Climbing Mount McLoughlin in Southern Oregon: Everything You Need to Know
A dormant steep-sided stratovolcano in the Cascade Range of southern Oregon and within the Sky Lakes Wilderness, Mount Loughlin is a volcanic peak in the Rogue River Valley.
Named after John McLoughlin, a Chief Factor for the Hudson’s Bay Company in around 1938 it has been a landmark to Native American populations for thousands of years.
Before its last volcanic activity, three major eruptions occurred between 30,000 and 20,000 years ago.
It is not currently monitored for activity or deformation. Subject to frequent snowfall and temperature fluctuations between seasons, diverse species of flora and fauna inhabit the area.
Mount McLoughlin Trail #3716
While most of the volcano lies in Jackson County, the eastern side of its base is in Klamath County. Skirting the eastern and northern sides of Mount Loughlin, the 6-mile (9.7 km) Pacific Crest trail is the only trail to the summit, but the mountain can also be skied.
Reaching an elevation of 9,493 feet (2,893 m), Mount Loghlin- the 12th highest peak in Oregon, is the highest volcano in the Cascade Range and lies between Mount Shasta 70 miles (110 km) south and South Sister 120 miles (190 km) north.
Two Tip peaks- Wilámxa and Máalsi, rise to elevations of 7,179 feet (2,188 m) and 7,638 feet (2,328 m) respectively.
Mount McLoughlin Geography
Featuring warm, dry summers in the day and cool nights, winters are snowy and moisture is limited between June and October- barring occasional thunderstorms, making the growing season between ice thawing and drought short.
At medium elevations, precipitation does not exceed 40 inches (100 cm) but increases to 80 to 90 inches (200 to 230 cm)- mainly of snowfall, at greater heights.
Several lakes surround the base, including the Lake of the Woods, Fourmile Lake, and the Upper Klamath Lake, the biggest freshwater body in the state, sits to the east and the small Summit Lake is on the northern slope between the Rogue River and the Klamath Basin.
A tributary of the Rogue River, the Big Butte Creek, drains the northwestern part while the south is fed by the Little Butte Creek.
Mount McLoughlin Weather
| Weather Condition | Comport | Precipitation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | Condition | Temperature | Amount | Rain Chance | Wind | Humidity | Pressure | |
|
Today
12:00 pm
|
16° | 29°°F | 0.04 inch | 100% | 7 mph | 87 % | 1025 hPa | ||
|
Tomorrow
12:00 pm
|
24° | 30°°F | 0.04 inch | 100% | 7 mph | 94 % | 1018 hPa | ||
|
Tuesday
12:00 pm
|
24° | 33°°F | 0.01 inch | 31% | 7 mph | 95 % | 1025 hPa | ||
|
Wednesday
12:00 pm
|
25° | 37°°F | 0.01 inch | 20% | 7 mph | 92 % | 1023 hPa | ||
|
Thursday
12:00 pm
|
30° | 41°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 8 mph | 91 % | 1022 hPa | ||
|
Friday
12:00 pm
|
28° | 43°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 9 mph | 84 % | 1017 hPa | ||
|
Saturday
12:00 pm
|
26° | 40°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 8 mph | 77 % | 1018 hPa | ||
|
Sunday
12:00 pm
|
33° | 37°°F | 0.04 inch | 100% | 6 mph | 95 % | 1017 hPa | ||
| Weather Condition | Comport | Precipitation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | Condition | Temperature | Amount | Rain Chance | Wind | Humidity | Pressure | |
|
Today
5:00 am
|
18° | | 0 inch | 0% | 3 mph | 99 % | 1029 hPa | ||
|
Today
6:00 am
|
17° | | 0 inch | 0% | 3 mph | 98 % | 1029 hPa | ||
|
Today
7:00 am
|
16° | | 0 inch | 0% | 3 mph | 98 % | 1029 hPa | ||
|
Today
8:00 am
|
16° | | 0 inch | 0% | 4 mph | 97 % | 1030 hPa | ||
|
Today
9:00 am
|
21° | | 0 inch | 0% | 4 mph | 94 % | 1028 hPa | ||
|
Today
10:00 am
|
25° | | 0 inch | 0% | 4 mph | 90 % | 1027 hPa | ||
|
Today
11:00 am
|
27° | | 0 inch | 0% | 4 mph | 87 % | 1026 hPa | ||
|
Today
12:00 pm
|
28° | | 0 inch | 0% | 4 mph | 87 % | 1025 hPa | ||
|
Today
1:00 pm
|
29° | | 0 inch | 0% | 5 mph | 86 % | 1024 hPa | ||
|
Today
2:00 pm
|
29° | | 0 inch | 0% | 6 mph | 87 % | 1023 hPa | ||
|
Today
3:00 pm
|
28° | | 0 inch | 0% | 5 mph | 90 % | 1022 hPa | ||
|
Today
4:00 pm
|
25° | | 0.01 inch | 20% | 5 mph | 95 % | 1023 hPa | ||
Hikers Guide To Mount McLoughlin
Smaller than other peaks in Oregon’s Cascade range such as Mount Hood, the Three Sisters, and Mount Jefferson, Mount Loughlin is the 12th highest in the state, but dominates the Southern Oregon landscape.
The volcano’s conical shape is a beautiful sight when mantled with snow, but hikers have a relatively long season- stretching well into fall, to attempt the summit.
Starting out on the level, the trail turns into a relentlessly steep hike over the final two-thirds and has a loose and rocky tread. As the summit gets nearer, hands will be needed for short scrambles. Extending from the Three Sisters to Mount Shasta and Mount Lassen, hikers are rewarded with a picturesque view from the top on a clear day.
