Oregon · Hiking

Hardscrabble Ridge

4.6 mi
round trip
3,558 ft
climb
4,034 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Oct
best months

Is Hardscrabble Ridge open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Umpqua National Forest.

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

Hardscrabble Ridge is a 4.6-mile out-and-back hike in the Cottage Grove Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest in Oregon. The trail climbs from about 1,900 feet to a high point of 4,034 feet, with a total elevation gain of 3,558 feet over the course of the round trip. The most demanding stretch comes at about 1.3 miles, where the grade reaches 37%. The trail starts at the Fairview Creek / Hardscrabble Trailhead. It is a natural-surface route, and the Forest Service reports that bikes are allowed. The trail is not accessible. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. A nearby weather station records typical July and August highs around 79°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the upper 30s and snow on roughly 9 to 11 days a month from December through February. The hike takes about 3.5 hours. Fairview Creek and Mineral Forest Camp both sit just 0.1 mile from the trailhead. Martin Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 1.9 miles away, and Crawfish Lake is about 3 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Hardscrabble Ridge

    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

      39° / 27°

      17 wet · 10 snow

    2. Feb

      42° / 27°

      15 wet · 9 snow

    3. Mar

      46° / 29°

      17 wet · 9 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 32°

      17 wet · 5 snow

    5. May

      61° / 38°

      14 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      68° / 43°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 48°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 47°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 43°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 36°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      45° / 31°

      16 wet · 6 snow

    12. Dec

      38° / 26°

      18 wet · 11 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lemolo Lake 3 Nnw, OR, 29.2 mi away at 4,077 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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