Oregon · Hiking · Bull of the Woods Wilderness

Bull of the Woods

6.2 mi
round trip
2,227 ft
climb
5,537 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Bull of the Woods open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Clackamas River Ranger District. It doesn't name Bull of the Woods, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Bull of the Woods is a hard out-and-back hike in Oregon's Bull of the Woods Wilderness, part of the Clackamas River Ranger District of Mt. Hood National Forest. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and runs about 6.2 miles round trip, with a total elevation gain of 2,227 feet. The route starts at roughly 4,959 feet and climbs to a high point of 5,537 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 2.5 miles in, where the grade reaches 29 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Government Camp show July and August highs around 70°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and rain on most days. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. The trip takes about three hours. Pansy Lake and Dickey Lake Trail are both within about a mile and a half, and Kingfisher campground is about 4.4 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Bull of the Woods

    Best months: June–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.

    1. Jan

      37° / 26°

      20 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 26°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 28°

      20 wet

    4. Apr

      45° / 31°

      18 wet

    5. May

      54° / 36°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      59° / 41°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 48°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      70° / 48°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      64° / 45°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 37°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 30°

      18 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 26°

      21 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Government Camp, OR, 32.1 mi away at 3,980 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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.

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

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Route details

Distance
6.2 mi round trip
Climbing
About 2,227 ft
Summit
5,543 ft
Difficulty
Hard
Time
About 3 hours

Questions about this route

How long is the Bull of the Woods on Bull of the Woods?

About 6.2 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Bull of the Woods?

About 2,227 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Bull of the Woods?

It is rated hard.

How long does the Bull of the Woods take?

About 3 hours round trip.

Conditions and forecast on Bull of the Woods

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.