You may have made it out to Crater Lake, but Soapstone Lake? Maybe not. Oregon is famous for its many natural lakes and reservoirs, from beautiful spots in the Cascade Mountains to alkaline lakes in the desert. But while people flock to those waters every summer, relatively few visit the little lakes tucked away in the Clatsop State Forest. Honestly, it makes sense. While each of these four Clatsop State Forest lakes is promoted by the Oregon Department of Forestry as a destination in its own right, with designated trails leading through the Coast Range forest, none are particularly spectacular natural attractions. Classifying most them as “lakes” is generous. With so many incredible lakes to visit around Oregon, why give any of these spots the time of day? The answer is not in the destination but in the journey to get there. Let go of any ideas you may have about spending “a day at the lake” and focus instead on what these hikes have to offer: quiet trails, spectacular mountain vi...