Quartz Nordic East Loop
Photo: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 8.7 mi
- round trip
- 2,275 ft
- climb
- 5,973 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Jun, Sep
- best months
Is QUARTZ NORDIC EAST LOOP open right now?
No closures listed
The Forest Service lists no closures for Fremont-Winema National Forest.
As of · Source: USFS · Fremont-Winema National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
The Quartz Nordic East Loop is a long, steep out-and-back hike in Oregon's Fremont-Winema National Forest, within the Bly Ranger District. The route is 17.4 miles long with a total elevation gain of 2,275 feet, making it a demanding day on foot. The trail starts at about 5,582 feet and climbs to a high point of 5,973 feet, with the steepest stretch around mile 1.2, where the grade reaches 24%. The total climb works out to about 1,196 feet one way, which is why the loop is split into two directions. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Bly show July and August highs around 86°F with only two or three wet days a month, and September still runs near 78°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. The Quartz Nordic North Loop for cross-country skiing lies just 0.2 miles away, and the Quartz Mt. Nordic Trail and Main Trail South are both about 0.7 miles off. For an overnight stay, Lofton Reservoir campground is roughly 4.9 miles away.
Best time to go · May–Jun, Sep
Best time to visit QUARTZ NORDIC EAST LOOP
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.
Jan
42° / 21°
13 wet
Feb
46° / 23°
11 wet
Mar
51° / 26°
13 wet
Apr
57° / 29°
13 wet
May
66° / 37°
10 wet
Jun
76° / 41°
6 wet
Jul
86° / 49°
3 wet
Aug
86° / 45°
2 wet
Sep
78° / 38°
4 wet
Oct
64° / 30°
7 wet
Nov
48° / 25°
11 wet
Dec
41° / 20°
14 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bly 4 Se, OR, 14.8 mi away at 4,560 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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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