Oregon · Hiking

Caterpillar

1.1 mi
round trip
659 ft
climb
3,517 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Caterpillar open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District. It doesn't name Caterpillar, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Caterpillar is an easy out-and-back hike of about 2.3 miles on natural trail surface in the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests in southern Oregon. It sits on Forest Service land, and the route rises from a low of about 3,300 feet to a high of about 3,500 feet, with the steepest stretch near the start at about 35% grade. The climb totals about 660 feet, and the round trip ends with a return to the starting point. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs near 79°F in July and August to about 72°F in September, with only a few wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and snow on about nine days a month. The trail is open year-round and takes about an hour to complete. Horses and bikes are allowed, and the route is not accessible. Lewis Loops and Gyre are both about 0.1 mile away, and Toothpick is about 0.3 mile away. For an overnight stay, Mt Ashland campground is about 5.8 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 Caterpillar

    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

      36° / 23°

      15 wet · 9 snow

    2. Feb

      40° / 23°

      14 wet · 8 snow

    3. Mar

      45° / 26°

      16 wet · 8 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 29°

      13 wet · 4 snow

    5. May

      60° / 36°

      11 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      68° / 40°

      5 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 47°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 46°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 40°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 33°

      8 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      42° / 28°

      13 wet · 5 snow

    12. Dec

      35° / 23°

      15 wet · 9 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Howard Prairie Dam, OR, 17 mi away at 4,567 ft. The station sits about 1,100 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Stage 2 Public Use Fire Restrictions (Forest-wide)

      Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests · Order dated September 4, 2026; seen Sep 3, 2026 → lifted Oct 28, 2026 · Forest Service

    • Stage 3 Public Use Fire Restrictions (Forest-wide)

      Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests · Order dated July 17, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Sep 3, 2026 · Forest Service

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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

Gyre

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WonderPhoto: kallahar, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Lower WonderPhoto: kallahar, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Fell on KneePhoto: kallahar, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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HIKE

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Marty's TiePhoto: kallahar, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Marty's Tie

~1 min drive

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