Visit Mount Scott in Oregon

Mount Scott is located in the Crater Lake National Park.  Mount Scott is over 8900 feet high.  It is Oregon’s tenth highest peak.  Mount Scott is named after Levi Scott. He came to Oregon in 1844.  He helped develop the Applegate Trail.

The best time to visit Mount Scott is in late summer and early fall.  It is usually in the 60’s on the Mount Scott Trail.  At night the temperature will drop to the 40’s.  In the winter the daytime temperatures are in the 30’s and the nights are in the 10’s.

The Mount Scott Trail can get very dry.  It is a good idea to find out about any fire restriction before you start your exploration.  Mount Scott Trail is a backcountry hiking trail and it gets a lot of rain.  December is the month with the most snow and July has the least rain.

There is a long tour that separates Klamath Falls from the Mount Scott Trail.  Many people like to take this backcountry hiking tour.  This hike puts you close to nature.  The Mount Scott Trail is about average as hiking trails go.  There are an average number of uphill miles and this makes it a nice backcountry hiking trail.  You do not have to be an expert hiker to enjoy this trail.  It is great for the average person wanting to enjoy the wilderness.  The trail is a little over 4 miles long.  The hike will take you 3 to 4 hours.  When you hike the Mount Scott Trail you will climb 1500 feet.  It is the highest peak in the park.  The Mount Scott Trail is what they call a one trailhead trail.  This means you will be hiking in and back out.

The Mount Scott Trail starts along an old road and goes to the southwest face.  There is a lot of loose rock on the north side and it is dangerous.  This makes this area undesirable for hiking.  You will see some white bark pines and red firs at the bottom of the mountain.  Most of the trees on the Mount Scott Trail are hemlocks.  You will recognize them by their droopy tips and short small needles.

After you get past the trees you will come to the rocks, pumice and ash on the trail.  The trail has many switchbacks.  The terrain can be rough so wear proper hiking shoes and take a lot of water and there is none on the trail.

When you get to the top of Mount Scott Trail you have a beautiful view that will make it all worth it.  You will see Mount Thielson, Mount Balley, Diamond Lake, Mount Shasta, the Klamath Basin and many other sites.  You will get a fantastic view of Crater Lake.  Your hike up Mount Scott Trail will be an adventure you will never forget.

Article sources:

http://www.unioncreekoregon.com

http://craterlakeinstitute.com