Mt. Hood National Forest Silver King Lake Hike ~ via Whetstone Ridge Hike 51
Length: 11.2 miles round trip Elevation Change: 1600' cumulative gain Season: Summer thru Fall Difficulty: Challenging Permit: NW Forest Pass Required Features:
There are several ways to get to Silver King Lake. One is by taking the trail from Bagby
Hot springs. Another is my hiking in from Elk Lake. But the one I'm presenting begins
at the Whetstone Mountain trail head and follows the ridge between Whetstone Mtn and
Silver King Mtn. The trail head access is easy and the hike is spectacular.
The trail descends immediately from the parking area, passing the Check Point Charlie on
the way.... poop shovels and all! You loose a bit of altitude here as you cross this
little valley and approach the ridge that you will follow almost to the lake.
When you reach the top of the ridge you will intersect Trail #3369 coming in from the west.
This trail follows your Trail #546 for nearly a mile before dropping down into the valley
below. You will climb and descend several times during this hike, but none of the changes
are very great. At about two miles you begin to be more out in the open and the views
are just great. This a beautiful wilderness area and this hike provides you so many vistas
to enjoy it.
At about four and a half miles you will come to a saddle where the trail down to Silver King
Lake branches off to your left. Follow this Trail #544 downhill to the spur trail that takes
you back uphill a bit to the lake itself. Silver King is a small but beautiful lake and worth
the journey.
