Oregon · Hiking

Clearwater River

Clearwater RiverPhoto: randallagordon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
3.4 mi
round trip
736 ft
climb
2,634 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun, Aug–Oct
best months

Is Clearwater River open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Diamond Lake Ranger District.

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

The Clearwater River hike is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Oregon's Umpqua National Forest, within the Diamond Lake Ranger District. The route runs from the Clearwater River (East) Trailhead, a Forest Service trailhead that stays open year-round, and reaches a high point of 2,634 feet. The climb is moderate, with a total gain of 168 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 1.5 miles in, where the grade hits 11%. The trail is on natural surface, bikes are allowed, and it is not accessible. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. At the Toketee Falls weather station, 3.2 miles away and roughly 570 feet lower, typical July averages run to a high of 86°F and only about three wet days. Winter brings highs in the low 40s and rain on most days. Watson Falls West is half a mile away, and Pig Iron is about a mile off. For camping, Clearwater #2 Forbay Forest Camp is 1.1 miles out, and Toketee Lake Campground is 1.7 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun, Aug–Oct

    Best time to visit Clearwater River

    Best months: June and August–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

      42° / 31°

      18 wet · 3 snow

    2. Feb

      47° / 32°

      16 wet · 2 snow

    3. Mar

      53° / 34°

      18 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      60° / 37°

      17 wet

    5. May

      70° / 43°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 47°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 52°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      85° / 51°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 46°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      60° / 39°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      47° / 34°

      17 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      40° / 31°

      19 wet · 2 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Toketee Falls, OR, 3.2 mi away at 2,060 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Watson Falls WestPhoto: randallagordon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Watson Falls West

Next door

0.27-mile lollipop trail at Watson Falls West in Oregon with 201 ft of elevation gain.

Pig IronPhoto: randallagordon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pig Iron

~2 min drive

5-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,943 ft elevation gain.

North Umpqua Trail: Hot SpringsPhoto: Alexlockhart, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

North Umpqua Trail: Hot Springs

~3 min drive

3.34-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,877 ft gain and 2,715 ft max elevation.

North Umpqua Trail: Deer LeapPhoto: Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

North Umpqua Trail: Deer Leap

~11 min drive

17.18-mile out-and-back trail on the North Umpqua Trail with 5,614 ft elevation gain and loss.

Toketee LakePhoto: Alexlockhart, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Toketee Lake

~3 min drive

0.80-mile out-and-back trail to Toketee Lake in Oregon.

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INCENSE CEDAR LOOP SNOMO

~16 min drive

11.48-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,931 ft elevation gain and loss.

BradleyPhoto: Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bradley

~10 min drive

4.40-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,628 ft elevation gain

North Umpqua Trail: Jessie WrightPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

North Umpqua Trail: Jessie Wright

~16 min drive

5.98-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 4,566 ft elevation gain

Toketee FallsPhoto: Alexlockhart, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Toketee Falls

~3 min drive

0.80-mile out-and-back to Toketee Falls in Oregon with 204 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Rocky Ridge

~17 min drive

7.28-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,944 ft elevation gain.