Nestled in the Oregon Cascades between Mt. Hood and Mt. Jefferson, Triangle Lake Horse Camp offers access to the trails in the beautiful Olallie Lake Scenic Area. You’ll enjoy an assortment of lakes dotted along the trails, and the Pacific Crest Trail runs right past the horse camp.
Morning mist rises over Jude Lake, near Triangle Lake Horse Camp.
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Distance: 30+ miles of trails
Elevation: 4,550 feet
Triangle Lake and Olallie Butte
Triangle Lake Horse Camp
Triangle Lake Horse Camp is located at the north end of the Olallie Lake Scenic Area, near the shore of its namesake lake. You can choose from eight campsites with 4-horse corrals, picnic tables, and fire rings. The campsites are nicely separated by screening vegetation, creating more privacy than many camps offer. At the camp, you’ll find stock water, a vault toilet, a manure bin, and a handicapped mounting ramp.
Triangle Lake Horse Camp
The Riding
The Pacific Crest Trail runs right past the camp, heading north on the Warm Springs Reservation and south through the Olallie Lakes Scenic Area and beyond. Dozens of lakes of varying sizes dot the area, and any trail you select will take you past several lakes. Unfortunately, the largest concentration of lakes is several miles from the horse camp, so you’ll need to do a bit of riding to reach them. The terrain is rather rocky, so hoof protection is a must.
Be sure to ride the PCT to the Olallie Resort General Store for an ice cream and a great view of Mt. Jefferson across Olallie Lake.
On the Pacific Crest Trail in the Olallie Lake Scenic Area.
Getting There
From Estacada, drive southeast on Hwy. 224 for 25 miles, turn right on Road 46 and continue 22 miles.
From Detroit, head northeast on Road 46 and drive 23 miles.
All, turn east on Road 4690 and continue 8 miles, then turn right on Road 4220 and drive 2 miles to Triangle Horse Camp.
NOTE: Roads 4690 and 4220 are gravel and are VERY washboard right now. The Forest Service is trying to get grants to pay for grading the road, so it’s possible the road situation may improve. Before you go, contact the Clackamas Ranger District at 503-630-6861 to see what condition the road is in. If you go before the road is improved, be prepared for a very slow drive.
Learn More
You’ll find more information about Triangle Lake and the nearby trails in Riding Northwest Oregon Horse Trails, by Kim McCarrel, (Ponderosa Press, 2017), available at www.nwhorsetrails.com.