Category: Hiking, Camping & Cabin Activities

Duck Lakes – Russian Wilderness

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  • 4 miles to Big Duck Lake, 0.5 miles further to Little Duck Lake
  • 2+ Day Trip

Details:

  • Best season = June to October
  • Moderately strenuous hike
  • Great views to Mount Shasta, Salmon Mountains and Scott Valley
  • Duck Lake Special Interest Area/Botanical Area
    • Known as the Miracle Mile, 17 conifer species are present in the drainage
    • Relic species: Foxtail pine, Englemann spruce, subalpine and Pacific silver fir
  • Approximately 4 hour drive from Eureka, CA on Highway 299 to 3 near Callahan:
    • From Highway 3 between Callahan and Etna, CA
    • Turn west on French Creek Road for 6.7 miles
    • Right on 40N22 for 1 mile
    • Right on 41N14 for 1.3 miles to parking area
  • Hiking to Duck Lakes from Duck Lake Trailhead @ 4800 feet elevation:
    • 4 mile moderate hike from Duck Lake Trailhead to Big Duck Lake
      • Big Duck Lake = 26 acres @ 27 feet deep @ 6400 feet elevation
      • Eastern brook trout and rainbow trout
      • Largest lake in the Russian Wilderness
      •  0.5 mile difficult hike with 700 foot elevation gain to Little Duck LakeLittle Duck Lake = 5 acres @ 18 feet deep @ 6700 feet elevation
        • Eastern brook trout
  • Hiking to Horseshoe Lake:
    • 4 mile moderate hike from Duck Lake Trailhead to Horseshoe Lake
    • 1.5  mile moderate hike from Duck/Eaton Lakes Trail intersection
      • Horseshoe Lake = 6.1 acres @ 21 feet deep @ 6400 feet elevation
      • Eastern brook trout and rainbow trout
  • Hiking to Lipstick Lake:
    • 4 mile difficult hike from Duck Lake Trailhead to Horseshoe Lake
    • 3 mile moderate hike from Music Creek Trailhead to Horseshoe Lake
      • Horseshoe Lake = 1.25 acres @ 9 feet deep @ 6350 feet elevation
      • Eastern brook trout
  • Hiking to Eaton Lakes:
    • 4.5 mile difficult hike from Duck Lake Trailhead to Eaton Lake
    • Approximately 1 mile difficult hike from Duck/Eaton Lakes Trail intersection
      • Eaton Lake = 11 acres @ 27 feet deep @ 6600 feet elevation
      • Trail is steep and hard to follow, not recommended for stock
      • Private property
      • Rainbow trout

Links:

  • Driving Directions – About 4 hours from Eureka, CA via Highway 299 to 3
  • Alternative Scenic Route: Salmon River Road

Lost Coast Trail

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NORTHERN LOST COAST TRAIL

  • 24.8 miles along the Pacific Ocean north of Shelter Cove
  • Mattole Beach to Black Sand Beach in Shelter Cover
  • 3-4 days each way
  • Usually hiked north to south for wind reasons

SOUTHERN LOST COAST TRAIL

  • 22.1 miles along the Pacific Ocean south of Shelter Cove
  • Needle Rock Beach  to Usal Beach
  • 3-4 days each way
  • Usually hiked north to south for wind reasons

 

 

 

Major Trails

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Major Trails and National Recreation Trails (NRTs) in Northwestern California:

  1. Bigfoot Trail – Northern California
  2. Boundary Trail – Kangaroo NRT – Klamath National Forest
  3. Bumpas Hell NRT – Lassen Volcanic National Park
  4. Clear Creek NRT – Siskiyou Wilderness
  5. Coastal Trail NRT – Redwood National Park
  6. Heart Lake NRT – Lassen National Forest
  7. High Grade NRT – Modoc National Forest
  8. Horse Ridge NRT – Six Rivers National Forest
  9. Ides Cove Loop NRT – Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness
  10. Kelsey NRT (Section 1) – Siskiyou Wilderness
  11. Kelsey NRT (Section 2) – Siskiyou Wilderness
  12. King Range NRT – King Range National Conservation Area
  13. McGowan NRT – Lassen National Forest
  14. Middle Fork Applegate NRT – Siskiyou National Forest
  15. Lassen Peak NRT – Lassen Volcanic National Park
  16. Lost Coast NRT – King Range National Conservation Area
  17. Pacific Crest NRT – Northern California
  18. Sacramento River Trail – City of Redding
  19. Salmon Summit NRT – Six Rivers National Forest
  20. Sisson-Callahan NRT – Shasta Trinity National Forest
  21. South Fork NRT – Shasta Trinity National Forest
  22. South Kelsey NRT – Siskiyou Wilderness
  23. Spencer Meadow NRT – Lassen National Forest
  24. Travelers Home NRT – Mendocino National Forest

Lost Coast

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The Lost Coast is a rugged coastal wilderness that feels like an escape to another world. As the longest undeveloped coastal region in the contiguous US, you can hike along the ocean for days.

KingRangeMap.PNG

Russian Wilderness

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Nor-Cal Adventures Blog Pages:

Helpful links to other pages:

Hiking Trails:

Hiking Trails:

  • High Lake from Little Duck Lake = 5.2 miles
  • South Sugar Lake from Bingham Trail pass = 1.5 miles

Big Blue Loop = 8.5 miles

High Lake from Duck Lake Trailhead via Little Duck Lake = 5.2 miles w/XC

South Sugar Lake from Bingham Lake Trailhead = 1.5 miles w/ XC

Russian Lake = 4 miles