Oregon · Hiking

Phillips Lake North Shoreline Trail

Phillips Lake North Shoreline TrailPhoto: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
6.6 mi
round trip
1,068 ft
climb
4,132 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Sep
best months

Is Phillips Lake North Shoreline Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Whitman Ranger District. It doesn't name Phillips Lake North Shoreline Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (4 listed).

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

Phillips Lake North Shoreline Trail is an easy out-and-back hike in the Whitman Ranger District of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in northeastern Oregon. The trail is about 13 miles long, with a total elevation gain of about 150 feet, and it starts at roughly 4,112 feet, rising to a high point of about 4,132 feet before returning to the starting level. The route is a straightforward walk along the north shore of Phillips Lake. The steepest stretch comes early on, around 0.6 miles from the start, where the grade reaches about 10 percent. The rest of the trail is gentle, making it a comfortable option for a day on foot. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Baker City show July and August highs around 88°F with only three or four wet days a month, while winter highs stay in the upper 30s. Several other trails sit close by. Coyote Cove Trail is about 0.6 miles away, and the Powder River Recreation Area Paved Trail is about 0.9 miles away. Union Creek Campground, about 1.6 miles off, offers a place to camp. Paddlers can reach the Powder River, about 9 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit Phillips Lake North Shoreline Trail

    Best months: May–June and 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

      38° / 20°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      44° / 23°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      54° / 28°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      61° / 31°

      10 wet

    5. May

      70° / 39°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      77° / 44°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      88° / 49°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      88° / 47°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      79° / 39°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      64° / 30°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      48° / 25°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      37° / 20°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Baker City Muni Ap, OR, 15 mi away at 3,361 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

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

Coyote Cove Trail

~1 min drive

0.31-mile out-and-back hike to Coyote Cove with 137 ft of elevation gain.

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

North Powder River Trail

~30 min drive

5.0-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 1,959 ft elevation gain and loss.

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

Dutch Flat Creek Trail

~35 min drive

8.22-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 3,544 ft elevation loss.

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Rock Creek Lake Trail

~23 min drive

6.8-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 3,517 ft gain/loss.

Powder River Recreation Area Paved TrailPhoto: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Powder River Recreation Area Paved Trail

~2 min drive

1.18-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 114 ft elevation gain and loss.

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

Lost Lake Trail

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Elkhorn Crest National Recreation Trail

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Twin Lakes Trail

~17 min drive

4.91-mile point-to-point trail in Oregon with 1,010 ft gain and 3,840 ft loss.

Flagstaff LoopPhoto: ilya_ktsn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Flagstaff Loop

~28 min drive

0.49-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 135 ft elevation gain.

Lakes Lookout TrailPhoto: Brent, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lakes Lookout Trail

~38 min drive

1.36-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 944 ft elevation gain and loss.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors