Highlights
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Distance: 8 miles (or shorter)
Elevation Gain: 800 feet
Season: Late summer best to avoid mosquitos
Notes: This hike is featured in “Oregon’s Ancient Forests: A hiking guide” – Get the book here!
About this Hike
Brown Mountain and the ten-thousand-acre roadless area surrounding it sit unassumingly between Lake of the Woods and Fish Lake, two popular summer camping and recreation destinations. Better known for the section of the Pacific Crest Trail that crosses Brown Mountain’s lava flow, the east and south flanks of the cinder cone actually support a tremendously diverse ancient forest teeming with wildlife.
For a shuttle hike, leave one car at the South Brown Mountain Trailhead, then start at the main trailhead near Lake of the Woods. Start out by going left on the joined Brown Mountain and High Lakes Trail, paralleling the road at first and then crossing a creek surrounded by yew trees just before a trail junction at 0.6 mile. Here, a sign directs you to turn left to follow the Brown Mountain Trail. Enjoy impressive Shasta red fir and a mix of other conifers and shrubs, pass through boggy areas with yew trees and spruce, and note the transition of the forest as you gain elevation and eventually reach the Pacific Crest Trail at about the 4.5 mile mark. Over the next mile or so you’ll cross two small roads (turn right to find the trail again on the other side of both), then follow South Fork Little Butte Creek (proposed Wild & Scenic River) through a spectacular Douglas-fir forest to the western trailhead.
An out-and-back hike up to the PCT from either trailhead offers additional non-shuttle options, or shorten the hike by going just as far as you like.
Getting There
From Medford, take Crater Lake Highway (Oregon Route 62) north for 6 miles; then turn right on OR 140. Follow OR 140 for 28 miles toward Lake of the Woods.
To leave a car at the South Brown Mountain Trailhead for a shuttle hike, turn right (south) on Big Elk Road (Forest Road 37) just before Fish Lake. Go 2 miles; then turn left on FR 3705. Follow this paved, one-lane road for 3.2 miles, ignoring side roads with signs for Brown Mountain Trail, to the trailhead at a large pullout on the right.
To drive to the main Brown Mountain Trailhead to begin the hike, continue east on OR 140 past Fish Lake, 7 miles past the FR 37 turnoff, and turn right (south) on FR 3601 between mileposts 35 and 36. Turn right on FR 3640 right away, and find the trailhead 0.4 mile down the road.
Take Action
The River Democracy Act proposal would protect South Fork Little Butte Creek as a Wild & Scenic River. Take action to support the River Democracy Act here.
