Oregon · Hiking

Mt. Defiance

Mt. DefiancePhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
3.2 mi
round trip
1,983 ft
climb
4,824 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Mt. Defiance open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Hood River Ranger District.

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

Mt. Defiance is a moderate out-and-back hike in the Hood River Ranger District of Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 3.2 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 1,983 feet, and it starts at roughly 4,758 feet, reaching a high point of about 4,824 feet. The route is natural-surfaced and not accessible. The steepest stretch comes early, around 0.5 miles in, with a grade of about 27 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Government Camp weather station show July and August highs around 70°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the mid-30s and rain on most days. Mt. Defiance Tie and Mitchell Point are both within half a mile. Black Lake campground is about 3 miles away, and Wyeth Campground is about 3.6 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Mt. Defiance

    Best months: June–September. 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

      37° / 26°

      20 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 26°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 28°

      20 wet

    4. Apr

      45° / 31°

      18 wet

    5. May

      54° / 36°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      59° / 41°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 48°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      70° / 48°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      64° / 45°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 37°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 30°

      18 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 26°

      21 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Government Camp, OR, 24.1 mi away at 3,980 ft. The station sits about 800 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

Mt. Defiance TiePhoto: Joe Omundson, CC BY-SA 1.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mt. Defiance Tie

Next door

1.26-mile out-and-back trail with 539 ft gain in Oregon.

Mitchell PointPhoto: Joe Omundson, CC BY-SA 1.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mitchell Point

Next door

Mitchell Point is a 1.32-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 71 feet of elevation gain.

STARVATION RIDGEPhoto: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

STARVATION RIDGE

~5 min drive

2.36-mile out-and-back trail with 2,808 ft gain in Oregon

Starvation Ridge Trail #414Photo: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Starvation Ridge Trail #414

~5 min drive

6.28-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 5,004 ft elevation gain

Warren Lake Trail #417APhoto: Joe Omundson, CC BY-SA 1.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Warren Lake Trail #417A

~2 min drive

0.78-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 90 ft of elevation gain.

Mt DefiancePhoto: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mt Defiance

~4 min drive

4.40-mile out-and-back trail to Mt Defiance in Oregon with 2,985 ft gain.

WyethPhoto: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wyeth

~5 min drive

12.20-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 4,272 ft elevation gain

AugspurgerPhoto: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Augspurger

~6 min drive

15.78-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 5,124 ft elevation gain.

Starvation Ridge Cutoff Trail #414BPhoto: theslowlane, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Starvation Ridge Cutoff Trail #414B

~5 min drive

0.68-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 692 ft elevation gain.

Dog MountainPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Dog Mountain

~6 min drive

2.60-mile out-and-back trail to Dog Mountain summit with 1,403 ft gain

Route details

Distance
3.2 mi round trip
Climbing
About 1,983 ft
Summit
4,957 ft
Difficulty
Moderate
Time
About 1 hour

Other routes up Mount Defiance

Questions about this route

How long is the Mt. Defiance on Mount Defiance?

About 3.2 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Mt. Defiance?

About 1,983 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Mt. Defiance?

It is rated moderate.

How long does the Mt. Defiance take?

About 1 hour round trip.

How many routes go up Mount Defiance?

2: Mt. Defiance Tie and Mt. Defiance.

Conditions and forecast on Mount Defiance

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.