Frissel
Photo: theslowlane, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 8.4 mi
- round trip
- 4,463 ft
- climb
- 4,704 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Oct
- best months
Is Frissel open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Willamette National Forest. It doesn't name Frissel, so check the source for the area it covers.
Cedar Creek Fire Closure
Agency closure covering Willamette National Forest · Order 06-18-10-26-04 · USFS · Willamette National Forest
FIRE CLOSURES: Current wildfire closures on the Willamette National Forest
Agency alert covering Willamette National Forest · USFS · Willamette National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Willamette National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Frissel is a hard, out-and-back hike in Oregon's Willamette National Forest, on the McKenzie River Ranger District. The trail runs about 8.4 miles round trip, climbing from roughly 2,257 feet to 4,704 feet, for a total gain of 4,463 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.7 miles, where the grade reaches 34 percent. The route is open year-round, and the Forest Service manages the land. Bikes and horses are both allowed, and the trail surface is natural. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Santiam Junction, which sits about 950 feet lower, put July and August highs around 76°F with lows near 42°F. Winter is cold, with typical January highs around 38°F and lows near 24°F. McKenzie Bridge campground is about 1.7 miles away, and Horse Creek Group Campground is about 2.1 miles away. Lookout Creek offers canoeing about 2.8 miles off, and the Olallie hike is about 2.9 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Horse Creek Lodge & Outfitters1 mi away
- Patio RV Park2 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Oct
Best time to visit Frissel
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.
Jan
38° / 24°
Feb
41° / 24°
Mar
44° / 26°
Apr
49° / 29°
May
58° / 35°
Jun
65° / 38°
Jul
76° / 42°
Aug
76° / 42°
Sep
69° / 39°
Oct
56° / 33°
Nov
42° / 28°
Dec
36° / 23°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Santiam Junction, OR, 19.8 mi away at 3,750 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: theslowlane, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Lost Creek
~7 min drive
0.60-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 37 ft gain.
Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Castle Rock
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9.00-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,495 ft gain.
Echo
~10 min drive
5.20-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,443 ft gain.
Lowder Mountain Trail #3329
~12 min drive
19.84-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 6,757 ft elevation gain and loss.
Delta Old Growth Nature Trail #3317
~12 min drive
0.47-mile loop trail in Oregon with 135 ft gain and 170 ft loss.
Yankee Mountain Trail #3318
~18 min drive
2.48-mile out-and-back hike with 3,675 ft gain in Oregon
Walker Creek
~13 min drive
4.00-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,105 ft gain
HIKE
Mckenzie River National Recreation Trail
~12 min drive
13.30-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 6,308 ft elevation gain.
Terwilliger Hot Springs Trail
~15 min drive
0.45-mile out-and-back hike to Terwilliger Hot Springs in Oregon.
Foley Ridge
~18 min drive
15.60-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,433 ft elevation gain