Oregon · Hiking

Mcdonald

6.6 mi
round trip
5,266 ft
climb
3,386 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun, Aug–Oct
best months

Caution at last check

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

Is Mcdonald open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Umpqua National Forest.

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

The McDonald hike is a 6.6-mile out-and-back on natural surface in the North Umpqua Ranger District of Oregon's Umpqua National Forest. It rises from a low point of about 1,067 feet to a high of about 3,386 feet, with a total elevation gain of roughly 5,266 feet over the course of the trip. The steepest stretch comes early, at about 0.72 miles in, with a grade of about 31%. The trail is rated hard. Bikes are allowed, and the trail is not accessible. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Toketee Falls show July and August highs around 85 to 86°F with only about three wet days a month. That station sits about 1,300 feet below the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. The hike is open year-round, and the trip takes about five hours. Williams Creek is about 1.7 miles away, and the North Umpqua River and Steamboat Ball Field Group Site are both about 1.9 miles away. Redmans Tooth, a climbing area, is about 4.1 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun, Aug–Oct

    Best time to visit Mcdonald

    Best months: June and August–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

      42° / 31°

      18 wet · 3 snow

    2. Feb

      47° / 32°

      16 wet · 2 snow

    3. Mar

      53° / 34°

      18 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      60° / 37°

      17 wet

    5. May

      70° / 43°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 47°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 52°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      85° / 51°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 46°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      60° / 39°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      47° / 34°

      17 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      40° / 31°

      19 wet · 2 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Toketee Falls, OR, 15.3 mi away at 2,060 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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

North Umpqua Trail: MottPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

North Umpqua Trail: Mott

~5 min drive

9.9-mile out-and-back trail on the North Umpqua Trail with 4,818 ft gain/loss.

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

Grotto Falls

~10 min drive

Grotto Falls is a 0.60-mile lollipop trail in Oregon with 414 feet of elevation gain.

HIKE

Cougar Creek Trail

~4 min drive

3.1-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,875 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Cougar Creek Trail

~4 min drive

3.26-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 2,720 ft elevation gain

North Umpqua Trail: CalfPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

North Umpqua Trail: Calf

~11 min drive

7.0-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 5,958 ft elevation gain and loss.

Emerald TrailPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Emerald Trail

~14 min drive

Out-and-back Oregon trail featuring scenic natural landscapes.

HIKE

Bradley Ridge

~12 min drive

1.80-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 276 ft gain

HIKE

Mace Mountain

~11 min drive

Mace Mountain is an 8.80-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 967 ft gain.

North Umpqua Trail: Jessie WrightPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

North Umpqua Trail: Jessie Wright

~16 min drive

5.98-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 4,566 ft elevation gain

Susan Creek Falls TrailPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Susan Creek Falls Trail

~14 min drive

0.74-mile out-and-back to Susan Creek Falls in Oregon