Maxwell Loop
Maxwell Loop is a 4.7 miles snow trail in Willamette National Forest, Oregon. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Willamette National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 44.4644, -121.9498 · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 44.4644, -121.9498 · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start.
The trail
| Length | 4.7 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | snow trail |
| Surface | snow |
| Typical grade | 12-20 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| Trail numbers | SNO-4186 |
| Forest | Willamette National Forest (unit 0618) |
| States | Oregon |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Allowed uses
| Snowshoeing | Allowed year-round |
| Cross-country skiing | Allowed 11/15 to 04/30 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Trailheads
No season published · listed none Wilderness Regulations Weed Free Feed Required | 0 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date. The recreation page link goes to the Forest Service site, which may redirect to the forest's recreation index.
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- WildfireBench
33 mi from the trail midpoint · 67,071 acres · 90% contained
- WildfireAustin
40 mi from the trail midpoint · 12,881 acres · 87% contained
- WildfireThe Narrows
48 mi from the trail midpoint · 305 acres · 98% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Historic places nearby
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Maxwell Loop?
4.7 miles, the sum of the 1 segment the Forest Service records under this name in Willamette National Forest.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Maxwell Loop?
snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Maxwell Loop start?
The line begins at 44.4644, -121.9498 and ends at 44.4644, -121.9498. The nearest recorded trailhead is Maxwell Butte Trailhead, 0 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Maxwell Loop in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Maxwell Loop?
Big Pool (2.1 mi), Big Meadows Horse Camp (2.1 mi) and Lost Lake - Willamette (2.6 mi) are within five miles of the trail. Site counts and booking links are on Campsite Atlas.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Maxwell Loop?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Maxwell Loop?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Maxwell Loop?
Willamette National Forest, Forest Service unit 0618. The trail is in Oregon.
Is there a fire near the Maxwell Loop?
3 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Bench at 33 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 1 segment named MAXWELL LOOP in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0618. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.