Deschutes National Forest · Oregon

Deer Lake

2.3 mi of trail, end to end · native material surface · trail No. 6 · trail class 3 · typical grade trail_grade · tread 12-18 inches wide · hiking, horse, bike

Trailhead Deer Lake Trailhead Drive there

Deer Lake Trailhead the Forest Service's write-up

This small, primitive trailhead offers parking north of Little Cultus Lake and access to multiple trails and lakes, most notably the Deer Lake Trail (frequently used to connect to the Cultus Lake Loop).

Deer Lake Trailhead primarily provides access to:

Deer Lake Trail

Metolius-Windigo Trail #99

Winopee Lake Trail #16

Trail users may enter the Three Sisters Wilderness if they connect into the Metolius-Windigo Trail #99 or the Winopee Lake Trail #16 . Wilderness Permits are required. See "Permit Info" below for more details.

Restrictions If entering the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=79444">Three Sisters Wilderness</a>: <ul><li><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/deschutes/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5391781">Wilderness restrictions apply</a></li><li><strong>Maps of areas where special restrictions apply:</strong>&nbsp;<ul><li><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/stelprdb5393945.jpg" target="_blank">Dog leash restrictions</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1060067.pdf">Green Lakes</a></li><li><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1060068.pdf">Matthieu Lakes</a></li><li><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1060069.pdf">Moraine Lakes</a></li></ul></li><li>Stock users must use weed-free feed;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev2_026441.pdf">click here</a>&nbsp;for more information.</li><li>Motorized and mechanical equipment (including bicycles and drones) are prohibited in the wilderness.</li><li>Groups must be under 12 people and 12 head of stock.</li><li>Build campfires at least 100 feet away from water.</li><li>Pack in / Pack out!</li><li>&ldquo;Take only pictures, leave only footprints&rdquo;&mdash;please refrain from cutting, damaging or gathering vegetation or other forest items, i.e. rocks, etc.</li><li>Please bury human waste 6-8&rdquo; deep and at least 200&rsquo; away from water.</li></ul>

This trailhead on fs.usda.gov

Every trail in Deschutes National Forest

All 432 trails in Deschutes National ForestFind a trailForest on fs.usda.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.