Oregon · Hiking

Mule Mountain

8.0 mi
round trip
3,294 ft
climb
4,220 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Mule Mountain open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District. It doesn't name Mule Mountain, 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 Mountain is a hard hike on the Applegate River lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in southwest Oregon, within the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests. The route is an out-and-back that climbs from about 1,760 feet to 4,220 feet, covering 8 miles with a total elevation gain of 3,294 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 3.2 miles, where the grade reaches 30%. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Howard Prairie Dam weather station, about 38 miles away and at a similar elevation, put July and August highs near 79°F with only two or three wet days a month. Winter is cold and snowy, with highs in the mid-30s and snow on eight to nine days a month from December through February. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows horses and bikes. It is not accessible by car, so plan on a hike that starts from a trailhead rather than a parking area. Jackson Campground Complex and Jackson Campground on the Applegate River sit about 1.7 miles away, and Flumet Flat Group Campground is about 1.9 miles off. For another hike, Grouse Loop is about 3.2 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 Mountain

    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, 38 mi away at 4,567 ft. 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