Oregon · Hiking

Black Creek

7.4 mi
round trip
2,878 ft
climb
5,492 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Black Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Willamette National Forest. It doesn't name Black Creek, 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.

Black Creek is a hard hike in the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest in Oregon, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 7.4 miles long, and the one-way climb is roughly 2,088 feet, with the total round-trip gain reaching about 2,878 feet. The route is an out-and-back, and the steepest stretch comes at about 2.5 miles in, where the grade reaches 39 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Odell Lake show July and August highs around 73 to 74°F with only about three wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and regular snow days. The trail is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. Joe Goddard's Nature Trail and the Cupit Mary Meadow Trail #3560 both lie within about 2 miles. Shadow Bay campground is about 3.5 miles away, and Gold Lake Campground is about 5.5 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 Black 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

      35° / 20°

      14 wet · 10 snow

    2. Feb

      38° / 21°

      13 wet · 9 snow

    3. Mar

      42° / 24°

      14 wet · 8 snow

    4. Apr

      46° / 28°

      11 wet · 4 snow

    5. May

      55° / 34°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      63° / 38°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      73° / 44°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 42°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 36°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 30°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      41° / 26°

      14 wet · 6 snow

    12. Dec

      34° / 20°

      15 wet · 10 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Odell Lake-East, OR, 12.9 mi away at 4,800 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Cupit Mary Meadow Trail #3560Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Cupit Mary Meadow Trail #3560

~3 min drive

3.1-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,311 ft elevation gain and loss.

Koch Mountain Trail #3576Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Koch Mountain Trail #3576

~3 min drive

3.52-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 664 ft elevation gain.

Twins PeakPhoto: Bonnie Moreland (free images), Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Twins Peak

~8 min drive

6.18-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 7,650 ft elevation gain.

Mt. Ray Trail #3682Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mt. Ray Trail #3682

~4 min drive

8.32-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 2,310 ft gain/loss and 6,178 ft max elevation.

KOCH MOUNTAINPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

KOCH MOUNTAIN

~3 min drive

2.12-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 684 ft elevation gain and loss.

Gold LakePhoto: Bonnie Moreland (free images), Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Gold Lake

~8 min drive

9.18-mile out-and-back trail to Gold Lake in Oregon with 739 ft gain.

VerdunPhoto: Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Verdun

~8 min drive

3.39-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 648 ft gain.

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

Shadow Bay Shoreline

~6 min drive

2.66-mile out-and-back shoreline trail in Oregon with 366 ft gain.

High Divide Trail #3572Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

High Divide Trail #3572

~5 min drive

9.54-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,936 ft elevation gain and loss.

Waldo Mountain Trail #3592Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Waldo Mountain Trail #3592

~8 min drive

2.22-mile out-and-back trail at Waldo Mountain with 758 ft gain.