Oregon · Hiking

Red Dog

4.3 mi
round trip
1,579 ft
climb
1,989 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Jun, Oct
best months

Is Red Dog open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Wild Rivers Ranger District. It doesn't name Red Dog, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Red Dog is a 4.3-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon's Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests, within the Wild Rivers Ranger District. The trail rises from about 1,500 feet to a high point of roughly 2,000 feet, with a total elevation gain of 1,579 feet for the round trip. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is rated moderate. Bikes and horses are both allowed on this natural-surface trail. It is not an accessible route. The climb is a steady one, with the most elevation change concentrated in the middle of the hike. The trip takes about two hours. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Cave Junction show May highs around 76°F and October highs around 72°F, while July and August average highs near 94°F. That station sits several hundred feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. Nearby hikes include Phone and Swede Creek, each about 1.7 miles away, and York Butte at 2.5 miles. For an overnight base, Sam Brown campground is about 4.7 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Apr–Jun, Oct

    Best time to visit Red Dog

    Best months: April–June and 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

      49° / 32°

      17 wet · 1 snow

    2. Feb

      55° / 33°

      15 wet · 1 snow

    3. Mar

      60° / 34°

      16 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      67° / 37°

      12 wet

    5. May

      76° / 42°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      83° / 46°

      4 wet

    7. Jul

      94° / 52°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      94° / 49°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      87° / 44°

      3 wet

    10. Oct

      72° / 39°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      55° / 36°

      15 wet

    12. Dec

      47° / 33°

      18 wet · 1 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cave Junction 1 Wnw, OR, 18.2 mi away at 1,377 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Stage 2 Public Use Fire Restrictions (Forest-wide)

      Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests · Order dated September 4, 2026; seen Sep 3, 2026 → lifted Oct 28, 2026 · Forest Service

    • Stage 3 Public Use Fire Restrictions (Forest-wide)

      Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests · Order dated July 17, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Sep 3, 2026 · Forest Service

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