Oregon · Hiking · Black Canyon Wilderness

Kelsey

2.0 mi
round trip
1,000 ft
climb
5,145 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Sep
best months

Is Kelsey open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Ochoco National Forest. It doesn't name Kelsey, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Kelsey is a 2-mile out-and-back hike in the Black Canyon Wilderness, part of the Paulina Ranger District of Ochoco National Forest in Oregon. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a natural-surface route with a total climb of about 1,000 feet. The hike starts at roughly 4,130 feet and climbs to about 5,145 feet, with the steepest stretch near the beginning. The grade there reaches about 33 percent, so the first few steps are the most challenging. The trail is rated easy, and the climb is front-loaded, with the descent mirroring the ascent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Paulina weather station show July highs around 89°F and lows near 45°F, while winter highs sit in the low 40s. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Payten is about a mile away, and Black Canyon is about 2 miles off. Coffee Pot Trail #820B and South Prong Trail #281 are both within about 3 miles.

  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit Kelsey

    Best months: May–June and 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

      41° / 21°

    2. Feb

      46° / 22°

    3. Mar

      54° / 25°

    4. Apr

      60° / 28°

    5. May

      69° / 35°

    6. Jun

      78° / 39°

    7. Jul

      89° / 45°

    8. Aug

      87° / 42°

    9. Sep

      79° / 35°

    10. Oct

      65° / 27°

    11. Nov

      50° / 22°

    12. Dec

      40° / 18°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Paulina, OR, 23.1 mi away at 3,684 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.