Oregon · Hiking

Opal Creek Trail

Opal Creek TrailPhoto: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.3 mi
round trip
769 ft
climb
2,372 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Opal Creek Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Detroit Ranger District. It doesn't name Opal Creek Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Opal Creek Trail is a short, easy hike in the Detroit Ranger District of Oregon's Willamette National Forest, about 1.25 miles long and rated easy. It's an out-and-back route that starts and ends at roughly 2,225 feet, with the high point at 2,372 feet. The climb is gentle overall, with a total of 769 feet of gain and loss across the round trip. The steepest stretch, about 16% grade, comes in the first few hundred yards. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation put July and August highs around 75°F with lows near 50°F, while winter highs sit in the low 40s. Several other outings lie close by. Kopetski and the Little North Santiam River are each about 0.3 miles away, and the Kopetski Trail is 1.1 miles off. For an overnight stay, Elk Lake Campground is about 4.1 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 Opal Creek Trail

    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

      44° / 33°

    2. Feb

      46° / 33°

    3. Mar

      49° / 34°

    4. Apr

      54° / 36°

    5. May

      61° / 41°

    6. Jun

      66° / 45°

    7. Jul

      75° / 50°

    8. Aug

      75° / 51°

    9. Sep

      70° / 49°

    10. Oct

      56° / 42°

    11. Nov

      48° / 36°

    12. Dec

      42° / 33°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Scotts Mills 9 Se, OR, 17.2 mi away at 2,315 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

KopetskiPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Kopetski

Next door

2.68-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 713 ft elevation gain

Kopetski TrailPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Kopetski Trail

~2 min drive

1.38-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 1,051 ft elevation gain.

Nasty Rock Trail #3356Photo: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Nasty Rock Trail #3356

~6 min drive

5.64-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 3,350 ft elevation gain and loss.

Elkhorn Ridge Trail #3347Photo: Jason McHuff, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Elkhorn Ridge Trail #3347

~7 min drive

5.37-mile out-and-back hike on Elkhorn Ridge in Oregon with 2,500 ft gain

Battle Axe CreekPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Battle Axe Creek

~3 min drive

1.40-mile out-and-back trail at Battle Axe Creek in Oregon with 304 ft gain.

French Creek RidgePhoto: Jason McHuff, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

French Creek Ridge

~7 min drive

4-mile out-and-back trail on French Creek Ridge in Oregon with 1,328 ft gain.

Ogle MountainPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Ogle Mountain

~11 min drive

2.80-mile out-and-back trail to Ogle Mountain summit in Oregon with 1,910 ft gain

French Creek Trail #3349Photo: Ian Sane, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

French Creek Trail #3349

~7 min drive

10.7-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 5,152 ft elevation gain and loss.

Opal LakePhoto: Jason McHuff, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Opal Lake

~6 min drive

2.00-mile out-and-back trail to Opal Lake in Oregon with 612 ft gain.

Henline MountainPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Henline Mountain

~9 min drive

5.12-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,830 ft elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors