Oregon · Hiking

Willow Prairie North Loop

10.5 mi
round trip
2,159 ft
climb
4,430 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Willow Prairie North Loop open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in High Cascades Ranger District. It doesn't name Willow Prairie North Loop, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Willow Prairie North Loop is a 10.5-mile out-and-back hike in the High Cascades Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests in southern Oregon, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is rated hard, with a total elevation gain of 2,159 feet over the round trip. The route starts at about 4,416 feet and reaches a high point of 4,430 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 3.7 miles in, where the grade reaches 30%. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Howard Prairie Dam weather station show July and August highs around 79°F with only two or three wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and regular snow days. The trail is on natural surface and allows bikes. It is not an accessible route. Willow Prairie Horsecamp and Willow Prairie Cabin sit about 0.1 mile away, and the Willow Prairie East Loop is about half a mile off. North Fork Campground is about 2.5 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 Willow Prairie North Loop

    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, 12.2 mi away at 4,567 ft. 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

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