hike · tb
44.2241, -121.8718

Hand Lake Loop Hike

Overview

Hand Lake , right off the McKenzie Highway, forms a seasonally fluctuating pool at the end of a tongue of a lava flow that emanated from the South Belknap volcano about 3,000 years ago. This loop, mostly level and suitable for young children, includes the historic Hand Lake Shelter as well as a short stretch of the McKenzie Wagon Road crossing the lava flow. The return on the loop is not on a trail, but follows the edge of the lava flow and then the shore of Hand Lake . A much shorter outing, only about one mile round-trip, includes the shelter and the southern lake shore.

Trail Stats

Duration
1.3 hr
Length
4.7 km
Elevation Gain
58 m
High Point
1477 m
Low Point
—
Grade
—

Photos

Three Sisters from Hand Lake%2C Hand Lake Loop
Trail photo

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800px HandLakeLoopMap
Trail photo

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500px Meadow at south end of Hand Lake%2C Hand Lake Loop
Trail photo

No caption provided.

500px Pussypaws %28Calyptridium umbellatum%29%2C Hand Lake Loop
Trail photo

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500px Wagon road on lava flow%2C Hand Lake Loop
Trail photo

No caption provided.

500px The Hand Lake Shelter%2C Hand Lake Loop
Trail photo

No caption provided.

Tags

easy