Oregon · Hiking

Shan Creek

Shan CreekPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
11.6 mi
round trip
6,393 ft
climb
3,912 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 22 h ago

Is Shan Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Wild Rivers Ranger District. It doesn't name Shan Creek, 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.

Shan Creek is a hard hike in the Wild Rivers Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests in southern Oregon, about 7.4 miles from the town of Galice. The trail is an out-and-back of about 11.6 miles, with a total climb of roughly 6,393 feet. The route starts at about 3,755 feet and reaches a high point of about 3,912 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 4.8 miles in, where the grade reaches about 41%. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Sexton Summit weather station show July and August highs around 77°F with only about two wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the low 40s and rain on more than half the days. The trail is natural-surface and allows horses and bikes. It is not an accessible route. Onion Mountain Lookout and Minnow Creek are each about a mile away, and Shan Creek Trail and China Creek are within about 3.5 miles.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Shan Creek

    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

      43° / 33°

      16 wet

    2. Feb

      44° / 33°

      15 wet

    3. Mar

      46° / 33°

      16 wet

    4. Apr

      52° / 35°

      14 wet

    5. May

      61° / 41°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      68° / 46°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 53°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      77° / 54°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 51°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 43°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      47° / 36°

      15 wet

    12. Dec

      41° / 32°

      16 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sexton Summit, OR, 15.3 mi away at 3,832 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. 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