Oregon · Hiking

King Castle

7.2 mi
round trip
2,383 ft
climb
2,847 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun, Sep
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 20 h ago

Is King Castle open right now?

Closure in the area

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

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

King Castle is a 7.2-mile out-and-back hike in the McKenzie River Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest in Oregon. The trail starts at the King Castle Trailhead and climbs from about 1,300 feet to a high point of 2,847 feet, with a total gain of 2,383 feet on the way up and the same loss on the way back. The steepest stretch, a 19% grade, comes around 2.6 miles from the trailhead. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a natural-surface route that allows bikes. The trip takes about 3.5 hours, and the trailhead is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Cougar Dam weather station, about 2.7 miles away, show July and August highs near 89°F with only about three wet days a month. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. Castle Rock is 1.3 miles away, and McKenzie Bridge Campground and Delta Campground are both within about 3 miles. Lookout Creek, a canoeing spot, lies about 5 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 King Castle

    Best months: 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

      49° / 39°

      19 wet

    2. Feb

      53° / 39°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      58° / 41°

      21 wet

    4. Apr

      64° / 45°

      18 wet

    5. May

      74° / 50°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      79° / 55°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      89° / 59°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      89° / 58°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      82° / 54°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      68° / 48°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      55° / 43°

      18 wet

    12. Dec

      48° / 39°

      20 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cougar Dam, OR, 2.7 mi away at 1,260 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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.

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