FULL HIKE Santiam Pass PCT to Square Lake & Booth Lake! | Three Fingered Jack Loop Central Oregon 4K

This was a Day-Hike in Central Oregon, part of the 24-mile Three Fingered Jack Loop, starting from the Santiam Pass Pacific Crest Trailhead (NO Recreation.gov permit required, self issue @ Trailhead) turning East (to the Right) at the Old Summit Trail Junction just 0.3 Miles from the Trailhead and Hiking NE to Square Lake, Booth Lake & beyond to First Creek (the #12 Yellow Oval on the AllTrails Three Fingered Jack Loop Hike) as the Turnaround Point for this 11 Miles, 1400 FT Elevation Gain Day-Hike!

This Day-Hike is one of three amazing Day-Hikes I like to break Three Fingered Jack Loop into as an alternative approach to Backpacking the whole Loop in one trip:
1) Jack Lake Trailhead to Canyon Creek Meadows to Base of Three Fingered Jack to Turquoise Alpine Cirque to Parallel Canyon Creek to Old Summit Trail to Wasco Lake to Minto Pass to PCT Wasco Lake Overlook to PCT Burnout Zone to Old Summit Trail to Hidden Waterfall
2) Santiam Pass PCT staying North to the "Moneyshot", highest point in the entire 24-mile Loop
3) Santiam Pass PCT, turn right after 0.3 miles to Old Summit Trail to Square Lake & Booth Lake, turnaround shortly after Booth Lake before the Manzanita Zone (THIS HIKE)
***These three Day-Hikes capture the Highlights of the 24-mile Three Fingered Jack Loop!***

I would recommend doing this earlier in the day with fluids on your person because the vast majority of this Day Hike is FULLY EXPOSED to the SUN. The temperature was classic late Summer weather, in the 50's early in the morning with a high in 80's in the heart of the day. This was hiked on 8/12/2022 and there were fortunately no mosquitoes. As far as road conditions, in my opinion, any car can easily make it, the road most definitely does not require 4-Wheel Drive, it is highway to a paved parking lot, no real off road or challenging road driving required - do watch for road conditions, particularly snow/ice depending on the time of year.