Highlights
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 17.2 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,100 feet
Season: July to November
About this Hike
Looking for an adventure off the beaten path? Look no further than Yamsay Mountain – the trailhead is located 90 miles south of Bend and 75 miles north of Klamath Falls.
Yamsay Mountain is a large, gently sloping shield volcano that is hard to notice at first. It ranks 73 on Oregon’s list of 100 highest peaks, coming in at 8,196 feet in elevation. The name is derived from a Klamath word for the north wind. The summit, where a crater was carved by an Ice Age glacier, used to have a fire lookout that was dismantled.
The hike to the top is long and passes through coniferous forest, but the summit is very prominent and offers views from the Three Sisters to Mount Shasta.
Getting There
1. Take Highway 97 to the Silver Lake and Highway 76 junction, and turn east.
2. Pass by the Klamath Forest National Wildlife Refuge and turn onto Forest Service Road 49, which is between mileposts 21 and 22. A sign for Jackson Creek campground is also located at the turnoff.
3. Pass the Jackson Creek Campground road and continue south on FR 49 for 0.3 miles, then turn left on FR 4972.
4. Continue for 1.4 miles and make a left turn onto FR 4973, marked “Marsh View Trail” and “Yamsay Mountain.”
5. Pass the “Short Cut Trail” on the right about 0.1 mile into FR 4973, until the road reaches a fork going straight ahead or hard right; bear to the right. At this point the road becomes overgrown on the sides and can potentially scratch the sides of wider vehicles.
6. Continue on this road for a few additional miles before reaching the trailhead, where there should be room for several vehicles to park.
Take Action
The River Democracy Act proposal would protect Buck Creek, which originates on Yamsay Mountain, as a Wild & Scenic River. Take action to support the River Democracy Act here.
