Wednesday, June 10, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
15
Suttle Lake Trail is a pleasant, easy hiking experience
By Craig F. eisenbeis
Correspondent
The loop trail around
Suttle Lake is an excellent
nearby hiking opportunity
that is sometimes overlooked
simply because it’s so obvi-
ous. Nestled along the south
side of Highway 20, right
where the road angles up the
steep grade to Santiam Pass,
it is easy to drive right on by
this pleasant hike. However,
it’s worth noting that this trail
is ideal for an early season
tune-up hike.
(Note: There is currently
an algae bloom in the lake
and the Forest Service has
placed a caution sign for any-
one planning to recreate in
the lake).
At about three and a half
miles in length, this easily
accessible loop trail is flat,
scenic, and well-maintained.
In fact, extensive trail main-
tenance and reconstruction is
underway.
The trail can be accessed
from either the west or east
end of the lake and almost
anywhere along the south
side. Only the north side of
the lake is not accessible by
vehicle.
For this outing, we chose
the first public access oppor-
tunity by parking near Cinder
Beach, the public day-use
area at the east end of the
lake, near the resort. The last
time we hiked this trail, we
hiked around the lake coun-
terclockwise; so, just to make
things different, we went
clockwise this time.
This easy forest trail never
leaves the shoreline of the
scenic lake. If you have kids,
relatives, friends, or visitors
who have been hard to sell
on experiencing the great out-
doors or are averse to climb-
ing hills, this is the hike you
have been looking for!
To pick up the trail from
this point, simply walk back
across the access bridge
over Lake Creek and take an
immediate right at the trail
sign. Initially, the trail follows
Lake Creek to where it begins
at the outlet of Suttle Lake.
Lake Creek is a tributary of
the Metolius River.
Here, the Suttle Lake
Resort can be seen across
the way; and the trail passes
through some very sce-
nic areas and a couple of
nice fishing spots on its
way toward the Blue Bay
Campground and boat ramp.
Some of the newly recon-
structed trail sections can be
seen along this stretch.
From Blue Bay on, a suc-
cession of campgrounds lines
the south shore and wraps
around the western end of
the lake. The campsites were
lightly populated last week
but will become increasingly
crowded as the summer sea-
son unfolds. The west end is
home to another public day-
use area and two more of the
lake’s four boat ramps.
The trail becomes a bit
vague upon entering Link
Creek Campground, but all
routes eventually lead to the
very nice – and relatively
new – footbridge across Link
Creek. For a time, the old
footbridge had been removed,
and it was necessary to cross
the creek on the vehicle
bridge; but that is no longer
the case.
Link Creek “links” Suttle
Lake to Blue Lake. In the
fall, thousands of kokanee
swarm into the creek to
spawn. Fishing is not allowed
in this creek, but Suttle Lake
is open to fishing all year.
Today, efforts are underway
to restore salmon runs to the
region, but it remains to be
seen if, and when, sockeye
will once again swim in the
waters of Suttle Lake.
In the meantime, Suttle
Lake’s sockeye survive in
their tasty, landlocked form
as kokanee “trout” and are
prolific enough to warrant a
25-fish-per-day catch limit!
Any kokanee much over a
foot is a big one, but that’s
a far cry from the 33-inch
eight-pound salmon of its
genetic potential.
Continue around the west
end of the lake and past the
parking lot to pick up the con-
tinuing trail beyond the boat
ramp. Here you head east
along the north shore of the
lake. Last week, heavy trail
reconstruction was underway
here; so, if crews are work-
ing, stay alert for changes in
the trail. Cyclists should dis-
mount in construction areas.
Midway along the north
shore is a stretch where the
B&B fire of 2003 crept to
the lake’s edge. Fortunately,
most of Suttle Lake’s shore-
line escaped the flames that
devastated the landscape in
this area. Some nice views of
Mt. Washington can be seen
from the north-shore trail.
Also along the north shore,
evidence of another natural
event can still be detected.
Some years ago, the hillside
above — and a large chunk of
Highway 20 — slid down to
the lake.
Bald eagles and osprey
are frequently seen at Suttle
Lake. Barrow’s goldeneye
ducks, and many other water-
fowl are often in residence,
as well. The trail returns to
the starting point by continu-
ing on toward the road bridge
across Lake Creek.
Before construction of
dams on the lower Deschutes
River, Lake Creek once
formed a pathway to the sea
for native sockeye salmon.
Sockeye usually require a
lake in their spawning sys-
tem, and Suttle Lake provided
that feature. Springs at the
bottom of Blue Lake form the
principal water source for the
system, although Suttle Lake
also has some springs of its
own.
“Suttle Lake” is a mis-
spelling of its intended name-
sake, John Settle. Settle was
a Lebanon-area pioneer who
was a principal figure in the
development of the early
Santiam Wagon Road during
the mid-nineteenth century.
By the time the misspelling
was noted, however, it was
deemed too well established
to be changed.
To enjoy this hike, take
Highway 20 west from Sisters
for about 13 miles. The high-
way makes a 90-degree left
turn; and, about half a mile
photo by craiG f. eisenbeis
the Suttle lake trail is an easy, nearby hiking experience.
later, signs point to a left exit
for Suttle Lake. Pass the for-
est information kiosk and fol-
low the signs at a right turn
toward Suttle Lake Resort.
The public access to Cinder
Beach is across the bridge and
straight ahead. You may also
wish to visit the resort and
restaurant, which are to the
left after crossing the bridge.
Fees are not required to park.
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