Jack Lake

On a gorgeous early autumn day, I drove to Jack Lake, a few miles east of Three Fingered Jack. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, nor a hint of a breeze.

The hike into the meadows of Canyon Creek Basin, beneath the glacial moraine of the old volcano, is very popular. The large parking area at the trailhead had many vehicles.

The views were simply amazing. The 7,841-foot jagged summit of Three Fingered Jack was reflected in the still waters of Jack Lake. The summit block was highlighted by streaks of red volcanic seams.

Three Fingered Jack

It was a very pleasant hike to the meadows surrounding Canyon Creek. Mt. Jefferson and the Sisters were visible along the way. The sunshine made it feel like a mid-summer’s day. I did some exploring before enjoying a snack.

On the return to the trailhead, much of the trail was surrounded by burnt snags from a 2003 wildfire. In many ways, it just added to the stark beauty of the wilderness, and there were many new trees growing.

This is truly one of the best wilderness hikes around. I give it a big thumbs up.