Three Fingered Jack
Backpack in from Jack Lake
This hike comes highly recommended. The trail is easy and the climb rewarding. This is a great adventure for kids 7+. A good destination for this hike is Canyon Creek Meadow only 2 miles in and less than 1,000 feet up.
You'll need your NW Forest Pass or pay for a day permit. You'll also need a wilderness permit. This area has seen heavier use since the Pole Creek Fire of 2012 devastated nearby backcountry. Be very mindful of camping 30+ adult paces from water. Rangers roam the meadow and we received a tongue lashing for utilizing a highly impacted site that was just that distance.
The hike starts at the far end of the parking lot and wraps around Jack Lake. Look for a nice framed shot Three Fingered Jack just above the lake.
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| Travel thru' mixed conifer forest that transitions from lodgepole to fir and from sagebrush to manzanita as you climb. |
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| Canyon Creek Meadow is awesome and makes a nice spot to take a break. |
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| Vistas start to really open up in what I call the upper meadow. |
We got a glimpse of the Mountain Goats that had been released in this area as they clung to the east face of 'Jack.
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| Look REALLY close at the cliff and you'll see the 'dots' that are Mountain Goats. |
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| Mountain Goat |
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| Vistas open up on the southeast shoulder rim. From left to right we see, Broken Top, Mt. Bachelor (tiny in the distance), The Three Sisters, and Mt. Washington |
Watch a short film on the jaunt here:
You can find the trailhead by turning off Highway 20 west of Sisters onto FS Rd 12. Follow that north for a few miles. Take a left onto FS Rd 1234 after crossing Jack Creek. Follow that road about 7 miles to the trailhead at Jack Lake.
