Oregon · Hiking

Deer Lick Trail

0.7 mi
round trip
316 ft
climb
4,211 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Deer Lick Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Whitman Ranger District. It doesn't name Deer Lick Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (4 listed).

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

Deer Lick Trail is a short, easy hike of about 1.5 miles in the Whitman Ranger District of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, on the east side of Phillips Reservoir in northeastern Oregon. The Bureau of Reclamation manages the land, and the trail starts at roughly 4,150 feet, reaching a high point of 4,211 feet. The climb is gentle. The steepest stretch comes about a tenth of a mile in, with a 9% grade, and the total elevation gain is about 316 feet for the round trip. That makes it a quick outing, estimated to take about half an hour. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs in the low 80s in July and August, with only about four or five wet days a month. Winter is cold, with January highs around 34°F and lows near 15°F. Several trails start close by, including Ponderosa Trail and Coyote Cove Trail, each about 0.7 miles away, and Union Creek Campground lies about 1.1 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Deer Lick Trail

    Best months: May–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

      34° / 15°

      14 wet

    2. Feb

      39° / 18°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      46° / 23°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      53° / 28°

      12 wet

    5. May

      62° / 34°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      71° / 39°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 43°

      5 wet

    8. Aug

      83° / 42°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 35°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 28°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 22°

      12 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 16°

      15 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Austin 3 S, OR, 23.8 mi away at 4,213 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors