Oregon · Hiking · Opal Creek Wilderness

Battle Axe Creek

Battle Axe CreekPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.4 mi
round trip
262 ft
climb
2,861 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Battle Axe Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Detroit Ranger District. It doesn't name Battle Axe Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Detroit Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Battle Axe Creek is a short, easy hike in the Opal Creek Wilderness, part of the Detroit Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest in Oregon. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is about 1.4 miles long with a total elevation gain of 262 feet, making it an out-and-back route that starts and ends at roughly 2,700 feet. The trail is natural-surfaced, and the steepest stretch comes about 0.35 miles in, where the grade reaches about 11 percent. The high point is around 2,860 feet, and the low point is about 2,650 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 75°F with lows near 50°F, while winter highs sit in the low to mid 40s. Battle Ax Creek Trail #3339 lies just 0.1 mile away, and Whetstone Mountain is 0.2 mile off. Paddlers can head to Battle Ax Creek, about 0.7 mile away, or the Little North Santiam River, about 1.5 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Battle Axe Creek

    Best months: May–October. 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.

    1. Jan

      44° / 33°

    2. Feb

      46° / 33°

    3. Mar

      49° / 34°

    4. Apr

      54° / 36°

    5. May

      61° / 41°

    6. Jun

      66° / 45°

    7. Jul

      75° / 50°

    8. Aug

      75° / 51°

    9. Sep

      70° / 49°

    10. Oct

      56° / 42°

    11. Nov

      48° / 36°

    12. Dec

      42° / 33°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Scotts Mills 9 Se, OR, 18.3 mi away at 2,315 ft. The station sits about 500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Opal Creek TrailPhoto: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Opal Creek Trail

~3 min drive

1.25-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 715 ft of elevation gain.

Kopetski TrailPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Kopetski Trail

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Nasty Rock Trail #3356

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French Creek Trail #3349Photo: Ian Sane, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

French Creek Trail #3349

~9 min drive

10.7-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 5,152 ft elevation gain and loss.

KopetskiPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Kopetski

~3 min drive

2.68-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 713 ft elevation gain

Gold Butte LookoutPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Gold Butte Lookout

~9 min drive

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HIKE

Whetstone Mountain

Next door

12.76-mile out-and-back trail to Whetstone Mountain in Oregon with 2,834 ft elevation gain.

Elkhorn Ridge Trail #3347Photo: Jason McHuff, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Elkhorn Ridge Trail #3347

~9 min drive

5.37-mile out-and-back hike on Elkhorn Ridge in Oregon with 2,500 ft gain

Opal LakePhoto: Jason McHuff, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Opal Lake

~8 min drive

2.00-mile out-and-back trail to Opal Lake in Oregon with 612 ft gain.

French Creek RidgePhoto: Jason McHuff, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

French Creek Ridge

~10 min drive

4-mile out-and-back trail on French Creek Ridge in Oregon with 1,328 ft gain.