Hike Oregon
  • Home
  • *Store*
  • About the author
  • How to use this site
  • Resources
    • Videos
  • Best Oregon Hikes
    • Top 10 Oregon Winter Hikes
    • Sno-Parks In Central Oregon
    • Top Low Elevation Winter Hikes
    • 20 Best Oregon Waterfall Hikes
    • Top 10 Oregon Hikes for Kids
    • Top 10 Oregon Spring Hikes
    • Top One Night Backpacking Trips in Oregon
    • 5 Weekend Backpacking Trips in Oregon
    • Top 10 Swimming Spots In Oregon
    • Top 10 Oregon Summer Hikes
    • Top Fall Foliage Hikes In Oregon
    • Top 10 Oregon Fall Hikes
  • Portland
    • Hamilton Mountain
    • Dog Mountain
    • Coyote Wall
    • Mitchell Point
    • Forest Park
    • Powell Butte
    • Table Rock
    • Multnomah/Wahkeena Falls
    • Latourell Falls
    • Trillium Lake
    • East Zigzag Mountain (members only)
  • Salem
    • Abiqua Falls
    • Silver Falls State Park
    • Little North Santiam
    • Henline Falls
    • Opal Creek
    • Whetstone Mountain
    • Marion Lake to Marion Mountain
    • Jefferson Park
    • Olallie Butte (members only)
    • South Breitenbush Gorge (members only)
    • Battle Ax Mountain (members only)
    • Dome Rock and Tumble Lake (members only)
  • Sweet Home
    • Crescent Mountain
    • Iron Mountain
    • McDowell Creek Falls
    • Middle Santiam River (members only)
    • Lower Soda Creek Falls (members only)
    • Rooster Rock (members only)
  • McKenzie Bridge
    • Macduff Mountain
    • Proxy Falls
    • Clear Lake
    • Sahalie/Koosah Falls
    • Blue Pool
    • Erma Bell Lakes
    • Olallie Mountain
    • Horsepasture Mountain
    • Tidbits Mountain
    • Rainbow Falls Overlook (members only)
    • Frissell Point (members only)
    • Chucksney Mountain (members only)
    • Substitute Point (members only)
    • Castle Rock (members only)
  • Sisters/Santiam Pass
    • Coffin Mountain
    • Ray Benson Sno-Park
    • Three Creek Sno-Park
    • Maxwell Sno-Park
    • Potato Hill Sno-Park
    • Black Butte
    • Tam McArthur Rim
    • Three Sisters Loop
    • Black Crater
    • Scott Mountain
    • Obsidian Trail
    • Three Fingered Jack Loop
    • Canyon Creek Meadows
    • Patjens Lakes
    • Chush Falls (members only)
    • Rockpile Lake (members only)
    • Santiam Lake (members only)
    • Camp Lake (members only)
    • Park Meadow to Golden Lake (members only)
  • Bend/Redmond/La Pine
    • Chimney Rock
    • Tumalo State Park
    • Tumalo Falls
    • Tumalo Mountain
    • Broken Top to No Name Lake
    • Green Lakes
    • Moraine Lake
    • South Sister Summit
    • Muskrat Lake
    • Paulina Peak
    • Peter Skene Ogden Trail (members only)
  • Eugene
    • Ridgeline Trail pt. 1
    • Ridgeline Trail pt. 2
    • Mount Pisgah Summit
    • Mount Pisgah Arboretum
    • Shotgun Creek
    • Mt. June
    • Lawler
    • Tire Mountain
    • Goodman Creek
    • Brice Creek
    • Trestle Creek Falls
    • Moon Falls
    • Elijah Bristow State Park
    • South Willamette Trail (members only)
    • Eula Ridge (members only)
    • Eagle's Rest (members only)
  • Oakridge
    • Big Bunchgrass Ridge
    • Gold Lake Sno-Park
    • Deception Creek
    • North Salmon Creek
    • Salt Creek Falls
    • Waldo Lake Loop
    • Rosary Lakes
    • South Waldo Lake loop
    • Fawn Lake Loop
    • Windy Lakes
    • Divide Lake
    • Diamond Peak Summit
    • Timpanogas Lake to Cowhorn Mtn.
    • Wall Creek Warm Springs (members only)
    • Moon Point (members only)
    • The Twins (members only)
    • Bobby Lake (members only)
    • Lillian Falls (members only)
    • Middle Fork Willamette Trail (members only)
    • Pool Creek Falls (members only)
    • Flat Creek to Dead Mountain (members only)
    • Larison Creek (members only)
    • Larison Rock (members only)
    • Eddeeleo Lakes (members only)
    • Waldo Mountain Lookout (members only)
    • Blair Lake to Mule Mountain (members only)
    • Rigdon Lakes loop (members only)
  • Oregon Coast
    • Cascade Head
    • Drift Creek Falls
    • Sweet Creek Falls
    • Alsea Falls
    • Kentucky Falls
    • Marys Peak North Ridge
    • Marys Peak East Ridge
    • Hobbit Trail to Heceta Head
    • Cooks Ridge (members only)
    • Horse Creek (members only)
    • Siltcoos Lake (members only)
    • William Finley Wildlife Refuge (members only)
  • Southern Oregon
    • Fall Creek Falls
    • Watson Falls
    • Mt. Thielsen
    • The Watchman
    • Mount Scott
    • The Pinnacles
    • Lower Table Rock
    • Pilot Rock
    • Wagner Butte
    • Mt. McLoughlin
    • Fern Falls (members only)
  • Eastern Oregon
    • Painted Cove
    • Mount Howard
    • Anthony Lake Loop
    • Schneider Cabin (members only)
    • Strawberry Lake & Falls (members only)
  • Oregon PCT sections
    • PCT: Hwy. 58 to Charlton Lake
    • PCT: Santiam Pass to Rockpile Lake
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Top Tips For Hiking With Infants And Toddlers
    • Poison Oak, Ivy and Sumac
    • How to dress for cold weather hikes
    • Hiker Holiday Gift Guide 2019
    • Outdoor Holiday Gift Guide 2018
    • Hiking Holiday Gift Guide 2017
  • Reviews
    • Outdoor Herbivore Backpacking Food Review
    • Osprey Aura AG 65 Backpack review
    • Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 review
    • REI Quarter Dome 1 review
  • Adventure Stories
    • Hiking The Rae Lakes Loop
    • 110 Miles on the PCT
    • The Loop Around Three Fingered Jack
    • Jefferson Wilderness

Mt. Thielsen

​
Mt. Thielsen climber trail map
Get the printable version of this hike

Hike Details:

Mileage: 9.5 miles out and back w/ 3,750 ft. elevation gain
Approximate hike time: 4 hours 45 minutes w/ an average pace of 2 mph (it is difficult to do this hike much faster than an average of 2 mph)
Difficulty: Difficult to very difficult
Trail usage: Medium
General location: 80 miles northeast of Medford - Umpqua National Forest - Mt. Thielsen Wilderness
Suggested seasons: Summer, fall
(Best time to go is late August, September and October).
Permits required: Self issue wilderness permit Memorial Day - Oct. 31 & Northwest Forest Pass for parking
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes
Trail allows: ​Dogs, camping, horses (up to the PCT), snowshoeing & cross-country skiing
Possible dangers: ​Class 4-5.1 rock climb to summit, loose rocks, afternoon thunderstorms in July and August
Mt. Thielsen trailhead parking lot
(the Mt. Thielsen trailhead parking lot)

Description​:

Mt. Thielsen is a difficult mountain to summit located in the Southern Oregon Cascades. It is honestly more of a climb than a hike, but there are various different stopping points, making sections of this trail attainable for just about everyone. The last 80 feet to the summit are definitely not for the faint of heart and you should have some rock climbing experience before attempting it. 
Mt. Thielsen trailhead
(the Mt. Thielsen trailhead)
The trail starts out through the woods as it gradually heads uphill. The first part of this trail is marked with blue diamonds on the trees because this area is also winter recreation friendly. You will cross seasonal Porcupine Creek and shortly after that, at the 1.4 mile mark, you will come to a trail junction.
Mt. Thielsen Trail 1456
Mt. Thielsen Wilderness sign
Spruce Ridge Trail junction sign
The trail to the left is the Spruce Ridge Trail, which in 2.5 miles will take you to the Howlock Mountain Trail (also a popular hike). You will follow the Mt. Thielsen Trail sign and continue straight. At the 3.75 mile mark you will have already gained 1,930 ft. of elevation and that is when you will come to the Pacific Crest Trail junction. To the left you will see PCT northbound and to the right PCT southbound. If you do not want to summit Mt. Thielsen but you want to enjoy the views and possibly also some backpacking, you can head northbound for just a little over 2 miles to Thielsen Creek, a beautiful camp spot along the PCT with a nice view of the mountain. 
Mt. Thielsen and PCT intersection
(sign at the PCT junction)
If you want to keep going on the Mt. Thielsen climber trail, continue straight through the PCT intersection. Just a little ways up the trail you will find an awesome viewpoint. This is where most people who do not want to summit the mountain will stop, enjoy a snack or lunch and turn around. At this point you will have gone 3.8 miles already, making it an 7.6 mile moderate level hike. 
Mt. Thielsen view from PCT trail junction
(Mt. Thielsen viewpoint - good turn around spot if you don't want to summit)
Mt. Thielsen climber trail
After the viewpoint is where the trail starts getting a little bit faint. There are multiple foot paths winding through the small trees until you get above tree line. From there on out it is just rocks and you have to know where you are going, otherwise you can easily end up on the wrong side of the mountain, which is not safe!
Taking a picture of Mt. Thielsen climber trail
Mt. Thielsen rock formations
Mt. Thielsen rock formations
Mt. Thielsen rock formations
Mt. Thielsen rock formations
Above timberline you will start seeing all of the really neat rock formations that you don't really get to see when looking at the mountain from a distance. These large rock spires are red, orange and have slight hues of blue in them as well. 
Mt. Thielsen climber trail is very steep
(this picture is a good depiction of just how steep it is)
Rock wall Mt. Thielsen
(the "rock wall" you need to climb to stay on the climbers route)
The rocky slopes of Mt. Thielsen are slippery and incredibly steep! At the 4.45 mile mark, the trail no longer becomes obvious at all as you are faced with what looks like a rock wall. It is not intuitive to want to climb up this, but this is indeed the route to take. If you take what looks like the "safer" route to the right, you will end up in a sliding scree field that is incredibly difficult to cross without sliding hundreds of feet downhill. Climbing up this "rock wall" is treacherous because the rocks are loose. If other hikers are coming down as you are going up, be very careful as their footsteps can send rocks flying at your head. There are many hikers who climb Thielsen with helmets for this exact reason. 
climbing up Mt. Thielsen's rock wall
Top of Mt. Thielsen's rock wall view of Diamond Lake and Mount Bailey
view of Diamond Lake and OR-230 from Mt. Thielsen
After getting up the "rock wall" you will start seeing some rock cairns, as well as Thielsen's 80 foot spire. From here the trail wraps around the spire to the right as you climb up to what's known as "Chicken's Ledge". If you have made it to this point, you are by no means a chicken! It is quite an accomplishment to make it that far up the mountain and the views are incredible from 9,100 ft.!
Chicken's Ledge Mt. Thielsen
(wrapping around the right side of the spire to Chicken's Ledge)
Mt. Thielsen's spire
(view of the spire from Chicken's Ledge - picture by Shaylene Murry)
survey marker Mt. Thielsen summit
(geological survey market at the summit - picture taken by Nicole Butterfield)
If you are brave and skilled enough, from "Chicken's Ledge" you can continue on the last 80 feet up to the summit. This is a class 4-5.1 rock climb and you will have to be able to go up and come back down on your own. Some folks do bring ropes for this section. This is definitely NOT for the faint of heart and even just sitting at chicken's ledge can make most people dizzy. A fall from the spire can easily cost you your life. The summit of Mt. Thielsen is not very big, so be careful if there are a lot of people climbing up at one time. From the top you will have 360 degree views of all of Southern Oregon. You can see Mt. Bailey (which looks so tiny from up there), Diamond Lake, the rim of Crater Lake, Mt. McLoughlin, Mt. Shasta, Tipsoo Peak, Diamond Peak and on a very clear day even the Three Sisters. 
Mount Bailey and Diamond Lake from the summit of Mt. Thielsen
(Mount Bailey & Diamond Lake from the summit - picture taken by Nicole Butterfield)
Steep drop off from Mt. Thielsen summit
(steep drop off from the summit of Mt. Thielsen - picture taken by Nicole Butterfield)
If you have summited Mt. Thielsen, congratulations! It is one of the toughest Oregon Cascade mountains to climb. Be careful coming down the mountain as the rocks are loose and slippery and one can easily slip and fall, especially after the adrenaline rush from climbing the spire. Having collapsible trekking poles really help for climbs like this one because as soon as you have to use 3 points of contact, you can easily put your poles away. 
Mt. Thielsen summit view
(Mt. Thielsen summit view - picture taken by Nicole Butterfield)
person on top of Mt. Thielsen
(a person on top of Mt. Thielsen's spire)
Overall, Mt. Thielsen's summit is not for the faint of heart or the inexperienced climber, but don't be discouraged if you didn't make it to the summit. There are so many stopping points along the way if the rocks, the steepness or the heights make it feel unsafe, or if weather conditions change. Mt. Thielsen is known as the Lightning Rod of the Cascades and in the months of July and August there are frequent afternoon 
thunderstorms. Do not get caught above tree line during a storm! This summit climb is rated very difficult because of the lack of obvious trail, the loose rocks, and the class 4-5.1 rock climb you have to do to reach the top. ​
Mount Bailey and Diamond Lake from Mt. Thielsen

Directions:

From Medford
  • Drive on OR-62 E for a total of 49.5 miles, then at a fork take a slight left onto OR-230 N and stay on this road for 23.8 miles. Turn left onto OR-138 W for 1.5 miles and find the trailhead on your right. (Total of 81.8 miles)
From Bend
  • Drive on US-97 S for 74.5 miles, then turn right onto OR-138 W and stay on this road for 19.2 miles. Find the trailhead parking lot on your right. (Total of 94.3 miles)
From Eugene
  • Drive on OR-58 for 86.2 miles, then merge onto US-97 S and stay on this road for 17.9 miles. Turn right onto OR-138 W and stay on this road for 19.2 miles. Find the trailhead parking lot on your right. (Total of 131 miles)
From Salem
  • Total of 192 miles via Eugene.
From Portland
  • ​Total of 236 miles via Eugene.
*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.

HIKED HERE RECENTLY?! PLEASE LEAVE A TRIP REPORT BELOW:

© Hike Oregon 2020
P.O. Box 41911
​Eugene, OR 97404
Proudly powered by Weebly