Towhead Lake [Suggest Edits]

Description

Easily accessible lakes are rare in the Red Buttes Wilderness and along the Siskiyou Crest, but Towhead Lake is one such lake. Set in a rocky canyon just one mile northwest of the Pacific Crest Trail in the shadow of Red Butte, it is absolutely charming. Clear and blue and deep, it is an ideal swim spot for a summer day hike or backpack. Its high-clarity emerald, turquoise, amber, and aquamarine waters make this truly one of the gem-quality lakes in the Red Buttes Wilderness!

Half-Day Hike: The closest trailhead is at Cook and Green Pass, which can be reached via a good gravel road (Forest Road (FR) 1055) which comes into California from the Oregon side of the border just south of Applegate Lake. At the pass, the PCT crosses FR 1055 (which continues south and down as FR 48N20 to the Seiad Valley in California) and is joined by the terminus of the Cook and Green Trail #959 coming up from FR 1040. There is ample parking at the pass but no other amenities.

Gem Type: Lake