#klamathnationalforest — Public Fediverse posts

[3/3] The final day of our 3 day loop offered up a minor challenge to our return followed by a major challenge. Once surmounted, we were back to amazing high mountain walking on the side of Ray's Peak and further ridge walking back to the Hull Cabin site where we started.

For more details, click here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2026/05/cabins-high-ridges-to-hull-cabin-site.html

#California #TrinityCounty #SiskiyouCounty #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #TrinityNationalForest #KlamathNationalForest #TrinityAlpsWilderness
#hiking #backpacking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #wildflowers
#footpathFriday

[1/3] Once more into the Trinity Alps Wilderness, this time to wander among many cabins. The 1st day of the 3 day loop started with flowers on the way to long sections of ridge walking. It featured many birds and burned areas to complete the day where a fire lookout once stood at the top of Cabin Peak. Except the day wasn't quite done because we did still need to get back to camp.

For more details, check here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2026/05/cabins-limestone-ridge-and-cabin-peak.html

#California #SiskiyouCounty #TrinityCounty #KlamathNationalForest #TrinityNationalForest #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #TrinityAlpsWilderness
#hiking #backpacking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #peakbagging #firelookout #peakbagger

3rd day: Heading down Kelsey Creek from Paradise Lake with a lot less snow on the ground than when we climbed.

Lots more details here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2026/04/paradise-kelsey-creek.html

#California #SiskiyouCounty #KlamathNationalForest #MarbleMountainWilderness #KelseyNationalRecreationTrail
#hiking #nature #backpacking #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #KelseyCreek #wildlife

2nd day: Starting off fighting snow, heading north on the PCT as the trail eventually gets to a ridge line walk. We headed up, appropriately, Big Ridge for the day's destination, then returned to Paradise Lake.

All the details: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2026/04/paradise-big-ridge.html

#California #SiskiyouCounty #KlamathNationalForest #MarbleMountainWilderness #PacificCrestTrail #PCT
#backpacking #hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #peakbagging #peakbagger #snow #lakes

The high country shouldn't be accessible yet, especially just a few days after a storm, but it was already like June out there. We headed up to Paradise Lake on the Kelsey Trail and had the popular spot all to ourselves. Hiking around once there was more limited, but possible.

1st day: Up along Kelsey Creek to Paradise Lake along the Pacific Crest Trail among the Marble Mountains.

Excruciating details and mounds of photos: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2026/04/paradise-paradise-lake.html

#California #SiskiyouCounty #KlamathNationalForest #MarbleMountainWilderness #KelseyNationalRecreationTrail
#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #backpacking #snow #wildflowers #KelseyCreek

A little of the epic finish to a brutal backpacking loop through many different environments that was somehow only three days.

Just how I spent my #mountainMonday.

#California #TrinityAlpsWilderness #TrinityAlps #KlamathNationalForest #ShastaTrinityNationalForest

The Pacific Crest Trail was looking a lot easier to travel as we left than when we passed the day before.
#footpathFriday

I finished up another set of backpacking posts, but am busy so might not get to advertising them before wandering off to more adventure.

#California #SiskiyouCounty #MarbleMountainWilderness #KlamathNationalForest #PCT #PacificCrestTrail

The third and last day backpacking near Seiad on the Pacific Crest Trail had a bit more ridge view, some search for a different short way down, then a long route around passing a pair of waterfalls.

For more information, check this link: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/11/twizt-red-devils-echo-lake.html

#California #RougeRiverSiskiyouNationalForest #KlamathNationalForest #SiskiyouNationalForest #RedButtesWilderness #SiskiyouCounty
#PacificCrestTrail #PCT #backpacking #hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #lake #snow

The second day backpacking, there was much ridge views and even a peak to bag (Rattlesnake Mountain) along both the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and the Boundary National Recreation Trail.

For more info, check this link: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/11/twizt-red-devils-rattlesnake-mountain.html

#California #RougeRiverSiskiyouNationalForest #KlamathNationalForest #SiskiyouNationalForest #SiskiyouCounty #RedButtesWilderness
#backpacking #hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #peakbagging #PCT #PacificCrestTrail #BigfootTrail

Back in California (barely) with a three day backpacking trip flirting with the edge of Red Buttes Wilderness. High ridge views and a little snow. First, the tough climb up West Fork Seiad Creek to camp among pools with springs in the bottoms.

