Oregon · Hiking

Lower Missing Link

2.0 mi
round trip
1,236 ft
climb
4,894 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Lower Missing Link open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District. It doesn't name Lower Missing Link, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Lower Missing Link is a 2-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon's Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests, within the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District. It's a moderate route with a one-way elevation gain of about 500 feet, climbing from roughly 4,870 feet to a high point of about 4,894 feet before returning to the start. The trail is natural-surfaced and open to both horses and bikes, which makes it a practical choice for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. The steepest stretch comes around the 0.6-mile mark, where the grade reaches about 20 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Howard Prairie Dam show July and August highs around 79°F with lows in the mid-40s and only a few wet days a month. Winter brings highs in the mid-30s and regular snow, with about 9 snow days a month from December through February. The hike is open year-round, and the trip takes about 1.5 hours. Upper Missing Link and Bull Gap both lie about a mile away, and Mt Ashland campground is about 4 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Lower Missing Link

    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.

    1. Jan

      36° / 23°

      15 wet · 9 snow

    2. Feb

      40° / 23°

      14 wet · 8 snow

    3. Mar

      45° / 26°

      16 wet · 8 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 29°

      13 wet · 4 snow

    5. May

      60° / 36°

      11 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      68° / 40°

      5 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 47°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 46°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 40°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 33°

      8 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      42° / 28°

      13 wet · 5 snow

    12. Dec

      35° / 23°

      15 wet · 9 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Howard Prairie Dam, OR, 17 mi away at 4,567 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Stage 2 Public Use Fire Restrictions (Forest-wide)

      Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests · Order dated September 4, 2026; seen Sep 3, 2026 → lifted Oct 28, 2026 · Forest Service

    • Stage 3 Public Use Fire Restrictions (Forest-wide)

      Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests · Order dated July 17, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Sep 3, 2026 · Forest Service

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