Oregon · Hiking · Wild Rogue Wilderness

Clay Hill

8.6 mi
round trip
6,441 ft
climb
3,290 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Clay Hill 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.

Clay Hill is a hard hike in Oregon's Wild Rogue Wilderness, part of the Gold Beach Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from a low point of about 316 feet to a high of 3,290 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 6,441 feet over the round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.6 miles in, where the grade reaches 39 percent. The route is on natural surface, and the Forest Service lists it as not accessible. Bikes and horses are not allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Sexton Summit show July and August highs around 77°F with only about two wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the low 40s and rain on roughly half the days. The trail is open from June 1 to October 31, and the trip takes about six hours. Bald Knob Lookout is about 2 miles away, and the Rogue River National Recreation Trail and Coquille River Falls are each about 2.1 miles off. Paddlers can reach the South Fork Coquille River about 5.2 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 Clay Hill

    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

      43° / 33°

      16 wet

    2. Feb

      44° / 33°

      15 wet

    3. Mar

      46° / 33°

      16 wet

    4. Apr

      52° / 35°

      14 wet

    5. May

      61° / 41°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      68° / 46°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 53°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      77° / 54°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 51°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 43°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      47° / 36°

      15 wet

    12. Dec

      41° / 32°

      16 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sexton Summit, OR, 32.6 mi away at 3,832 ft. The station sits about 500 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.

    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

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