Oregon · Hiking

Pig Iron

Pig IronPhoto: randallagordon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
5.0 mi
round trip
3,041 ft
climb
4,978 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Oct
best months

Is Pig Iron open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Diamond Lake Ranger District.

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

Pig Iron is a hard hike in the Diamond Lake Ranger District of Oregon's Umpqua National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 5 miles, with a total elevation gain of 3,041 feet, and it starts at roughly 3,225 feet, rising to a high point of about 4,978 feet. The climb is steep from the start, with the steepest stretch at about 0.34 miles in, where the grade reaches 35 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 79°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the upper 30s and regular snow days. The hike is open year-round, and the trip takes about three hours. Bikes are allowed on the natural-surface trail. Watson Falls West and the Clearwater River hikes are each about a mile away, and Clearwater #2 Forbay Forest Camp is about 1.8 miles off. The North Umpqua Trail: Hot Springs is about 2.1 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Pig Iron

    Best months: June–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

      39° / 27°

      17 wet · 10 snow

    2. Feb

      42° / 27°

      15 wet · 9 snow

    3. Mar

      46° / 29°

      17 wet · 9 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 32°

      17 wet · 5 snow

    5. May

      61° / 38°

      14 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      68° / 43°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 48°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 47°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 43°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 36°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      45° / 31°

      16 wet · 6 snow

    12. Dec

      38° / 26°

      18 wet · 11 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lemolo Lake 3 Nnw, OR, 10.7 mi away at 4,077 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Watson Falls WestPhoto: randallagordon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Watson Falls West

~2 min drive

0.27-mile lollipop trail at Watson Falls West in Oregon with 201 ft of elevation gain.

Clearwater RiverPhoto: randallagordon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Clearwater River

~2 min drive

3.40-mile out-and-back trail along Clearwater River in Oregon

North Umpqua Trail: Deer LeapPhoto: Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

North Umpqua Trail: Deer Leap

~13 min drive

17.18-mile out-and-back trail on the North Umpqua Trail with 5,614 ft elevation gain and loss.

HIKE

INCENSE CEDAR LOOP SNOMO

~16 min drive

11.48-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,931 ft elevation gain and loss.

Toketee LakePhoto: Alexlockhart, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Toketee Lake

~4 min drive

0.80-mile out-and-back trail to Toketee Lake in Oregon.

North Umpqua Trail: Hot SpringsPhoto: Alexlockhart, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

North Umpqua Trail: Hot Springs

~4 min drive

3.34-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,877 ft gain and 2,715 ft max elevation.

North Umpqua Trail: Jessie WrightPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

North Umpqua Trail: Jessie Wright

~17 min drive

5.98-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 4,566 ft elevation gain

HIKE

BEAR CREEK SNOMO

~17 min drive

14.92-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,188 ft elevation gain and loss.

Toketee FallsPhoto: Alexlockhart, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Toketee Falls

~5 min drive

0.80-mile out-and-back to Toketee Falls in Oregon with 204 ft of elevation gain.

BradleyPhoto: Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bradley

~12 min drive

4.40-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,628 ft elevation gain