Starting early and allowing a lot of time is a good idea as the initial section of the descent will be slow. Although fit hikers generally take six to seven hours, average hikers may be hiking for up to nine hours. Useful information about Mount McLoughlin includes:
- Hike Type: In and out
- Season: Late spring to mid-fall
- Distance: 9.6 miles
- Elevation gain: 3920 feet
- Highest point: 9,495 feet
- Starting point: Mount McLoughlin Trailhead
- End point: Mount McLoughlin
- Difficulty: Difficult
The trail is generally crowded but is not family-friendly or backpackable.
Mount Loughlin Trail Path #3716
Entering the woods at a “No Bicycles” sign at the lower end of the parking area, just after the trail starts you’ll cross the steep-sided Cascade Canal, built to convey water from Fourmile Lake to Fish Lake and from there to the Rogue Valley’s agricultural areas. It’s a bit of a scramble because the bridge has been taken out here but the canal should be dry.
Containing mainly Shasta red fir with some grand fir, western white pine, and mountain hemlock, while in the forest you will pass through small glades of goldenrod, lupine, and penstemon before reaching the Sky Lakes Wilderness where there is a a warning map similar to the one at the trailhead.
As they descend, hikers often drop from the summit on a steep snow/scree slope but it eventually carries them far from the trail. Stick to the same route you ascended on.
As you reach the first junction with the Pacific Crest Trail there are large red firs, squirrels, and chipmunks to be seen as you gradually rise to the now-signed junction with the Freye Lake Trail.
The little lake can’t be seen because it’s over the rise to the north but you’ll reach the junction where the Pacific Crest Trail heads north. At this point, the summit is about three miles further.
Take the left fork and follow an undulating grade in and out of gullies. Mountain hemlock starts dominating the forest mix and the tread gets steeper and rockier.
Glimpses of Fourmile Lake and its little companion Swan Lake (formerly Squaw Lake) backed by Peak 6564 can be seen in the northeast and white-painted arrows and spots on the rocks start marking the route.
As you wind up the ridge, there are many uneven step-ups while “4.0” [miles] is painted on a boulder below a tumbling boulder slope.
Good views will start appearing to the south, of the Lake of the Woods, nestled below the peaks of the Mountain Lakes Wilderness. Brown Mountain with its lava flow and Fish Lake can also be seen.
Whitebark pines- now contorted, appear, as a reminder that the timberline is near while small mats of pinemat manzanita and common juniper can be found among the rocks. If you’re lucky, Golden-mantled ground squirrels may show themselves.
With its volcanic formations, Mount McLoughlin’s rugged northeast ridge is a fascinating spectacle. The peaks at Crater Lake and Mount Thielsen become visible to the north while Saddle Mountain can be seen in the ease across the vast expanse of Upper Klamath Lake. The summit will be visible as yellow posts mark the official route.
From here, keep just south of the ridge crest. Hiking above the timberline, Mount Shasta and Mount Lassen can be made out and over the last section you will alternate between sand and rock scrambles as different routes braid in and out of the main path. There could even be a remnant of the old lookout wire.
In the summit area, the first hump hosts the foundation of what was once a stone lookout shelter that was built after the wood cabin of the first lookout was destroyed by fierce winds.
Cables and wires related to the lookout will be visible between this hump and the second one. Views extend north all the way to South Sister on a very clear day.
On the summit, have fun before carefully picking your way down the same way you came up.
Tips For Climbing Mount McLoughlin
Staying safe and being prepared will make the Mount McLoughlin trail hike much more pleasant and help avoid any potential problems. When climbing Mount McLoughlin:
- Get a copy of the Informational Map (PDF): Study it and use it to plan out the day. Don’t forget to take a copy with you on the hike.
- Ascending Mt. McLoughlin: From the trailhead to the top of the peak, you will experience an elevation gain of about 4,000 feet. Be prepared for this.
- Carry enough liquids for your needs: There is no water along the summit trail.
- Blazed trees can function as trail markers: After the trail leaves the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail behind (about 1.5 miles from the parking lot trailhead), it runs through a boulder-strewn forest.
- Look out for piled-up rock cairns above the timberline: These can also mark the route to the ridgetop summit route.
- Spot the old Forest Service telephone poles along the ridge: These will lead you to the top.
- Horses are not advised for the trail above its junction with the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail as the steep slopes, poor footing, and coarse bare rock could pose problems for them.
- Descending Mt. McLoughlin: Especially if it’s getting late and the light is fading, the trail can be difficult to follow. Stay alert, look for trail blazes and familiar landmarks but remember to look back up the trail occasionally to help you stay on it as you go down.
- If you lose the trail and can’t find it again: Travelling east or southeast (which will take you either to the Pacific Crest Trail or Highway 140) are the best directions to follow.
- Stay on the same route descending as you took on the way up: CAUTION! Several people get disoriented or lost on the way back down every year, usually because they come down a different route than they used when climbing the mountain.
- Avoid descending the sandy, cinder slope on the south side of the mountain: The lower you go on this slope, the farther away you are from the trail. It is a 2-mile, boulder-hopping hike northeast back to the trail after the timberline.
- Return down the ridge, keeping the poles in sight until the trail leaves the ridge to avoid getting disoriented or lost.
- Weather: While summers are usually mild at the mountain’s base, the summit experiences cold winds, driving rains, lightning, and snow storms. Be prepared for weather changes. Bring warm, rain-repellant clothing and know the symptoms and treatment of hypothermia.