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The Final Eight Miles

When completed, the Coast-Crest Trail will be the only trail on the western seaboard of the United State that connects Pacific Ocean beaches with the Cascade-Sierra mountains. This page provides background information on the ridge where the last eight miles of this trail will be built.

The final section of the Coast-Cascade Trail that needs to be constructed extends along a ridge from Poker Flat, California to Bolan Lake. Oregon. This will connect trails in the Siskiyou Wilderness with trails of the Red Buttes Wilderness. Click image to see full size.

The SOUTH Section

Topo map showing the approximate location of photo points taken along the proposed route of the Coast-Cascade Trail connector between Poker Flat and Jefferson State Byway. Click picture to see enlargement.

Poker Flat

Poker Flat is the first site with road access that travelers will encounter for the full length of the Siskiyou Wilderness. There is no water at this location and the nearest water source is 3-5 miles to the south (Twin Valley in the Siskiyou Wilderness) and/or north (Loretta
Falls and Siskiyou Springs on the Jefferson State Byway).

South ridge saddle

An abandoned road runs along the length of a saddle immediately above Poker Flat and could be used for the trail.  At the north end of the saddle the road cuts away from the ridge to Poker Flat Road (18N33).

Vista point

One of the best opportunities for viewing the region to the west are found at rock outcrops  along the lower crest of the ridge as climbing up from the south ridge saddle.

South ridge forest

The ridge-top has a Douglas fir forest characteristic of this elevation. Trail construction in this area would not require much more than clearing debris.

Central ridge forest

The central part of the ridge has rock outcrops with many options for routing a trail around them on easily worked forest soils.

690 saddle

Road 690 passes near a saddle on the ridge about two miles north of Poker Flat. The area north of the saddle has evidence of timber harvesting maybe 10-20 years ago.

Porters Camp (18N36)

A powerline crosses the ridge at a saddle labeled on maps as Porters Camp. The road in the foreground is USFS Road 18N36 is well maintained and shows evidence of frequent travel. The trail would cross the road from the right to the left near the Klamath National Forest sign at an intersection in the road.

Little Grayback (east slope)

There was no opportunity to explore this slope in the fall of 2010 prior to snow closing roads and covering the ground of the proposed trail route. Updates will be given when this section is previewed this year.

Jefferson State Byway

Jefferson State Byway (USFS 48) is the first paved road that hikers will encounter after leaving the South Fork of the Smith River. They will not encounter another paved road until reaching Interstate Five. The nearest water is a creek about a half a mile down the road to the west but access is difficult. The next water is at Siskiyou Springs about a mile west of the trail.

The NORTH Section

 

Topo map showing the approximate location of photo points taken along the proposed route of the Coast-Crest Trail connector between Jefferson State Byway and Bolan Lake. Click picture to see enlargement.

Jefferson State Byway

The route continues from Jefferson State Byway following the same ridge as Forest Service Road 4812. There may be an older road along the upper part of the ridge in the first mile but this was not confirmed before snow closed the roads for the winter.

Road 4812

This is a well maintained and popular recreation access road to Bolan Lake Campground and Tannen Lakes in the southern part of Red Buttes Wilderness.

Ridge

Road 4812 follows close to the top of the ridge making it difficult to separate hikers from vehicle traffic.

Road 017 – South Weston Ridge

The proposed trail is routed around the west side of Weston Ridge and Weston Mountain where there is a greater chance of giving hikers a more wilderness-like experience. Nevertheless, it is very difficult to separate hikers from existing roads in this area no matter which way the trail is routed.

Road 017 – Central Weston Ridge

The Althouse Creek drainage was one of the  prominent gold mining districts during the Oregon gold rush of 1851. The slope in the upper drainage is relatively steep and densely covered with a Douglas fir forest typical of this elevation.

Bolan Lake Campground

Hikers will have access to water and camping at this popular high elevation lake. There is also an option for staying in the Bolan Mountain Lookout if they make a reservation ahead of time. An existing trail continues from here to Red Buttes Wilderness.