Oregon · Hiking · Three Sisters Wilderness

Bear Flat

11.4 mi
round trip
2,827 ft
climb
4,715 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Bear Flat open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Willamette National Forest. It doesn't name Bear Flat, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Willamette National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Bear Flat is a hard hike in Oregon's Three Sisters Wilderness, within the McKenzie River Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back of about 11.4 miles, with a total elevation gain of 2,827 feet. The route starts at roughly 3,937 feet and climbs to a high point of 4,715 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 3.1 miles in, where the grade reaches 26 percent. The trail is on natural surface and is open to horses. Bikes are not allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Santiam Junction, which sits about 965 feet lower than the trail, show July and August highs around 76°F with lows near 42°F. Winter is cold, with January highs around 38°F and lows near 24°F. The trip is estimated to take about five hours. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is open year-round. Nearby, Quaking Aspen and Lowder Mountain are both within about a mile and a half. French Pete Creek offers canoeing about 2.4 miles away, and Red Diamond Campground is about 5.5 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Bear Flat

    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

      38° / 24°

    2. Feb

      41° / 24°

    3. Mar

      44° / 26°

    4. Apr

      49° / 29°

    5. May

      58° / 35°

    6. Jun

      65° / 38°

    7. Jul

      76° / 42°

    8. Aug

      76° / 42°

    9. Sep

      69° / 39°

    10. Oct

      56° / 33°

    11. Nov

      42° / 28°

    12. Dec

      36° / 23°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Santiam Junction, OR, 27.6 mi away at 3,750 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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

Yankee Mountain Trail #3318Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Yankee Mountain Trail #3318

~11 min drive

2.48-mile out-and-back hike with 3,675 ft gain in Oregon

Walker CreekPhoto: Kane5187, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Walker Creek

~13 min drive

4.00-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,105 ft gain

Terwilliger Hot Springs TrailPhoto: Kane5187, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Terwilliger Hot Springs Trail

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0.45-mile out-and-back hike to Terwilliger Hot Springs in Oregon.

Lowder Mountain Trail #3329Photo: Kane5187, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lowder Mountain Trail #3329

~13 min drive

19.84-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 6,757 ft elevation gain and loss.

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French Pete

~5 min drive

11.10-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,477 ft elevation gain.

EchoPhoto: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Echo

~15 min drive

5.20-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,443 ft gain.

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Lowder Mountain

~2 min drive

1.38-mile out-and-back hike on Lowder Mountain in Oregon

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French Pete Trail #3311

~2 min drive

9.52-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,151 ft gain and 3,866 ft loss.

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Bear Flat Trail #3301

~5 min drive

6.85-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,490 ft gain.

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Quaking Aspen

~2 min drive

3.40-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 702 ft gain.