Maxwell Sno-Park
​Maxwell Loop to Mountain View & South Maxwell Shelters
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Hike Details:
Mileage: 7.3 mile loop w/ 1,130 ft. elevation gain
Approximate hike time: 3 hours 10 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low on weekdays, medium to high on sunny weekends
General location: 29 miles west of Sisters off of highway OR-22 - Willamette National Forest - Mt. Jefferson Wilderness
Suggested seasons: Winter and early spring
(The sno-park trails are accessible for winter recreation as soon as about 2 feet of snow have accumulated. This sno-park usually melts out around March).
Permits required: Sno-park pass is required from November 1 - April 30
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes
Trail allows: Dogs on leash only, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing
Approximate hike time: 3 hours 10 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low on weekdays, medium to high on sunny weekends
General location: 29 miles west of Sisters off of highway OR-22 - Willamette National Forest - Mt. Jefferson Wilderness
Suggested seasons: Winter and early spring
(The sno-park trails are accessible for winter recreation as soon as about 2 feet of snow have accumulated. This sno-park usually melts out around March).
Permits required: Sno-park pass is required from November 1 - April 30
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes
Trail allows: Dogs on leash only, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing
(map of the entire Maxwell Sno Park - click to enlarge)
Description:
Maxwell Sno-Park is a sno-park between Sisters and Detroit that has many easy and moderate trails. At Maxwell Sno-Park you will find many different loops you can do and there is also Big Springs Sno-Park across the highway if you want even more trails to choose from.
(Oregon sno-park permit)
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One of the most scenic loops at Maxwell Sno-Park is a moderate level 7.3 mile loop that takes you up to two shelters, the Mountain View Shelter and the South Maxwell Shelter.
Maxwell Sno-Park has a very spacious, plowed parking area with a pit toilet. From the parking lot you will take the main green trail to the north for 0.86 easy miles to a junction. The junctions are usually marked with blue signs and/or maps. unfortunately, if the snow isn't very deep, the maps will be too high up to read. It is important to have a map as well as a GPS track with you when you go. At the 3-way junction, continue straight onto the Mountain View Loop trail and continue uphill 1.34 miles to the Mountain View Shelter. |
(view of North Sister through the trees)
The Mountain View Shelter sits up on a flat area where before the trees grew in, you could see amazing views of the Three Sisters and Mt. Washington. Now you can just catch glimpses of the mountains through the growing trees to the south. To the northeast you can see Duffy Butte.
(view of Duffy Butte from Mountain View Shelter)
(Mountain View Shelter)
Mountain View Shelter is a spacious, fully enclosed shelter with lots of windows and a big wood fire stove. The shelter is usually stocked with fire wood, although if you are going late in the season, it is best to bring your own just in case the supply at the shelter has run out. The shelter can sleep about 15 people and there is even a pit toilet close by for convenience.
(the inside of Mountain View Shelter)
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From Mountain View Shelter, you will take the road straight ahead to a gate and there go right on the Cutoff Trail for a total of 2.38 miles (the Cutoff Trail eventually turns right, continue straight on the Maxwell Loop Trail). This trail takes you up and down some small hills and through a beautiful forest, until you reach the South Maxwell Shelter. This is a mostly enclosed shelter with two small windows. The door is a leather flap that you can roll open or closed. After enjoying the shelter, please always pull the leather flap closed so that snow doesn't get into the shelter. The South Maxwell Shelter isn't very spacious and is more of just a warming hut rather than an overnight hut and it also has an awesome wood stove.
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The view from the South Maxwell Shelter is open and you can see the hills of the old cascade crest. Because the shelter faces south, on a sunny day this little area warms up quite nicely and you can sit on wooden stumps outside and soak up some winter sun during your lunch break.
After visiting the South Maxwell Shelter, continue on the Maxwell Loop Trail for another easy 2.5, mostly downhill miles through the woods back to Maxwell Sno-Park.
Overall, this loop is relatively easy. There are a few elevation changes and you do have to pay attention to navigation because there are so many little loops you can take on accident. This trail is definitely a great beginner-intermediate snowshoe trail with some views and a beautiful forest and even the possibility of a winter overnight. Because this is one of the lower elevation sno-parks, it is recommended to do this one in January when we generally have the most snow.
Overall, this loop is relatively easy. There are a few elevation changes and you do have to pay attention to navigation because there are so many little loops you can take on accident. This trail is definitely a great beginner-intermediate snowshoe trail with some views and a beautiful forest and even the possibility of a winter overnight. Because this is one of the lower elevation sno-parks, it is recommended to do this one in January when we generally have the most snow.
Directions:
From Bend
- Drive on US-97 north and take exit 135A to merge onto US-20 west towards Sisters for 20 miles. In the town of Sisters at the roundabout take the 2nd exit and stay on US-20 west for another 25.1 miles. Take a slight right onto OR-22 west towards Detroit for 2.8 miles and then turn Turn right onto NF-080 at a sign for Maxwell Sno-Park. (Total of 51.1 miles)
- Take on OR-22 east towards Detroit Lake/Bend for a total of 77.4 miles then turn left onto NF-080 at a sign for Maxwell Sno-Park. (Total of 81 miles)
- Take OR-126 east for 6.8 miles, at a traffic light use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto OR-126 E/Main St. and continue on OR-126 for 68.2 miles. Shortly after Clear Lake Resort take a slight right and merge onto US-20 east for 3.1 miles then turn left onto OR-22 west towards Detroit for a total of 2.6 miles. Turn right onto NF-080 at a sign for Maxwell Sno-Park. (Total of 82.8 miles)
- Drive I-5 south towards Salem for 45.3 miles, then take exit 253 for OR-22 east toward Detroit Lake/Bend. Take OR-22 east for 77.4 miles then turn left onto NF-080 at a sign for Maxwell Sno-Park. (Total of 124 miles)
- Drive on I-5 north for 170 miles to Eugene. Take exit 194A to merge onto OR-126 east toward Springfield for about 6.6 miles. At a traffic light use the two left lanes to turn left and continue on OR-126 for 72.6 miles. Shortly after Clear Lake Resort, take a slight right onto US-20 east for 3.1 miles and then turn left onto OR-22 west for 2.6 miles towards Detroit, then turn right onto NF-080 at a sign for Maxwell Sno-Park. (Total of 246 miles)
*All pictures unless otherwise marked are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*Disclaimer: the trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense. Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.