A set of three gorgeous blue lakes with a castle like mountain in the middle, welcome to Rosary Lakes!

Sunrise at Middle Rosary Lake.

The trailhead starts at a Pacific Crest trailhead parking near Crescent Oregon. Take the trail, then to the right, you'll see the sign for Rosary Lakes.

From here, the first lake is a fairly easy 3.5 mile hike, with a gradual elevation gain.

While there are a handfull of spots to set up camp around Lower Rosary Lake, we opted in to camp between Middle and

Upper Rosary Lake, which added an extra 1/4 mile to our hike.

In my opinion, this peninsula is the best spot, with the best view of the mountain, and quick access to the smaller Upper Rosary Lake.

(There were plenty of spots for tents, and a place for a campfire, but no fires during burn ban season.)

You don't hike to a mountain lake and not go for a swim, plus, what better way is there to cool off!?

There was a lot of smoke that blew in from nearby wildfires, but it was still gorgeous and a great swim!

The water was a crisp 58-60 degrees.

After the chilly swim in Middle Rosary Lake, it was time for some good old fashioned freeze dried dinner! Jetboil and Mountain House to the rescue.

We got surprisingly lucky that the smoked cleared at the end of sunset.

But the real prize was the mostly clear night sky!

My favorite thing will always be watching and capturing the night sky in the middle of nowhere.

It's like getting a glimpse of Heaven!

To be fair, sunrise was just about as beautiful. The smoke had almost completely cleared too!

But the best part of any camping trip.. Morning coffee!

There are plenty of trails around the lakes to explore and kill time. Though with the nearby wildfires and smoke, we mostly stayed close to camp for the trip.

If you're new to backpacking, or just want a less strenuous but still decent length hike, then Rosary Lakes is the perfect fit.

Whether over night or day trip, the blue waters and beautiful castle like mountain won't disappoint!  

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PROS:

Completely Free camping!

Great hike for beginner backpackers.

Not typically crowded, with great views at all 3 lakes!

CONS:

Nearby highways and construction sites may echo into the night.

At 5000 feet elevation, weather can get wild. (Wind, cold, etc.).

Not too many tent spots around the lakes, and be prepared for mosquitos until September.

Although rare, this is bear and cougar country, stay safe and alert!