Oregon · Hiking

Chetco Gorge

3.4 mi
round trip
1,260 ft
climb
376 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Feb–Nov
best months

Is Chetco Gorge open right now?

No closures listed

The Forest Service lists no closures for Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests.

As of · Source: USFS · Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Chetco Gorge is a 3.4-mile out-and-back hike in the Gold Beach Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests in Oregon, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is rated moderate, with a one-way elevation gain of 332 feet. The route is natural-surface and allows both horses and bikes. It is not an accessible trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Brookings show July and September highs around 67°F with lows in the low 50s, while winter highs sit in the low to mid 50s. South Fork Upper and South Fork Camps are both campgrounds within about 2 miles. Eagle Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 2.5 miles away, and Redwood Bar campground is about 4 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Feb–Nov

    Best time to visit Chetco Gorge

    Best months: February–November. 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

      54° / 44°

    2. Feb

      55° / 43°

    3. Mar

      55° / 43°

    4. Apr

      58° / 45°

    5. May

      62° / 48°

    6. Jun

      65° / 51°

    7. Jul

      67° / 53°

    8. Aug

      66° / 54°

    9. Sep

      67° / 52°

    10. Oct

      63° / 49°

    11. Nov

      57° / 46°

    12. Dec

      53° / 43°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Brookings, OR, 13.8 mi away at 82 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. 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

Redwood NaturePhoto: bsterling, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Redwood Nature

~12 min drive

2.40-mile loop trail in Oregon with 555 ft elevation gain.

TincupPhoto: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tincup

~13 min drive

Tincup is a 30.44-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 5,724 feet of elevation gain.

Chetco DividePhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Chetco Divide

~13 min drive

19.20-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,064 ft gain.

Vulcan PeakPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Vulcan Peak

~13 min drive

2.00-mile out-and-back trail to Vulcan Peak in Oregon with 954 ft elevation gain.

Riverview Nature TrailPhoto: Rick Obst, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Riverview Nature Trail

~13 min drive

1.32-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 859 ft elevation gain

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

Red Mountain

~15 min drive

7.10-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 4,288 ft gain and 6,073 ft loss.

Oregon Coast TrailPhoto: zappowbang, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Oregon Coast Trail

~20 min drive

7.2-mile out-and-back trail on Oregon's coast with 2,936 ft elevation gain

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

Vulcan Lake

~14 min drive

2.60-mile out-and-back trail to Vulcan Lake in Oregon with 866 ft gain.

Little Vulcan LakePhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Little Vulcan Lake

~14 min drive

Little Vulcan Lake is a 0.40-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 185 feet of elevation loss.

Upper Chetco TrailPhoto: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Upper Chetco Trail

~21 min drive

34.14-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 11,678 ft elevation gain/loss.