Oregon · Hiking

Spence Peak Trail

5.8 mi
round trip
2,157 ft
climb
5,841 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Spence Peak Trail is a hard hike in Oregon, an out-and-back route of about 11.6 miles with a total elevation gain of 2,157 feet. The trail starts at roughly 5,731 feet and climbs to a high point of 5,841 feet, then descends back to the starting elevation. The nearest town is Running Y Ranch, about 7.4 miles away. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Howard Prairie Dam weather station, about 23 miles away, show July and August highs near 79°F with only two or three wet days a month. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the peak run cooler. The trip takes about five hours. The trail is close to several other hikes, including Upper Hooligan, North Ridge and Peak Tie, all within a mile. For climbing, Spence Mountain Bouldering is about 2.4 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Spence Peak Trail

    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

      36° / 23°

      15 wet · 9 snow

    2. Feb

      40° / 23°

      14 wet · 8 snow

    3. Mar

      45° / 26°

      16 wet · 8 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 29°

      13 wet · 4 snow

    5. May

      60° / 36°

      11 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      68° / 40°

      5 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 47°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 46°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 40°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 33°

      8 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      42° / 28°

      13 wet · 5 snow

    12. Dec

      35° / 23°

      15 wet · 9 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Howard Prairie Dam, OR, 22.9 mi away at 4,567 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

ChinquapinPhoto: Jesse Wagstaff, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Chinquapin

~2 min drive

Chinquapin is a 2.11-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon.

ModocPhoto: Jesse Wagstaff, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Modoc

~3 min drive

2.31-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 363 ft of elevation gain

TomahawkPhoto: Holzwerk, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tomahawk

~16 min drive

6-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,072 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

SWAN LAKE POINT

~17 min drive

23.4-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,877 ft elevation gain/loss

NighthawkPhoto: Jesse Wagstaff, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Nighthawk

~2 min drive

1.72-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,167 ft elevation gain

Old EaglePhoto: Jesse Wagstaff, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Old Eagle

~4 min drive

1.70-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 421 ft gain

EAST FOURMILE LAKEPhoto: james shaw, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

EAST FOURMILE LAKE

~20 min drive

10.22-mile out-and-back trail to East Fourmile Lake in Oregon with 1,683 ft gain

MazamaPhoto: Jesse Wagstaff, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mazama

~2 min drive

4.87-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,459 ft gain

Queen of the LakePhoto: lexly87 aka Duc N. Ly, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Queen of the Lake

~5 min drive

1.94-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 576 ft elevation gain.

VARNEY CREEK SNOMOPhoto: james shaw, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

VARNEY CREEK SNOMO

~20 min drive

11.94-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,666 ft elevation gain and loss.

Route details

Distance
5.8 mi round trip
Climbing
About 2,157 ft
Summit
5,848 ft
Difficulty
Hard
Time
About 3 hours

Other routes up Spence Mountain

Questions about this route

How long is the Spence Peak Trail on Spence Mountain?

About 5.8 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Spence Peak Trail?

About 2,157 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Spence Peak Trail?

It is rated hard.

How long does the Spence Peak Trail take?

About 3 hours round trip.

How many routes go up Spence Mountain?

2: Upper Hooligan and Spence Peak Trail.

Conditions and forecast on Spence Mountain

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors