Oregon · Hiking

Ponderosa Trail

0.4 mi
round trip
160 ft
climb
4,830 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Ponderosa Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Whitman Ranger District. It doesn't name Ponderosa 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.

Ponderosa Trail is a short, easy hike in the Whitman Ranger District of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in northeastern Oregon, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 0.4 miles long, with a round trip of roughly 0.9 miles. It is a low-effort outing, with a total climb of about 160 feet, and the steepest section comes early in the route at about 12%. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Austin, about 23 miles away, put July and August highs around 83°F with only four or five wet days a month. The station sits about 600 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the trail run a bit cooler. Several other trails lie close by. Deer Lick Trail is about 0.7 miles away, and Jeep Ride Trail and Rim Rock Trail are each under a mile off. For an overnight stay, Millers Lane Campground is about 1.7 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Ponderosa Trail

    Best months: May–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

      34° / 15°

      14 wet

    2. Feb

      39° / 18°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      46° / 23°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      53° / 28°

      12 wet

    5. May

      62° / 34°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      71° / 39°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 43°

      5 wet

    8. Aug

      83° / 42°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 35°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 28°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 22°

      12 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 16°

      15 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Austin 3 S, OR, 23.4 mi away at 4,213 ft. The station sits about 600 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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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors