Mount McLoughlin Summit: Everything You Need to Know

Mount McLoughlin is one of my favorite mountains to summit on Oregon, yet the trail is one of the more difficult trails to follow. It doesn’t take much to end up off trail on Mount McLoughlin. Thats even when you know what to look out for. The views from the top are amazing and it’s a really fun, but doable climb.

I made the summit in 2020 on an Oregon road trip. I arrived at the trailhead around 5pm expecting to make dinner and sleep before waking up for a sunrise hike. When I arrived at the trailhead though there were signs saying the trailhead was closed the next day for trail repair. That meant I had to quickly gather my belongings and prepared for a sunset hike right then. But I didn’t want to miss out on this mountain so I went for it.

Not to mention there were signs all over stating there was a recent cougar sighting there making me a bit nervous for hiking back in the dark. I spent the entire hike back banging my poles in the dark, waking up every creature around making sure the cougar knew I was there. But I felt safe and manage to still bag the peak.

Summiting Mount McLoughlin was really hard for me. I wasn’t mentally ready to hike that day so I think I was a little more tired than normal. The hike up follows a ridge, but there was still some route finding and boulder climbing combined with the urgency to reach the summit. It was so rewarding getting to watch the sky change colors and feeling like I was on top of the world to witness it. It was one of my favourite moments from that summer and now I want to share my trail knowledge and experience with you all.

This post contains affiliate links, which can earn me a commission should you click a link and make a purchase. Thank you in advance for your support!

Things to Know About Summiting Mount McLoughlin

• You should never attempt a summit without checking the weather forecast prior. Weather on a mountain can change quickly and is very unforgiving. Being stuck in a rain or snow storm can be deadly. If there is summer thunder you will have no shelter. Always go prepared and check the weather in advance and as close to your hike start time as possible. If there is any chance of poor weather conditions, do not hike.

• You do not want to attempt this hike without a GPS or pre downloaded map. Every year people get lost or disoriented climbing down this mountain, requiring rescue. It is extremely easy to get off trail and get stuck so have a downloaded map. I ended up off trail a few times despite knowing this fact. I relied on my GPS map every time to help guide me back to the trail. Be safe and go prepared.

• Water, water, water! There are no water sources on this trail so you will need to carry all your water supply from the trailhead. It‘a so important to have an appropriate amount of water. You should consume a liter for every 2 hours of hiking. A small water bottle or a shared water supply will not be enough. Plan to carry more than the recommended amount. You will be exposed to the summer sun and exerting yourself much more than a normal hike.

• Always practice Leave No Trace Principles while on trail. Mountain terrains are harsh, so be respectful of the plants growing by not stepping on or picking them. Never carve on rocks or trees, do not approach of feed wildlife and always pack out your trash.

• Be sure to never stack rocks on the trail. If you see stacked rocks they are placed by forest rangers to mark the trail and are known as cairns. Stacking rocks can confuse hikers on the proper route. Only forest service employees should be stacking rocks to mark the trail.

Leave No Trace Principles

Be sure to know and follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles on trail. It’s so important to help protect these beautiful places we love and enjoy. Make sure you know these principles before going out on a hike.

• Plan Ahead and Prepare: Always check for current weather updates and educate yourself on trail conditions prior to starting a hike. Look for recent reviews or call the local ranger station for up-to-date trail information like closures, recent wildlife and road conditions. 

• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Stick to the trail. Avoid going off trail unless it’s to go to the bathroom. You can capture amazing photos from the trail. Do not cut switchbacks. Stepping off trail can cause years of damage with just one simple step. Camp in exciting campsites rather than over vegetation.  

• Dispose of Waste Properly: Pack out all trash and food scraps. Never toss food items on the ground. It is harmful to the wildlife. Properly dispose of human waste by digging a cat hole at least 6 inches deep and burying human waste. Bring a wag back to pack it out in fragile alpine terrain. Never leave toilet paper or feminine hygiene products behind. Being a bag and pack them out to dispose of properly. Same goes for dog poop. Properly burry it or pack it back out to dispose of. Do not leave dog poop bags on the side of the trail. They are easy to forget, animals can get into them and other hikers don’t want to see them. 

• Leave What You Find: Do not take objects like plant off trail with you. Preserve nature by not marking on rocks or harming any natural objects. Never pick wildflowers. It is illegal in many states. 

