Oregon · Hiking · Mount Jefferson Wilderness · Near Sisters

Minto Pass

Minto PassPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
9.4 mi
round trip
2,223 ft
climb
5,364 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Minto Pass open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Detroit Ranger District. It doesn't name Minto Pass, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Minto Pass is a hard hike in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, part of the Detroit Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest in Oregon. The Forest Service manages the land, and the nearest town is Marion Forks, about 6 miles away. The route is an out-and-back of about 9.4 miles, with a total climb of about 2,223 feet. The trail starts at roughly 4,346 feet and reaches a high point of about 5,364 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.2 miles in, with a grade of about 19 percent. The trail surface is natural, and bikes are not allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Santiam Junction show July and August highs around 76°F with lows near 42°F. That station sits well below the pass, so temperatures up high run cooler. The Marion Lake Trail 3436 starts just 0.1 mile away, and Marion Lake and the Marion Lake Outlet are both within a mile. For an overnight base, Marion Forks Campground is about 5 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Camp Pioneer (BSA Cascade Pacific Council)

    Campground

    Campground · 3.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Hoodoo Mountain Resort

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 11 mi
  • If it rains

    Kiwanis club

    Attraction

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sisters

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Minto Pass

    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, 9.7 mi away at 3,750 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.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Marion Lake Trail 3436Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Marion Lake Trail 3436

Next door

5.14-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,857 ft elevation gain and loss.

Marion Lake OutletPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Marion Lake Outlet

~1 min drive

0.96-mile out-and-back trail to Marion Lake Outlet in Oregon.

HIKE

Lake of the Woods

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Pine RidgePhoto: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pine Ridge

~6 min drive

4.50-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 907 ft gain.

Turpentine Lake Trail (unofficial)Photo: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Turpentine Lake Trail (unofficial)

~6 min drive

1.92-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 380 ft gain and 4,734 ft max elevation.

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Swallow Lake

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Table Lake CutoffPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Table Lake Cutoff

~9 min drive

2.86-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,408 ft elevation gain

Old Hunts CovePhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Old Hunts Cove

~8 min drive

2.40-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 712 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Bowerman Lake

~3 min drive

6.40-mile out-and-back trail to Bowerman Lake in Oregon with 1,062 ft gain