Oregon · Hiking · Three Sisters Wilderness

Red Hill

12.0 mi
round trip
6,886 ft
climb
6,095 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Red Hill open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Willamette National Forest. It doesn't name Red Hill, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Willamette National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Red Hill is a hard hike in Oregon's Three Sisters Wilderness, within the McKenzie River Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back route of 12 miles, with a total elevation gain of 1,139 feet from the low point at 4,947 feet to the high point at 6,095 feet. The Forest Service manages the land. The trail is a natural-surface route that allows horses but not bikes, which makes it suitable for riders on horseback. It is open year-round, so you can plan around the seasons that work for you. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July and August highs reach the low 70s with only about three wet days a month, based on averages from a nearby weather station at Odell Lake-East. That station sits roughly 1,300 feet lower than the high point, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. Breezy Point lies just 0.1 mile away, and Sunset Lake and Horse Creek Trail #3514 are both within about a mile and a half. For an overnight base, Elk Lake Campground is about 3.3 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Red Hill

    Best months: May–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

      35° / 20°

      14 wet · 10 snow

    2. Feb

      38° / 21°

      13 wet · 9 snow

    3. Mar

      42° / 24°

      14 wet · 8 snow

    4. Apr

      46° / 28°

      11 wet · 4 snow

    5. May

      55° / 34°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      63° / 38°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      73° / 44°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 42°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 36°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 30°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      41° / 26°

      14 wet · 6 snow

    12. Dec

      34° / 20°

      15 wet · 10 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Odell Lake-East, OR, 30 mi away at 4,800 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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

Island Meadow TrailPhoto: maprik, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Island Meadow Trail

~4 min drive

1.92-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 294 ft elevation gain and loss.

Elk LakePhoto: David Doan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Elk Lake

~7 min drive

3.20-mile out-and-back trail to Elk Lake in Oregon with 562 ft gain.

South Sister ClimberPhoto: Bonnie Moreland (free images), Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

South Sister Climber

~11 min drive

7.2-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,737 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Horse Creek Trail #3514

~3 min drive

25.24-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 3,589 ft elevation gain and loss.

Horse Lake Trail #2Photo: maprik, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Horse Lake Trail #2

~5 min drive

2.86-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 603 ft elevation gain and loss.

Quinn CreekPhoto: David Doan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Quinn Creek

~8 min drive

5-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon.

Six LakesPhoto: David Doan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Six Lakes

~6 min drive

Out-and-back alpine lake trail with scenic mountain views and fishing opportunities.

HIKE

Nash Lake Trail #3527

~11 min drive

15.6-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,538 ft elevation gain and loss.

Quinn SpringsPhoto: David Doan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Quinn Springs

~8 min drive

Quinn Springs is a 1.50-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 80 ft of elevation gain.

AppaloosaPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Appaloosa

~11 min drive

3.52-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 160 ft elevation gain.