Oregon · Hiking

Horseshoe Saddle

Horseshoe SaddlePhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.4 mi
round trip
246 ft
climb
5,526 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Horseshoe Saddle open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Clackamas River Ranger District. It doesn't name Horseshoe Saddle, 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.

Horseshoe Saddle is an easy out-and-back hike in Oregon's Mt. Hood National Forest, within the Clackamas River Ranger District. The trail is about 1.4 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 246 feet, and it starts at roughly 5,344 feet, rising to a high point of about 5,526 feet before returning to the starting level. The route is short and gentle, with the steepest stretch coming around the half-mile mark, where the grade reaches about 17 percent. The trail is natural-surfaced, and the trip takes about half an hour. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Government Camp show July and August highs around 70°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and rain on most days. Horseshoe Lake (Olallie) campground sits just 0.2 miles away, and Gibson Lake and Ruddy Hill are both within a mile. Breitenbush Lake campground is about 0.9 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Horseshoe Saddle

    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, 36 mi away at 3,980 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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

Gibson LakePhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Gibson Lake

Next door

0.90-mile out-and-back trail to Gibson Lake in Oregon with 225 ft of elevation gain.

Monon LakePhoto: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Monon Lake

~2 min drive

4.20-mile loop trail at Monon Lake in Oregon with 382 ft gain.

Red Lake Trail #719Photo: Infinite Dust, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Red Lake Trail #719

~4 min drive

5.32-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,512 ft elevation gain.

Ruddy HillPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Ruddy Hill

~1 min drive

0.64-mile out-and-back trail to Ruddy Hill with 350 ft gain in Oregon.

Pyramid ButtePhoto: LukeDetwiler, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pyramid Butte

~2 min drive

1.66-mile out-and-back trail to Pyramid Butte in Oregon with 842 ft gain.

Climber's TrailPhoto: Nwcamera1, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Climber's Trail

~9 min drive

Short out-and-back climb with steady elevation gain near Oregon.

Timber LakePhoto: Infinite Dust, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Timber Lake

~3 min drive

1.2-mile out-and-back trail at Timber Lake in Oregon with 52 ft of elevation gain.

South Breitenbush GorgePhoto: oregondave, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

South Breitenbush Gorge

~14 min drive

3.00-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 769 ft gain.

HIKE

Olallie Butte Trail

~7 min drive

6.98-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 3,482 ft gain and 7,175 ft max elevation.

Top LakePhoto: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Top Lake

~3 min drive

0.96-mile out-and-back trail to Top Lake in Oregon with 197 ft gain.