PRAIRIE CITY — For those strapped for time, a quick hike to Strawberry Lake is a great way to take in the snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes and waterfalls that highlight the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness.

The mountain and nearby Strawberry Creek were named by homesteader Nathan Willis Fisk “because there were abundant wild strawberries.”

The mountain was initially named “Strawberry Butte,” but everyday use changed it to Strawberry Mountain, which now appears on official maps.

In 1984, the Oregon Wilderness Act more than doubled the original area of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness to its current total of 68,700 acres, according to the U.S. Forest Service

Strawberry Lake formed during the ice age, when massive landslides dammed the gorge. A thousand years ago a glacier filled the valley from both sides until the ice melted and the unsupported cliffs on both sides collapsed.

The lake radiates expansive and blue and is flanked on both sides by rugged mountain peaks while glassy creeks feed the body of water.

The stocked lake offers brook and rainbow trout for those interested in fishing.

The shortest and easiest way to enjoy the full beauty of this scenic high country lake is a 4-mile loop that takes you all the way around the shoreline before heading back to the trailhead. This hike features 550 feet of elevation gain and is open from July to November.

If you’re up for a longer trek, you can keep going for another 0.9 mile from the head of the lake to 60-foot Strawberry Falls. From the top of the falls, a 0.4-mile spur will take you to Little Strawberry Lake.

Fit and adventurous hikers may want to tackle 9,038-fot Strawberry Peak, the highest point in the range. That hike, generally open from August through October, makes for a 13-mile round trip with 3,300 feet of elevation gain.

According to the Forest Service, water from springs, lakes, ponds, and streams should have proper treatment before drinking. No matter how pure it may look, surface water should be considered unsafe to drink until adequately treated. The Forest Service recommends boiling the water.

To reach the Strawberry Basin Trail, take Highway 26 to Prairie City. Turn south onto South Main Street, crossing the John Day River and passing the Sumpter Valley Railway Depot and Dewitt Museum on the left.

Turn left on Southwest Bridge Street, and, after a short distance, turn right on South Bridge Street at a sign for Strawberry Campground, 11 miles away. Continue south on County Road 60, which turns to gravel after a few miles. The road is well-maintained for all but the last mile or so, when it becomes steeper and rougher. The road ends at Strawberry Camp, the trailhead for Strawberry Basin Trail. There is no parking fee, and no permits are required for hiking in the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness.