Oregon · Hiking

Cow Creek

4.3 mi
round trip
2,329 ft
climb
4,659 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Cow Creek open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Klamath National Forest.

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

Cow Creek is a moderate out-and-back hike of about 4.3 miles in Oregon's Klamath National Forest, within the Oak Knoll Ranger District. The trail's natural surface carries hikers from a low of about 3,900 feet to a high of about 4,660 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 2,330 feet over the round trip. The climb is steepest around mile 1.7, where the grade reaches about 22 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show July and August highs near 79°F with only two or three wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and frequent snow. The trip takes about 2.5 hours. Wrangle Campground sits about 2 miles away, and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail is about 4.5 miles off. Seven Mile Ridge and Split Rock are both within about 5 miles.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Cow Creek

    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, 26.9 mi away at 4,567 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Split RockPhoto: zappowbang, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Split Rock

~9 min drive

6.22-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 880 ft elevation gain.

SUMMIT NORDICPhoto: zappowbang, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

SUMMIT NORDIC

~11 min drive

2.76-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,173 ft elevation gain/loss

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

Marty's

~18 min drive

1.52-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 375 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail

~8 min drive

21.12-mile out-and-back on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail in Oregon with 4,397 ft gain/loss.

GROUSE CREEK NORDICPhoto: zappowbang, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

GROUSE CREEK NORDIC

~12 min drive

8.66-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,866 ft elevation gain/loss

SummitPhoto: zappowbang, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Summit

~13 min drive

1.68-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,185 ft gain

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

Marty's Tie

~19 min drive

0.38-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 27 ft gain and 400 ft loss.

HIKE

Wagner Butte

~11 min drive

10.40-mile out-and-back to Wagner Butte with 2,779 ft gain in Oregon

CREST LOOP NORDICPhoto: zappowbang, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

CREST LOOP NORDIC

~13 min drive

4.32-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,166 ft elevation gain

Ostrich Peak TrailPhoto: kallahar, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Ostrich Peak Trail

~19 min drive

1.14-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 460 ft elevation gain.