Oregon · Hiking · Bull of the Woods Wilderness

Mother Lode

11.4 mi
round trip
5,803 ft
climb
5,212 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Mother Lode open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Clackamas River Ranger District. It doesn't name Mother Lode, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Mother Lode is a hard hike in the Bull of the Woods Wilderness, part of the Clackamas River Ranger District of Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a natural-surface out-and-back that starts at about 5,190 feet and climbs to 5,212 feet, with a total round-trip gain of about 5,800 feet. The steepest stretch comes early, with a 41% grade at about half a mile in. That makes the climb a serious undertaking, and the route is best suited to hikers who are already comfortable with long, steep ascents. 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, though that station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. Schreiner Peak lies just 0.2 miles away, and Dickey Lake Trail and Dickey Lake are each about a mile off. Elk Lake Campground, roughly 4.5 miles away, is the closest place to camp.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Mother Lode

    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, 31.7 mi away at 3,750 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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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