
The loop combines Clear Lake Trail #4341 on the west shore with the McKenzie River Trail #3507 on the east shore. Route from OpenStreetMap. It’s nearly flat, with about 75 feet of rolling ups and downs, so there’s no elevation chart.
━ Clear Lake Trail #4341 (west) ━ McKenzie River Trail #3507 (east) ■ Start at Clear Lake Resort / day use area
Directions to Clear Lake Resort and day use area · Trail on OpenStreetMap
Everything above is the quick answer. Scroll on for the details, the backstory and tips.
The loop, step by step (counterclockwise from the resort)
Resort to the outlet bridge (0–1 mi). Head south from Clear Lake Resort on Clear Lake Trail. At about 1 mile, cross a bridge over the brand-new McKenzie River where it leaves the lake. The water below can glow blue-green.
Onto the lava (1–2.6 mi). Turn left onto the McKenzie River Trail at about 1.1 miles and head north up the east shore. At about 1.5 miles you'll enter a field of rough 'a'ā lava, where the surface is partly paved. You'll pass the Coldwater Cove boat ramp and trailhead at about 1.7 miles, then return to old-growth forest at about 2.6 miles.
The Great Spring (about 2.9 mi). Near the north end, the trail curves around the Great Spring, a main source of the McKenzie River, where crystal-clear water wells up from beneath the lava.
Back down the west shore (3.4–5 mi). Cross the bridge over Fish Lake Creek at about 3.4 miles and turn left onto Clear Lake Trail. Follow the west shore back to the resort, walking through the resort to finish the loop at the picnic pavilion at about 5 miles.
How Clear Lake was made
About 3,000 years ago, lava flowed toward the McKenzie River and burned the forest as it went. When the lava hit the cold water, it stopped, and the river backed up behind the new lava dam to form Clear Lake. Today the 142-acre lake is fed by springs and stays cold and astonishingly clear year-round.
Fees, facilities and seasons
Parking: $10 per vehicle at the Clear Lake day use area, or a Northwest Forest Pass or interagency pass. Open year-round, 6am to 10pm.
Facilities: vault toilets, drinking water and a historic 1930s CCC-built shelter at the day use area; food, drinks and rowboat rentals at Clear Lake Resort; drinking water at Coldwater Cove Campground.
Closures: the west side of the loop has periodic closures to protect nesting bald eagles. Contact the McKenzie River Ranger Station for updates.
Winter: Highway 126 stays open year-round, and the lake can be a quiet snowshoe destination. Expect snow on the trail and check conditions first.
Ways to enjoy it
The west shore is closed to motorized vehicles and stock; the east shore is the McKenzie River Trail, which has the same rules. Part of the west side can close in spring for nesting bald eagles.
Day hiking on Clear Lake Loop: Allowed
About 5 miles of nearly flat walking, with old growth on one side, black lava on the other and that see-through water the whole way. Start at Clear Lake Resort, where you can rent a rowboat after the hike.
If the west side is closed for eagles, walk the east shore out and back instead.
Backpacking on Clear Lake Loop: Not a good fit
It's a day loop. To stay the night, camp at Coldwater Cove Campground on the east shore or rent a cabin at the resort. Then continue south on the McKenzie River Trail if you want a multi-day trip.
Mountain biking on Clear Lake Loop: Allowed
Bikes are welcome. The west shore (#4341) is the smoother, easier side; the east shore is the McKenzie River Trail, with lava rock that rattles fillings. Ride counterclockwise and save the lava for when you're warmed up.
Trail running on Clear Lake Loop: Allowed
About 5 flat miles with water at Coldwater Cove and the resort. It's one of the friendliest runs in the corridor. The lava on the east side is the only part that slows you down.
Horseback riding on Clear Lake Loop: Not allowed
The trail is closed to stock.
Want to ride? Box Canyon Horse Camp on the Aufderheide is a free, primitive stock camp with corrals and hitching posts, built for horse trips.
Motorcycle / ATV on Clear Lake Loop: Not allowed
The trail is closed to motorized vehicles.
Motorized riders: stick to the roads and routes shown as open on the Willamette National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map (free at the ranger station).
Allowed Allowed with limits Not allowed Not a good fit
Glass-clear water, black lava and old growth, all on one easy loop.
⌂What’s nearby
Distances are straight-line miles from the closest point on the loop. See them all on the Explore map.
Nearby lodging
Nearby food and drink
Nearby attractions
Nearby campgrounds
Nearby gas
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Clear Lake Loop?
About 5 miles around the lake, combining Clear Lake Trail (Forest Service Trail #4341) on the west shore and the McKenzie River Trail (#3507) on the east shore. It's nearly flat, with about 75 feet of rolling elevation change.
Where do I start?
Most people start at Clear Lake Resort and the day use area off Highway 126, which has parking, restrooms, water and food. You can also start at the Coldwater Cove trailhead on the east shore.
Is there a fee?
Parking at the Clear Lake day use area is $10 per vehicle, or a Northwest Forest Pass or interagency pass.
Can I swim or let my dog swim?
The Forest Service has cautioned against swimming, or letting dogs swim, in Clear Lake because of blue-green algae blooms. The water is also very cold year-round. Check current advisories before you go.
Is the whole loop always open?
The west side has periodic closures to protect nesting bald eagles. Call the McKenzie River Ranger Station at (541) 822-3381 for current status.
Sources: USFS Clear Lake Loop Trail #4341 · Hikespeak: Clear Lake Loop · Oregon Wild: Clear Lake. Checked November 2026.