Oregon · Hiking · Kalmiopsis Wilderness

Upper Chetco

6.4 mi
round trip
3,196 ft
climb
3,390 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Upper Chetco open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Upper Chetco is a hard hike in Oregon's Kalmiopsis Wilderness, within the Wild Rivers Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from about 1,287 feet to 3,390 feet, with a total gain of 3,196 feet over 6.4 miles. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.7 miles in, where the grade reaches 33 percent. The route is on natural surface and is open to horses. Bikes are not allowed, and the trail is not accessible. The Forest Service manages the land. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Sexton Summit 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 roughly half the days. The trip takes about 3.5 hours, and the trail is open year-round. Bailey Mountain sits just 0.2 miles away, and the Kalmiopsis Rim Trail is about 2.5 miles off. Paddlers can reach the Chetco River about 4 miles away, and Echo Beach Campground is about 6.2 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 Upper Chetco

    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, 34.9 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

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Upper Chetco TrailPhoto: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Upper Chetco Trail

~4 min drive

34.14-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 11,678 ft elevation gain/loss.

Bailey CabinPhoto: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Bailey Cabin

~7 min drive

4-mile out-and-back trail to Bailey Cabin in Oregon with 1,020 ft elevation gain

Babyfoot LakePhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Babyfoot Lake

~7 min drive

1.66-mile out-and-back trail to Babyfoot Lake in Oregon with 456 ft gain.

Emily CabinPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Emily Cabin

~8 min drive

9.00-mile out-and-back trail to Emily Cabin in Oregon with 1,119 ft gain.

TincupPhoto: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tincup

~15 min drive

Tincup is a 30.44-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 5,724 feet of elevation gain.

Babyfoot Lake RimPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Babyfoot Lake Rim

~8 min drive

3.44-mile out-and-back trail at Babyfoot Lake Rim in Oregon.

Deep Gorge TrailPhoto: james shaw, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Deep Gorge Trail

~10 min drive

1.38-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 627 ft gain/loss.

Fall CreekPhoto: james shaw, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Fall Creek

~10 min drive

6.88-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,334 ft gain.

Illinois River TrailPhoto: Northwest Rafting Company, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Illinois River Trail

~15 min drive

27.99-mile point-to-point trail in Oregon with 6,667 ft gain.

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

Gardner Mine

~12 min drive

5-mile out-and-back trail at Gardner Mine in Oregon with 765 ft gain.