For more, check here https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/11/twizt-red-devils-west-seiad-creek.html

#California #KlamathNationalForest #SiskiyouNationalForest #RougeRiverSiskiyouNationalForest #RedButtesWilderness #hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #backpacking #PacificCrestTrail #PCT

Next on the backpacking trip, a visit to Upper Wright Lake before heading out again.

For more, meander over to: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/09/below-boulder-wright-lakes.html

#California #SiskiyouCounty #KlamathNationalForest #MarbleMountainWilderness #LowerWrightLake #UpperWrightLake
#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #backpacking #lakes #mountains #blogpost

An overnight backpacking trip to lakes near Boulder Peak, the high point of Marble Mountain Wilderness. First a visit to Deep Lake on the way to Lower Wright Lake.

For more info, meander over here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/09/below-boulder-deep-lake.html

#California #SiskiyouCounty #KlamathNationalForest #MarbleMountainWilderness #DeepLake #LowerWrightLake #UpperWrightLake #BoulderPeak
#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #backpacking #lakes #mountains #blogpost

2nd day: Taking a day to hike out to Big Marshy Lake and West Boulder Lake. It wasn't quite as sunny as promised, but the lightning totally missed us.

All the details are here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/08/in-blue-big-marshy-lake-and-east.html

#California #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #TrinityAlpsWilderness #ShastaNationalForest #KlamathNationalForest #SiskiyouCounty #TrinityCounty
#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #outside #hike #backpacking #lake #EastBoulderLake #MarshyLake

Day 4 was for returning, but there was enough time for one more peak and a visit to the triple point. Water from there variously goes into the Smith River (via middle fork), the Illinois River (via east fork), and Klamath River (via Clear Creek).

The details: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/06/preston-youngs-peak.html

#California #KlamathNationalForest #SiskiyouWilderness #SiskiyouNationalForest #RogueRiverSiskiyouNationalForest #SiskiyouCounty #DelNorteCounty #SmithRiverNationalRecreationArea

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #backpacking #peakBagging #peakbagger

Day 3 had thoughts of some diversions, then different, better, actual diversions while making some of the return. The higher, but not highest, peak was bagged.

The details: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/05/preston-el-capitan.html

#California #KlamathNationalForest #SiskiyouWilderness #SiskiyouCounty #ElCapitan #notThatOne

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #backpacking #peakbagging #peakbagger

Day 2 didn't go quite to plan, but it did touch 3 different national forests while wandering a canyon and eventually ending up at Raspberry Lake.

The details: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/05/preston-raspberry-lake.html

#California #DelNorteCounty #SiskiyouCounty #SiskiyouWilderness #SixRiversNationalForest #KlamathNationalForest #SiskiyouNationalForest #RogueRiverSiskiyouNationalForest

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #backpacking #lake #burn

Day two on Wooley Creek found much water and a bit of bad trail:
https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/04/wooley-haypress-creek.html

*Marble Mountain Wilderness, Klamath National Forest, Siskiyou County, California

#hiking #backpacking #MarbleMountainWilderness #KlamathNF #KlamathNationalForest #publicLands

Unfortunately, day 4 was the early, unplanned, hike out because the August storms were bearing fruit. A little of it was visible along this route out. As were some firefighting efforts.
The whole story is here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/08/big-elk-sky-high-valley.html

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #California #mountains #SiskiyouCounty #hike #California #fire #SkyHighValley #KlamathNationalForest #MarbleMountainWilderness #KlamathNF #shortenedtrip

Things were going great for the first two days of working on the Bigfoot Trail in the Marble Mountains.
The whole story is here:
https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/08/big-elk-working-bigfoot-trail.html

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #California #SiskiyouCounty #KlamathNationalForest #KlamathNF #volunteering #trailwork #MarbleMountainWilderness
#volunteer

I had a lovely hike up to the camp for another week of trail work (well, 4 days planned for actually working) heading up Canyon Creek in the Marble Mountain Wilderness of Kamath National Forest.
The whole story is here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/08/big-elk-canyon-creek.html

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #California #mountains #KlamathNF #KlamathNationalForest #SiskiyouCounty #volunteering #wilderness #trailwork #trail #backpacking #wildlife #toad #burned #CanyonCreek #MarbleMountain

