Canyon Meadow is a Permitted Hike in the Mt Jefferson Wilderness
Canyon Meadow is a relatively easy hike in Central Oregon if limited to just the meadow loop which takes trekkers through burned forest, old growth forest and the meadow back to the beginning at Jack Lake. However, many will take the one way climb past the meadow up to the base of Three Fingered Jack. This adds significant elevation gain as well as beautiful views of Three Fingered Jack, sometimes including mountain goats and technical climbers on the craggy top of the mountain. For those adventurous enough to climb the loose rock and pumice past the glacial lake onto the ridge separating Three Fingered Jack from the nearby unnamed hill, the views south toward the Three Sisters and Mt. Washington and the views north toward Mt. Jefferson are spectacular.
Scrambling down the loose scree from the view points takes time, and trekking poles can be very helpful. Once the difficult section of the hike is passed, people can return the way they had come, or for a difference experience they can hike down the meadow following the stream that flows from the moraine holding the glacial lake. During certain times of the year, this path can be through acres of lupine dominated wildflowers. For those who take the entire Canyon Meadow loop as suggested, the trip results in over 1600 feet of elevation gain and under eight miles in length.
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