Mount Scott
​Hike details:
Mileage: 4.4 miles out and back w/ 1,250 ft. elevation gain
Approximate hike time: 1 hour 54 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: High on weekdays, very high on weekends (July-Labor Day) then the crowds drop significantly
Highest elevation: 8,871 ft. Lowest elevation: 7,625 ft.
General location: 60 miles northwest of Klamath Falls - Crater Lake National Park
Suggested seasons: Summer, fall
(Best time to go is September to avoid the crowds and the summer thunderstorms).
Permits required:
Trail allows: NO DOGS!
Possible dangers: Steep drop offs and there can be icy conditions in the fall.
Approximate hike time: 1 hour 54 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: High on weekdays, very high on weekends (July-Labor Day) then the crowds drop significantly
Highest elevation: 8,871 ft. Lowest elevation: 7,625 ft.
General location: 60 miles northwest of Klamath Falls - Crater Lake National Park
Suggested seasons: Summer, fall
(Best time to go is September to avoid the crowds and the summer thunderstorms).
Permits required:
- America The Beautiful Pass or Annual Crater Lake Pass
- Day pass: cars - $30 in the summer (May 22-October 31), $20 in the winter (November 1-May 21). Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15-passenger capacity or less) and all occupants. Good for 7 days.
- Motorcycles - $25 in the summer (May 22-October 31), $15 in the winter (November 1-May 21). Admits one or two passengers on a private, non-commercial motorcycle. Good for 7 days.
- Bicycles & Pedestrians - $15 per individual. Admits one individual with no car (bicyclist, hiker, pedestrian). Youth 15 and under are admitted free of charge. Good for 7 days.
Trail allows: NO DOGS!
Possible dangers: Steep drop offs and there can be icy conditions in the fall.
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Description:Mount Scott is the highest point inside Crater Lake National Park, and the view that you get from the top is absolutely breathtaking! The season to hike to the top of Mount Scott is pretty short since it doesn't open until July and tends to collect snow and ice starting in late September/early October already. The beginning of the trail starts out gradually wrapping around the side of the mountain. The trail is wide pretty much the entire way up, which makes it easy to pass hikers that are coming down.
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(view of Mount Scott from the bottom)
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About 1.25 miles in you will start to get some views of Crater Lake behind you and Mount McLoughlin over to your right. At 1.4 miles you will start to go up some switchbacks. There are a total of 5 switchbacks and the last one is the only spot where the trail is very narrow. Here it looks like the trail was carved into the side of the rock face, so the drop off is very steep, and there tend to be some fallen rocks along the side of the trail. This area is almost always in the shade, especially in the fall, so it can stay icy.
(view of Crater Lake 1.25 miles up)
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(Mount McLoughlin)
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After this short narrow section of trail you will be at the 2 mile point and from here it is a simple 0.25 mile ridge walk over to the fire lookout. The ridgeline offers spectacular views of Mount Thielsen to the north, with the lookout hut in the foreground.
(view to the south from the ridge)
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(view to the north from the ridge)
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The trees up at that high elevation are gnarled and windswept. Early in the fall season you will see icicles hanging from the trees that look like they were created by the wind blowing sideways and sticking water to the sides of the trees. The lookout that stands at the top of Mount Scott was built in 1924 and it is the highest-elevation lookout remaining in Oregon. Over the last 15 years of its life, the original lookout became very loose and could have easily blown off the mountain during a windstorm, so in 1952 it was replaced by the 2-story lookout that stands there now. It is maintained now for emergency use only.
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This hike is an absolute must if you are at Crater Lake National Park. It is short and fairly easy. The only reason it is rated 'moderate' is because of the elevation gain being more than 1,000 ft. and the exposure on that very short section before the ridge. The views of Crater Lake, Mount McLoughlin and Mount Thielsen are so epic it doesn't even look real on a blue sky day. Keep in mind, there is little to no shade along this hike, so a sun hat and sunscreen is a good idea as it is easier to get burned at such a high elevation.
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(view of Crater Lake from the summit)
Directions:
From Medford
- Drive on OR-62 E for a total of 50 miles, then at a Y junction stay right on OR-62 E for another 15.8 miles. Turn left onto Munson Valley Rd/Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway and stay on this road for 3.9 miles. Turn right onto Rim Dr/Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway for a total of 12.1 very windy miles to find the Mount Scott trailhead on your right. (Total of 88.5 miles)
- Drive on US-97 S for 74.5 miles then turn right onto OR-138 W for 14.7 miles. At a sign for Crater Lake National Park turn left onto State Hwy 209/Crater Lake Hwy N/Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway for 9.2 miles. Turn left onto Rim Dr/Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway for 10.9 very windy miles to find the Mount Scott trailhead on your left. (Total of 110 miles)
- Drive I-5 S toward Roseburg for 5.3 miles then take exit 188 for OR-58 toward Oakridge/Klamath Falls and stay on this road for 86.6 miles until you merge onto US-97 S. Stay on US-97 S for a total of 17.9 miles, then turn right onto OR-138 W for 14.7 miles. At a sign for Crater Lake National Park turn left onto State Hwy 209/Crater Lake Hwy N/Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway for 9.2 miles. Turn left onto Rim Dr/Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway for 10.9 very windy miles to find the Mount Scott trailhead on your left. (Total of 147 miles)
- Total of 208 miles via Eugene.
- Total of 251 miles via Eugene.
-This trail write-up was last updated June, 2022-
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*All pictures 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.