The second day included bagging of Boulder Peak, the high point of the entire Marble Mountain Wilderness. Then I took a different way down through Second Valley.
The blog post is here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/08/boulder-boulder-peak-and-second-valley.html

#hiking #nature #landscape #hike #travel #outside #California #SiskiyouCounty #KlamathNF #KlamathNationalForest #mountains #peakbagging #peakbagger #backpacking #sitclub #lake

3rd and final day at the north end of the Russian Wilderness: A morning visit to Albert Lake, then a little extra PCT time before returning to the car on the PCT the other direction.
For a whole lot more: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/08/etna-albert-lake-and-pacific-crest-trail.html

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #backpacking #California #mountains #lakes #butterflies #bee #PCT #PacificCrestTrail #KlamathNationalForest #KlamathNF #RussianWilderness #PaynesLake #SiskiyouCounty #granite #Shasta #MountShasta #reflection

Day 2 around the north end of the Russian Wilderness: Tagging the top of Etna Mountain and then stopping by Meeks Meadow Lake and Smith Lake (by trail that isn't) and finally Paynes Lake.

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #California #peakbagger #peakbagging #mountains #SiskiyouCounty #RussianWilderness #KlamathNationalForest #KlamathNF #newt #wildlife #lakes #PaynesLake #RuffeyLakes #MeeksMeadowLake #SmithLake #PNW #PCT

I spent a little more time around the north end of the Russian Wilderness, making a little loop visiting lakes and taking in a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Day 1 was a short one, just a few miles along to a lakeside camp.
https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/08/etna-ruffey-lake.html

#hiking #backpacking #KlamathNF #RussianWilderness #lake #peak #peakbagging #peakbagging #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #California #SiskiyouCounty #mountains #RuffeyLakes #EtnaSummit #PNW #KlamathNationalForest #PCT

A few from the 7 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail to finish backpacking around the Russian Wilderness on my 3rd and last day.
Lots more and all the details here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/08/russian-pacific-crest-trail.html

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #California #mountains #PCT #PacificCrestTrail #backpacking #butterfly #SiskiyouCounty #KlamathNF #KlamathNationalForest #RussianWilderness

Day 2 #backpacking the #RussianWilderness started as a short plan, but couldn't stay that way. I added on a cross country hike to a little peak to see a hidden lake before starting. I added on a cross country hike to the biggest peak in the Wilderness after the hike.
Much more here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/08/russian-bingham-lake-and-russian-peak.html

#hiking #nature #landscape #outside #California #mountains #peakbagging #RussianPeak #KlamathNationalForest #KlamathNF #newt #SiskiyouCounty #hikeCalifornia #lake #MountainMonday

The #RussianWilderness. It's not very big, but packs a punch. I hadn't been and found my way from the south via the #PacificCrestTrail. For my 1st day of 3 #backpacking, one of the jewels of the area: Russian Lake.
The post is here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/08/russian-siphon-lake-russian-lake-and.html

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #Califronia #KlamathNationalForest
#KlamathNF #RussianLake #SyphonLake #WaterdogLake #lake #randompond #SiskiyouCounty #publiclands #granite #PCT

There's still scattered burn and surreal twice burned areas on the third day backpacking, but there's also unburned and healthy after the burn areas. My plans had to morph a little and I got in tagging a peak right at the end!
The post is here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/07/boulder-loop-doe-lake-eagle-peak-and.html

#hiking #KlamathNF #ShastaTrinityNF #PNW #California #landscape #nature #mountains #outside #travel #hike #peakbagging #peakbagger #KlamathNationalForest #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #SiskiyouCounty #TrinityCounty #lake

Here's the first day (links to the rest are at the top of the post) of backpacking in the Trinity Alps on my own after doing the first week of trail work. A bit of burn, crazy burn, surreal twice burned, scattered burn, grand (5th) day, then back across burn. Even burn has its moments.
https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/07/boulder-loop-south-fork-lakes.html

#hiking #backpacking #TrinityAlpsWilderness #KlamathNF #ShastaTrinityNF #KlamathNationalForest #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #California #hikeCalifornia #PNW

Trail work with the Bigfoot Trail Alliance was cut short after the 2AM lightning storm that has apparently lit off 19 fires in the #MarbleMountainWilderness including this one among the Sky High Lakes. The air was actually clearer in the basin even though it had it's own smoke source.

#hiking #volunteering #fire #wildfire #KlamathNationalForest #norcal #California