Oregon · Hiking

Mcquade Creek

11.0 mi
round trip
4,694 ft
climb
4,899 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Mcquade Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Willamette National Forest. It doesn't name Mcquade Creek, 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.

McQuade Creek is a hard, out-and-back hike of about 11 miles in the Sweet Home Ranger District of Oregon's Willamette National Forest. The trail begins at McQuade Creek Trailhead and climbs to a high point of 4,899 feet, rising about 2,622 feet one way and totaling roughly 4,694 feet of elevation gain and loss across the round trip. The route is rated hard. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows both horses and bikes. It is open year-round and sits on Forest Service land, so the land manager is the Forest Service. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. At a nearby weather station in Santiam Junction, typical July and August highs average 76°F with lows around 42°F. That station sits about 1,150 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the mountain run cooler. Several other destinations lie within a few miles. Chimney Peak is about 2.4 miles away, and Swamp Peak is about 3.7 miles away. For an overnight stay, Old Miner's Meadow Group Use Area is about 3.9 miles off, and Yellowbottom Recreation Site is about 5 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 Mcquade Creek

    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

      38° / 24°

    2. Feb

      41° / 24°

    3. Mar

      44° / 26°

    4. Apr

      49° / 29°

    5. May

      58° / 35°

    6. Jun

      65° / 38°

    7. Jul

      76° / 42°

    8. Aug

      76° / 42°

    9. Sep

      69° / 39°

    10. Oct

      56° / 33°

    11. Nov

      42° / 28°

    12. Dec

      36° / 23°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Santiam Junction, OR, 18.8 mi away at 3,750 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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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Route details

Distance
11.0 mi round trip
Climbing
About 4,694 ft
Starts at
Mcquade Creek Trailhead (about 2,674 ft)
Summit
4,978 ft
Difficulty
Hard
Time
About 5.5 hours

Season

Season: Year-round.

Questions about this route

How long is the Mcquade Creek on Chimney Peak?

About 11.0 mi round trip from Mcquade Creek Trailhead (about 2,674 ft).

How much elevation gain is on the Mcquade Creek?

About 4,694 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Mcquade Creek?

It is rated hard.

Where does the Mcquade Creek start?

Mcquade Creek Trailhead (about 2,674 ft).

How long does the Mcquade Creek take?

About 5.5 hours round trip.

When is the best time for the Mcquade Creek?

Year-round.

Conditions and forecast on Chimney Peak

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.