• Minimize Campfire Impacts: Check and follow all local wildfire regulations. Use exciting fire rings and keep fires small. Put fires out properly by dousing will multiple gallons of water. Coals should be cool to the touch before walking away. 

• Respect Wildlife: Never touch, feed or approach wildlife. Give a minimum of 25 yards to all wildlife and a minimum or 100 yard for predators and larger wildlife. Wildlife are not like house pets. They can spook easily or feel threatened. Stay in your car if wildlife is near the road.

• Be Considerate of Others : Respect other hikers by allowing those that hike faster to pass. Uphill hikers have the right of way, so safely step aside for them to pass, unless they offer to stop first. Limit noise and use headphones. Keep groups under 8. Say hello to a fellow hiker!

Mount McLoughlin Trailhead Location

Mount McLoughlin is located in Southern Oregon, and hour northwest of Klamath Falls and an hour west of Medford. The summit has amazing views of Upper Klammath Lake in the distance. To reach the trailhead you’ll need to take Lake of the Woods Highway and turn on Fourmile Lake Road. The trailhead is before you reach Fourmile Lake, off NF-3650.

Best Time of Year to Hike Mount McLoughlin

In the winter months, Mount McLoughlin is covered in snow. You should only attempt a winter summit if you have extensive backcountry training and winter mountain skills. There will be snow on the trail until late summer. The best time to summit is late July through September to avoid snow covered trails. The trail to the summit can be difficult to follow. Being able to properly see the trail will help prevent going off course.

Mount McLoughlin Trail Information

I’m going to start by saying how easy this trail is to get off trail once you leave the tree line. Every year people get lost and need rescuing so despite me doing my best to explain what to look for, ALWAYS carry a GPS map with you so you can refer to it regularly. If you do not have an active GPS map you can follow you will have a hard time finding the trail again because it is not easy to follow to begin with.

With that said, it’s a really fun climb and if you go prepared and educated, you should be fine! I went off trail multiple times on accident, thinking I was on trail until it became clear I actually wasn’t. I was calm, looked at my map and easily worked my way back to the actual trail. Make the safe, smart choice and pre download a map through an app like all trails or Gaia.

From the parking lot, the trail up Mount McLoughlin begins as a relatively level trail. There is a footbridge over the creek next to the parking lot and it is roughly .9 miles before the junction with the PCT. The trail will take you along the PCT for about .4 miles before you hit the junction with the Mt McLoughlin Trail, which takes you to the summit. From this second junction it is 3 miles to the summit and where the elevation begins.

The trail will continue to wind through the beautiful forest as you climb uphill. You will eventually begin to pop out of the tree line on the ridge/spine where you climb to the summit. From this ridge you will be able to see Fourmile Lake below and Upper Klammath Lake in the distance. This is going to be extremely important to remember on the way down, take note of the views on the way up and familiarize yourself with Fourmile Lake, you must be able to see it the entire climb down or you are off trail.

Once you reach the boulder section out of the tree line, the trail is a strange mix of easy to follow and route finding. You know you need to keep heading up the ridge, so if you think you’re off trail, make the safest route up until you find the trail again if you ever feel off. You will find yourself climbing over and under large boulders at times, but I never felt unsafe.

Someone has come through and marked rocks with white paint dots. Although I do not agree with this method, use those marked rocks to help guide you up and down the summit. You can also keep your eye out for cairns, stacked rock piles, to help mark the trail.

When you reach Mount McLoughlin’s summit there is a summit box you can check out. When I went there was a journal to mark your name and a cardboard summit sign I took a photo with. I stayed at the summit for a while soaking in the amazing views and exploring the area. The summit is a rather large boulder pile so you can climb around them a bit. When you decide you’re ready to head back down be sure to get yourself well oriented and have your map ready.

The Decent of Mount McLoughlin

Start by standing where you came up at looking out over the Fourmile Lake. Look at the lake and familiarize yourself with that view because you need to see it the entire way day. You want to make sure you stick to the ridge/spine you came up on and not head to the south side of the ridge. If you do you will find yourself on the sandy, cinder slope side of the mountain. I will tell you, this side of the mountain is steep with very loose sand, making it difficult to move through.

