Oregon · Hiking

Maklaks Nordic Loop

Maklaks Nordic LoopPhoto: functoruser, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
4.5 mi
round trip
1,762 ft
climb
5,304 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is MAKLAKS NORDIC LOOP open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Deschutes National Forest. It doesn't name MAKLAKS NORDIC LOOP, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

The Maklaks Nordic Loop is a 4.47-mile moderate hike in Oregon's Deschutes National Forest, within the Crescent Ranger District. The route is an out-and-back that climbs from about 4,774 feet to about 5,304 feet, with a total elevation gain of 1,762 feet over the round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 4.3 miles, where the grade reaches 12 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Odell Lake show July and August highs around 73 to 74°F with only about three wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and regular snow days from December through February. The trip takes about four hours. The loop sits close to several other spots. Sunset Cove Nordic, a cross-country ski area, is half a mile away, and the Metolius-Windigo Trail and Maklaks Loop B are each about 0.9 miles off. Sunset Cove Campground is about 1.1 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit MAKLAKS NORDIC LOOP

    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

      35° / 20°

      14 wet · 10 snow

    2. Feb

      38° / 21°

      13 wet · 9 snow

    3. Mar

      42° / 24°

      14 wet · 8 snow

    4. Apr

      46° / 28°

      11 wet · 4 snow

    5. May

      55° / 34°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      63° / 38°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      73° / 44°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 42°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 36°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 30°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      41° / 26°

      14 wet · 6 snow

    12. Dec

      34° / 20°

      15 wet · 10 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Odell Lake-East, OR, 0.6 mi away at 4,800 ft. The station sits about 500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Metolius-Windigo TrailPhoto: holisticmonkey, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Metolius-Windigo Trail

~2 min drive

0.6-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 50 ft of elevation gain.

Metolius-Windigo TrailPhoto: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Metolius-Windigo Trail

~5 min drive

10.4-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,994 ft elevation gain.

Skyline Bike Trail #4383Photo: Šarūnas Burdulis from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Skyline Bike Trail #4383

~8 min drive

3.37-mile out-and-back bike trail in Oregon with 382 ft gain.

Pct - Oregon Section EPhoto: Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pct - Oregon Section E

~9 min drive

74.69-mile point-to-point trail in Oregon with 6,842 ft elevation gain.

Metolius-Windigo TrailPhoto: holisticmonkey, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Metolius-Windigo Trail

~3 min drive

3.34-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 563 ft of elevation gain

Pretty LakePhoto: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pretty Lake

~5 min drive

6.60-mile out-and-back trail to Pretty Lake in Oregon with 6,575 ft gain

Yoran Lake TrailPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Yoran Lake Trail

~10 min drive

8.9-mile out-and-back hike to Yoran Lake in Oregon with 1,640 ft gain.

WHITEFISH CREEKPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

WHITEFISH CREEK

~10 min drive

21.64-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,508 ft elevation gain/loss

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

Simax

~6 min drive

2.06-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 389 ft elevation gain.

CRESCENT LAKE LOOP WESTPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

CRESCENT LAKE LOOP WEST

~5 min drive

16.92-mile out-and-back out-and-back with 2,483 ft elevation gain and loss in Oregon.