Oregon · Hiking

Mule Creek

8.6 mi
round trip
4,433 ft
climb
3,958 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Mule Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District. It doesn't name Mule Creek, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Mule Creek is a hard hike in the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests in Oregon, about 8.6 miles long and rising to a high point of 3,958 feet. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from a low point of 1,906 feet to that summit and back, with a total gain and loss of 4,433 feet. The steepest stretch comes around the 0.6-mile mark, where the grade reaches about 36 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Howard Prairie Dam run to highs near 79°F in July and August with only a few wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and frequent snow. The trail is on natural surface and allows horses, and it is not accessible. Charlie Buck starts about 0.1 mile away and the Little Grayback Trail is half a mile off. For camping, Acorn Woman Peak Lookout is about 1.3 miles away and Beaver Sulphur Group Campground is roughly 2.7 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 Mule 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

      36° / 23°

      15 wet · 9 snow

    2. Feb

      40° / 23°

      14 wet · 8 snow

    3. Mar

      45° / 26°

      16 wet · 8 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 29°

      13 wet · 4 snow

    5. May

      60° / 36°

      11 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      68° / 40°

      5 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 47°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 46°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 40°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 33°

      8 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      42° / 28°

      13 wet · 5 snow

    12. Dec

      35° / 23°

      15 wet · 9 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Howard Prairie Dam, OR, 35.3 mi away at 4,567 ft. The station sits about 600 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Stage 2 Public Use Fire Restrictions (Forest-wide)

      Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests · Order dated September 4, 2026; seen Sep 3, 2026 → lifted Oct 28, 2026 · Forest Service

    • Stage 3 Public Use Fire Restrictions (Forest-wide)

      Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests · Order dated July 17, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Sep 3, 2026 · Forest Service