The few times I found myself too far that way it was slow cautious steps to get myself back to the rocky ridge without slipping farther down the south side. If you find yourself too far south and off trail, remain calm, use your map and find the safest route back to the trail. You will have to walk through loose sand and steep sections. Constantly check you map and use your eyes to look for the lake. If you ever lose sight of it get your map out ASAP to help guide you back.

At this point in my decent it was getting dark. I was nervous about getting back on the visible trail and to the tree line quickly before it got dark. I knew once I made it to the trees I could follow the trail in the dark much easier. Once I found the trail, I looked for the white paint and more obvious trail. It became dark here so I used my head lamp to help navigate the rest of the trail. It was easy to follow in the dark and if you’re hiking in the daylight it’ll be just as easy as the way in.

Be sure to pay attention to the signs once you reach the PCT. You will need to turn off the PCT in .4 miles after you start on it to get back to the trailhead. It’s easy to get in a zone at this point in a hike. Be aware of that junction or you’ll find yourself going south on the PCT for miles. Once you hit the final junction it’s just under a mile back to the trailhead.

What to Bring to Summit Mount McLoughlin

Always carry your 10 essentials in your backpack, but especially on a long summit hike. Anything can happen causing you to get stuck overnight on trail. Always be prepared to spend the night on trail. LEarn more about the 10 essentials in my guide, here.

Backpack

Every person hiking should always have their own backpack with water, the 10 essentials and food. Never rely on someone else to carry your gear because if there is an emergency, everyone should be individually prepared.

Water and water filter

There is nowhere to resupply water on this hike, so plan to carry enough for the entire hike. Plan to have one liter of water per 2 hours of hiking, but because this is a difficult hike, carry at least an extra .5 per two hours. A water bladder is a great option to be able to carry a larger amount of water and easily be able to drink throughout the hike. If you don’t think a bladder is enough, you can bring an extra water bottle or multiple large nalgene bottles.

Light Source

You should have a light source in your 10 essentials. If you’re attempting this hike for sunrise or sunset like I did, you need to have a good headlamp. Make sure it has no less than 600 lumens or it won’t produce enough light to see the trail in the dark. Mine is one of the highest amounts at 900 lumens.

Hiking Shoes

Always wear proper shoes when hiking. This means trail runners or hiking boots because they will provide the best traction over rocks and loose terrain. Sandals and tennis shoes are not great footwear for the trail. The trail was free of snow when I went so I did not need waterproof shoes. I chose my trail runners below, but hiking boots are a great option for ankle stability. If you’re hiking in early summer and there is still snow on the trail, a waterproof shoe will be best.

Electrolytes

You should carry electrolytes of some sort on a more strenuous hike like this. Your body is exerting itself and more likely to sweat out your water. Having electrolytes will help you stay well hydrated and energized on the trail. There are a lot of different options for electrolytes, but the two most common are powders mixed into water like Nuun or chewables like Bloks.

Technology

Hiking with technology outside your phone is definitely a luxury not everyone has. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to purchase two really important pieces of equipment that are a must for me on mountain summit hikes. The first is my Garmin watch to help me track my distance and elevation throughout the hike. It even has solar power abilities so it was last longer. You’ll rarely find me hiking without it. The next is my Garmin GPS to help me stay in contact when I’m out of cell service. It is key for helping me if I ever get lost and do need to contact search and rescue.

Reminders

Carrying a GPS or a downloaded digital map should be common practice but do not attempt this hike without a digital map. Because of how easy it is to get off trail and how difficult the trail can be to follow past the tree line, having an active map is a must for this hike. You can download one from apps like Alltrails or Gaia to constantly check your location and the trail. You’ll be so thankful you have it should you end up going off trail even slightly.

Always tell someone where you’re going, when you intend to be back and what time to contact support if you don’t return. This is safe practice with any hike but especially a mountain summit like Mount McLoughlin.

Mount McLoughling is a fun, challenging and rewarding climb. Be sure you are prepared for the trail and I hope this guide helps you with your adventure to summit Mount McLoughlin ! If you have any further questions or want to share your experience after, please leave a comment below!

Like it? Pin it!

Other Oregon Summits

Strawberry Mountain Wilderness: A Mountain Summit Guide

Steens Mountains: Everything You Need to Know About Before Visiting

*all mileage and elevation are estimates from personal data and information found online.