Upper Lake
- 2.1 mi
- round trip
- 101 ft
- climb
- 2,104 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- best months
Caution at last check
Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 15 h ago
Is Upper Lake open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Black Kettle National Grassland. It doesn't name Upper Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.
Temporary Area Closure for Youth Deer Hunt.
Agency closure covering Black Kettle National Grassland · Order 03-03-06-26-23 · USFS · Black Kettle National Grassland
As of · Source: USFS · Black Kettle National Grassland. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Upper Lake is an easy hike of about 2 miles on the Black Kettle National Grassland in Oklahoma, within the Cibola National Forest. The route is out and back, with a high point of about 2,104 feet and a low of about 2,092 feet, so there is no real climb to speak of. The trail is on natural surface, bikes are allowed, and it is not an accessible trail. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show April highs around 71°F and October highs around 73°F, while July averages about 94°F. The trail is open year-round. Black Kettle Campground and the Creek Trail both sit about 0.6 miles away. Spring Creek Campground is about 6.8 miles off, and the Battlefield Trail is about 9.3 miles away.
Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit Upper Lake
Best months: March–May and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
50° / 28°
Feb
53° / 30°
Mar
63° / 38°
Apr
71° / 47°
May
79° / 57°
Jun
88° / 66°
Jul
94° / 70°
Aug
91° / 68°
Sep
84° / 61°
Oct
73° / 49°
Nov
60° / 38°
Dec
50° / 29°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cheyenne 6sw Mesonet, OK, 14.2 mi away at 2,277 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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CREEK TRAIL SPUR
~1 min drive
1.38-mile out-and-back trail in Oklahoma with 89 ft gain/loss
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Battlefield Trail
~16 min drive
1.38-mile out-and-back trail in Oklahoma with 75 ft of elevation gain.
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NFS Trail
~16 min drive
0.47-mile out-and-back trail in Oklahoma with 30 ft gain.
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Croton Creek
~18 min drive
1.36-mile loop trail in Oklahoma with 51 ft elevation gain.
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Centennial Trail
~44 min drive
0.35-mile out-and-back trail in Oklahoma with 10 ft of elevation gain.
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Riverside Trail
~45 min drive
0.55-mile out-and-back Riverside Trail in Oklahoma with 20 ft gain.
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Lake Marvin
~47 min drive
A brief 0.81-mile out-and-back trail in Texas ideal for a quick hike.
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East Shore Trail
~47 min drive
A 1.26-mile out-and-back trail in Texas with 29 ft of elevation gain and easy difficulty.
HIKE
Creek Trail
~1 min drive
Creek Trail is a 1.38-mile out-and-back hike in Oklahoma with 78 feet of elevation gain.
HIKE
Skipout
~20 min drive
4.06-mile loop trail in Oklahoma with 219 ft elevation gain.
