Oregon · Hiking

North Fork Smith River Trail

North Fork Smith River TrailPhoto: Jonathan Lidbeck, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
13.1 mi
round trip
3,599 ft
climb
831 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Feb–Nov
best months

Is North Fork Smith River Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Siuslaw National Forest. It doesn't name North Fork Smith River Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Siuslaw National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The North Fork Smith River Trail is a 13-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon's Siuslaw National Forest, within the Central Coast Ranger District-ODNRA. The trail rises from a low point of about 366 feet to a high of 831 feet, with a total elevation gain of 1,092 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is rated hard. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows bikes, so it works for hikers and riders alike. It is open year-round, and the nearest town is Mapleton, about 8 miles away. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Mapleton show July and August highs around 80°F with lows in the mid-50s. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Kentucky Falls is about a mile away, and the North Fork Smith River offers canoeing about 2 miles off. Archie Knowles Campground is roughly 6 miles away, and the Whittaker Creek Old Growth Trail is about 8 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Feb–Nov

    Best time to visit North Fork Smith River Trail

    Best months: February–November. 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

      52° / 41°

    2. Feb

      55° / 41°

    3. Mar

      58° / 42°

    4. Apr

      62° / 44°

    5. May

      68° / 48°

    6. Jun

      73° / 51°

    7. Jul

      80° / 54°

    8. Aug

      80° / 54°

    9. Sep

      77° / 51°

    10. Oct

      66° / 47°

    11. Nov

      56° / 44°

    12. Dec

      50° / 40°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mapleton, OR, 7.7 mi away at 17 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.

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