Oregon · Hiking

Turpentine

11.2 mi
round trip
2,356 ft
climb
5,170 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Turpentine open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Detroit Ranger District. It doesn't name Turpentine, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Turpentine is a hard hike of about 11 miles on natural trail in the Detroit Ranger District of Willamette National Forest in Oregon, managed by the Forest Service. The trail starts at roughly 4,600 feet and climbs to about 5,170 feet, with a steady grade that peaks at about 30% around 3.4 miles out. The round trip adds up to about 2,350 feet of gain and loss. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Santiam Junction weather station, about 8 miles away, put July and August highs near 76°F with lows around 42°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures up high run cooler. The Turpentine Lake Trail (unofficial) and Pine Ridge both lie about 0.2 miles away, and Temple Lake is about 1.3 miles off. Marion Forks Campground is about 3.8 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 Turpentine

    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

      38° / 24°

    2. Feb

      41° / 24°

    3. Mar

      44° / 26°

    4. Apr

      49° / 29°

    5. May

      58° / 35°

    6. Jun

      65° / 38°

    7. Jul

      76° / 42°

    8. Aug

      76° / 42°

    9. Sep

      69° / 39°

    10. Oct

      56° / 33°

    11. Nov

      42° / 28°

    12. Dec

      36° / 23°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Santiam Junction, OR, 8.3 mi away at 3,750 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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

Turpentine Lake Trail (unofficial)Photo: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Turpentine Lake Trail (unofficial)

Next door

1.92-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 380 ft gain and 4,734 ft max elevation.

Pine RidgePhoto: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pine Ridge

Next door

4.50-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 907 ft gain.

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

Minto Pass

~6 min drive

9.40-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,008 ft gain

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TRAIL #60 - STRAIGHT CRK LOOP

~9 min drive

27.98-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 4,372 ft elevation gain/loss

Marion Lake OutletPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Marion Lake Outlet

~5 min drive

0.96-mile out-and-back trail to Marion Lake Outlet in Oregon.

Marion Lake Trail 3436Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Marion Lake Trail 3436

~6 min drive

5.14-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,857 ft elevation gain and loss.

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Duffy Lake

~8 min drive

Moderate out-and-back hike to alpine Duffy Lake in Oregon.

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TRAIL #55 - PYRAMID LOOP

~10 min drive

36.22-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 5,508 ft elevation gain and loss.

Temple LakePhoto: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Temple Lake

~2 min drive

0.44-mile out-and-back trail to Temple Lake in Oregon with 23 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

MARION LAKE

~4 min drive

3.32-mile out-and-back to Marion Lake in Oregon with 1,376 ft gain