South Fork Desolation Trail
Hard · IvyUmatilla National Forest, Oregon
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Add the first12.8 km7.9 mi
Distance
724 m2375 ft
Elevation gain
4h 5m
Est. time
Route
Route type
What to expect on this trail
- Natural surface
- Moderate climbs
- Hiking
- Running
How these were worked out
- Natural surfacerecorded
- OpenStreetMap records the surface of this trail as "ground". Source: OpenStreetMap, high confidence.
- Moderate climbsestimated
- Nine tenths of this trail is at or below a 13.6% grade, which is steady work rather than scrambling. Source: DEM terrain profile, high confidence.
Biking is not listed. That means no explicit permission is recorded, which is not the same as a prohibition — see the bike section below.
Ivy's Peak Challenge Steep, long, or rough. Experienced hikers will love it.
About this trail
South Fork Desolation Trail is a 12.8 km trail in Oregon. Route imported from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); community descriptions, photos, and condition reports welcome.
Play the route
Fly the trail end to end, with the climb as it comes.
Conditions
Loading forecast…
Elevation profile
Terrain sampled every 35 m from public elevation data.
- Descent
- 66 m
- High point
- 2272 m
- 90th percentile grade
- 13.6%
Bike access & suitability
Legal permission and physical difficulty are evaluated separately.
Legal access
Confirm before riding
No authoritative or explicit bicycle-access rule is recorded for this trail.
Estimated MTB suitability
Difficult
53% confidence - score 51/100
- - Terrain: 13.6% 90th-percentile grade and 57 m climbing per km.
- - Surface: ground.
Source: No access source recorded - checked Aug 2, 2026 - rules v2
Posted signs and current land-manager closures always override OpenTrail.
Report incorrect bike access
Connecting trails
Trails whose path meets this one — plan a longer route or a loop.
Trails nearby
Other routes within about 15 km.
- 3.1 km away
Lost Lake Trail
Moderate · AceUmatilla National Forest, Oregon
5.68 km · 2h 0m · ↑ 460 m
- 3.2 km away
Lake Creek Trail
Hard · IvyNorth Fork John Day Wilderness, Oregon
10.97 km · 2h 50m · ↑ 251 m
- 6.1 km away
Princess Trail
Easy · FernMalheur National Forest, Oregon
2.27 km · 35m · ↑ 56 m
- 7.3 km away
Saddle Camp Trail
Moderate · AceNorth Fork John Day Wilderness - Greenhorn Unit, Oregon
4.52 km · 1h 35m · ↑ 325 m
- 7.5 km away
Saddle Camp - Lost Creek tie trail
Easy · FernUmatilla National Forest, Oregon
2.54 km · 40m · ↑ 45 m
Photos
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Frequently asked
How long is South Fork Desolation Trail?
South Fork Desolation Trail is 12.8 km (7.9 miles) as a route. Allow roughly 4h 5m at a steady walking pace, not counting stops.
How hard is South Fork Desolation Trail?
OpenTrail rates it hard. It climbs about 724 m overall, and its steepest sustained stretches run around 14%.
Where is South Fork Desolation Trail?
South Fork Desolation Trail is in Umatilla National Forest, Oregon. The map on this page shows the full route, where it starts, and any mapped parking nearby.
Is there parking at South Fork Desolation Trail?
No parking area is mapped within 1.5 km of this route in OpenStreetMap. That is not the same as there being none — check local access rules before you go.