Oregon · Hiking · Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness

Cougar Butte

2.0 mi
round trip
654 ft
climb
5,644 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Cougar Butte open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Umpqua National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Umpqua National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Cougar Butte is an easy out-and-back hike in Oregon's Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness, on the Tiller Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest. The trail is managed by the Forest Service, and the route is natural-surfaced. It is not accessible. The hike starts at about 5,493 feet and reaches a high point of 5,644 feet, with a total round-trip gain of 654 feet. The steepest stretch comes early on, with a grade of about 22%, before the route eases back to the start. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs near 69°F in July and August, with only about four wet days a month. That station sits higher than the trail, so temperatures on the butte run a little warmer. Winter is cold and wet, with highs around 33°F and 18 wet days a month from December through February. The trip takes about an hour. The Cougar Butte North hike lies about a mile away, and the Abbott Butte Trail is about 1.8 miles off. Paddlers can head to Big Serviceberry Creek, about 2.7 miles away, and Falcon Creek campground is about 3.4 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 Cougar Butte

    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

      33° / 20°

      18 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 19°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      36° / 20°

      18 wet

    4. Apr

      40° / 23°

      16 wet

    5. May

      49° / 29°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      57° / 34°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 41°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      69° / 42°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      63° / 37°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      51° / 30°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      38° / 23°

      16 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 19°

      18 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Crater Lake Nps Hq, OR, 23.2 mi away at 6,485 ft. The station sits about 800 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.

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Cougar Butte Trail

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Route details

Distance
2.0 mi round trip
Climbing
About 654 ft
Summit
5,508 ft
Difficulty
Easy
Time
About 1 hour

Season

Season: Year-round.

Other routes up Cougar Butte

Questions about this route

How long is the Cougar Butte on Cougar Butte?

About 2.0 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Cougar Butte?

About 654 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Cougar Butte?

It is rated easy.

How long does the Cougar Butte take?

About 1 hour round trip.

When is the best time for the Cougar Butte?

Year-round.

How many routes go up Cougar Butte?

2: Cougar Butte and Cougar Butte Trail.

Conditions and forecast on Cougar Butte

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.