Oregon · Hiking

Varney Creek

2.2 mi
round trip
357 ft
climb
5,682 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Varney Creek open right now?

No closures listed

The Forest Service lists no closures for Fremont-Winema National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Fremont-Winema National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Varney Creek is an easy out-and-back hike of about 2.2 miles in the Klamath Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest in southern Oregon. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and sits at roughly 5,550 feet, with the high point at about 5,682 feet. The route is short and gentle, with a total climb of about 357 feet and a steepest stretch of about 18% at around 0.77 miles. Horses are allowed, and the trail is natural-surface. Bikes are not, and the trail is not accessible. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Howard Prairie Dam weather station, about 18 miles away, show July and August highs near 79°F with only two or three wet days a month. Winter brings highs in the mid-30s and regular snow days. Nearby, Tomahawk and Mountain Lakes Loop are both about 3.4 miles away. Doe Point Campground is about 4.6 miles off, and the Mountain Lakes hike is about 4.3 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 Varney 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

      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, 18.6 mi away at 4,567 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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

VARNEY CREEKPhoto: ex_magician, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

VARNEY CREEK

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6.4-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,214 ft elevation gain and loss.

TomahawkPhoto: Holzwerk, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tomahawk

~6 min drive

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Mountain LakesPhoto: james shaw, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mountain Lakes

~8 min drive

3.20-mile out-and-back trail to Mountain Lakes in Oregon with 602 ft gain.

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

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~8 min drive

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Upper Klamath CanoePhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

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

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~9 min drive

3.80-mile out-and-back trail to South Pass Lake in Oregon with 59 feet of elevation gain.

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

VARNEY CREEK SNOMO

~8 min drive

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

Campground Shorefront TrailPhoto: james shaw, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Campground Shorefront Trail

~9 min drive

2.12-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 375 ft elevation gain

Sunset CgPhoto: james shaw, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sunset Cg

~10 min drive

3.60-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 295 ft elevation gain.