Oregon · Hiking

South Willamette

10.0 mi
round trip
2,874 ft
climb
1,466 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 11 h ago

Is South Willamette open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Willamette National Forest. It doesn't name South Willamette, 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.

South Willamette is a 10-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon's Willamette National Forest, within the Middle Fork Ranger District. The trail rises from about 1,400 feet to 1,466 feet, with the steepest stretch near 2.2 miles in, where the grade reaches 26%. The climb is steady rather than a single push, and the route is rated hard. The trail is on natural surface and is open year round. Bikes and horses are both allowed, so the path works for riding as well as walking. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. A nearby weather station records typical July and August highs around 80°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the upper 40s and rain on 17 to 20 days a month. That station sits about 750 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the hike run cooler. The Hardesty Trail #3469 starts just 0.1 mile away. Goodman Creek, a canoeing spot, and Clear Cut Boulders, a climbing area, are within about 3 miles. Black Canyon Campground is about 4 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit South Willamette

    Best months: June–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

      47° / 37°

      19 wet

    2. Feb

      50° / 38°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      54° / 40°

      19 wet

    4. Apr

      59° / 42°

      18 wet

    5. May

      65° / 47°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      71° / 51°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 55°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 54°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 52°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      63° / 47°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      52° / 42°

      18 wet

    12. Dec

      46° / 37°

      20 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lookout Pt Dam, OR, 6.9 mi away at 712 ft. The station sits about 800 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.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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

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Lower Middle ForkPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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North Fork Segment #1Photo: Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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~17 min drive

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Hardesty Trail #3469

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Brice CreekPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Next door

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Eula Ridge

~5 min drive

1-mile out-and-back trail on Eula Ridge in Oregon with 77 ft gain.