Oregon · Hiking · Near Mount Hood Villages

Cripple Creek

7.0 mi
round trip
3,891 ft
climb
4,148 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 16 h ago

Is Cripple Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Clackamas River Ranger District. It doesn't name Cripple Creek, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Cripple Creek is a hard hike in Oregon's Mt. Hood National Forest, within the Clackamas River Ranger District. The trail is 7 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 3,891 feet, and it rises from about 1,750 feet to a high point of 4,148 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 2.5 miles, where the grade reaches 45 percent. The route is an out-and-back, and the trail surface is natural, so plan on a rugged, non-accessible path. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Government Camp weather station show July and August highs around 70°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the mid-30s and rain on most days. The trip takes about 4.5 hours. Indian Henry campground sits about a mile away, and Cache Meadow and Alder Flat are both within 3 miles. Climbers can find the Coethedral Main climbing area about 3.4 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Indian Henry

    Campground

    The next 4 weekends are full on Recreation.gov
  • If it rainsIan Poellet, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Philip Foster Farm

    Museum

    Museum · 22 mi from Mount Hood Villages

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Ian Poellet, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Mount Hood Villages

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Cripple Creek

    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

      37° / 26°

      20 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 26°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 28°

      20 wet

    4. Apr

      45° / 31°

      18 wet

    5. May

      54° / 36°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      59° / 41°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 48°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      70° / 48°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      64° / 45°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 37°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 30°

      18 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 26°

      21 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Government Camp, OR, 20.1 mi away at 3,980 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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