| About Six Rivers National Forest |
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| South Kelsey Trail |
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Trail Number:
4E06
Length:
17 Miles
High Point:
5,775 Feet
Elevation Gain:
4,735 Feet
Beginning Elevation:
1,280 Feet
Difficulty:
Moderate
Reservation:
No
Season:
Year-round
From Crescent City, Take Hwy. 101 to the junction with Hwy. 199. Go east on 199 to South Fork Road, turn left and travel 13.7 miles to a paved road going to the right one mile past Steven Bridge. This is the Gasquet -Orleans Road, Forest Service Route 15. Continue south 3.51 miles and turn left on gravel Forest Service Road 15N39. Travel another 2 miles to the trailhead.
Location Information
The Kelsey Tail was built in the 1850's by Chinese workers. It was a mule train trail that started in Crescent City and ended at the Army post in Fort Jones. The trail was nearly 200 miles long. This trail begins between Horse and Buck Creeks and follows the South Fork for seven miles, affording numerous river accesses for trout fishing. A fire in 1998 burned many acres between Yellowjacket and Buck Creeks. Look for signs of new growth as you hike. Miles 7-13 ascend to Baldy Peak , reaching an elevation of 5,775 feet. The experienced hikers who reach this former lookout site will be rewarded with awesome views of the pacific ocean, the rugged Siskiyou and Marble Mountains, and Mt. Shasta. The trail continues another 3.1 miles to Harrington lake and then enters Klamath National Forest where it goes on another 12 miles. The trailhead is located a 1 hour drive from the Smith River National Recreation Area Visitor Center, off of South Fork Road. There are 3 picnic tables, a vault toilet, and parking for 10 vehicles. A recommended side trip is Bear Wallow Trail (trail #4E20), a short .3 mile trip ending at the remains of Bear Wallow Shelter. The trail forks of the Kelsey trail .8 mile east of Baldy Peak.
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