Box Canyon
- 3.7 mi
- round trip
- 2,248 ft
- climb
- 3,732 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Box Canyon open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Willamette National Forest. It doesn't name Box Canyon, so check the source for the area it covers.
Cedar Creek Fire Closure
Agency closure covering Willamette National Forest · Order 06-18-10-26-04 · USFS · Willamette National Forest
FIRE CLOSURES: Current wildfire closures on the Willamette National Forest
Agency alert covering Willamette National Forest · USFS · Willamette National Forest
2026 Active Wildfire
Agency alert covering Middle Fork Ranger District · USFS · Middle Fork Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Willamette National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Box Canyon is a moderate hike in the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest in Oregon, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 3.65 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 2,248 feet over the out-and-back route. The climb is steepest around mile 1.2, where the grade reaches about 31 percent. The trail is natural-surface and allows both horses and bikes. The Box Canyon Trail #3660 starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Box Canyon Guard Station Cabin sits about 0.2 mile off the route. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Wickiup Dam weather station show July highs around 83°F with only about three wet days, while winter highs sit in the low 40s. Nearby options include Chucksney Mountain, about 1.5 miles away, and the Roaring River, about 2.3 miles away. Climbers can head to the Lost Art Area, roughly 3.7 miles off, and the Roaring River (group) campground is about 3.3 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Horse Creek Lodge & Outfitters19 mi away
- Patio RV Park19 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Box Canyon Trail #3660Hiking0.1 mi
- Box Canyon Guard Station CabinCamping0.2 mi
- Chucksney MountainHiking1.5 mi
- Roaring RiverCanoeing2.3 mi
Roaring River (group)CampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain3.3 mi- Lost Art AreaRock climbing3.7 mi
- Guillotine AreaRock climbing3.8 mi
- Augusta CreekCanoeing4.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
McbeeHiking · ~5 min drivePhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)- Crossing WayHiking · ~5 min drivePhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Shale RidgeHiking · ~3 min drive
- Elk Creek TrailHiking · ~7 min drive
- Chucksney MountainHiking · ~3 min drive
- Box Canyon Trail #3660Hiking · Next door
- Frissell CrossingHiking · ~6 min drive
- Olallie Trail #3529Hiking · ~7 min drive
- Roaring River RidgeHiking · ~6 min drive
- Erma Bell Lakes Trail #3563Hiking · ~6 min drive
Also worth it near here
Best time to visit Box Canyon
Best months: May–September. 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
40° / 21°
13 wet
Feb
43° / 22°
11 wet
Mar
48° / 26°
12 wet
Apr
54° / 30°
10 wet
May
63° / 36°
9 wet
Jun
71° / 42°
6 wet
Jul
83° / 47°
3 wet
Aug
82° / 46°
3 wet
Sep
75° / 38°
4 wet
Oct
62° / 31°
8 wet
Nov
46° / 26°
11 wet
Dec
38° / 21°
13 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Wickiup Dam, OR, 25 mi away at 4,358 ft. The station sits about 600 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
