Oregon · Hiking

Deep Creek

Deep CreekPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
14.0 mi
round trip
5,824 ft
climb
4,620 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Oct
best months

Is Deep Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. It doesn't name Deep Creek, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Deep Creek is a hard hike in the Council Ranger District of the Payette National Forest, within the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. The nearest town is Helena, Idaho, about 4 miles away. The trail is 14 miles long, with a total elevation gain of about 5,800 feet, and it is an out-and-back route that reaches a high point of about 4,600 feet. The climb is steady, and the steepest stretch comes at about 5.7 miles, where the grade reaches about 51%. The trail is natural-surfaced, and the Forest Service manages the land. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Joseph, Oregon, show July and August highs around 79 to 80°F with only five or six wet days a month, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s. Eagle Bar campground sits just 0.1 mile from the trail, and the Haley Ridge Trail is about half a mile away. Across the Idaho line, the Oxbow Creek and Stud Creek Trail hikes are each within about 2.5 miles.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Deep Creek

    Best months: June–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

      35° / 19°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      39° / 19°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      46° / 26°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      52° / 30°

      14 wet

    5. May

      61° / 39°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      68° / 44°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 49°

      6 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 49°

      5 wet

    9. Sep

      71° / 43°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 34°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 25°

      12 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 18°

      13 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Joseph, OR, 26.8 mi away at 4,184 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Haley Ridge TrailPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Haley Ridge Trail

Next door

8.92-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 5,691 ft elevation gain.

Stud Creek TrailPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Stud Creek Trail

~4 min drive

2.14-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,045 ft elevation gain

Snake River National Recreation TrailPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Snake River National Recreation Trail

~6 min drive

62.12-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 525 ft elevation gain.

Hells Canyon Reservoir ViewptPhoto: WaterArchives.org from Sacramento, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hells Canyon Reservoir Viewpt

~13 min drive

1.34-mile out-and-back trail to Hells Canyon Reservoir Viewpt in Idaho, 327 ft gain.

32 Point Creek TrailPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

32 Point Creek Trail

~6 min drive

14.28-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 5,759 ft elevation gain and loss.

Buck Creek TrailPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Buck Creek Trail

~5 min drive

3.04-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 1,805 ft elevation gain and loss.

Eckels CreekPhoto: WaterArchives.org from Sacramento, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Eckels Creek

~8 min drive

17.56-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,269 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Sheep Rock

~5 min drive

0.39-mile loop trail with 96 ft elevation gain in Idaho.

Reservoir Bench TrailPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Reservoir Bench Trail

~14 min drive

17.46-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 6,012 ft gain and 6,070 ft max elevation.

Allison CreekPhoto: WaterArchives.org from Sacramento, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Allison Creek

~11 min drive

4.07-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,901 ft elevation gain.