Nobles Emigrant Trail (West)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Wildlife

To find Nobles Emigrant Trail (West), go down a service road on the north side of the main road, CA 89/44, just east of the Park entrance. After .4 miles, the service road ends and there is a small trail sign where the singletrack trail starts.

After the service road, the next two miles goes through a thin fir forest that does not appear to be heavily used. Therefore, it can be challenging to find the trail. Look carefully for the path that looks trodden AND for occasional yellow dot trail marks on trees. This section climbs gradually to the trail's high point, about 1.6 miles from the end of the service road, and then begins a gradual descent. As the trail climbs, off to the right (south), views of Chaos Crags, Mt. Lassen, and nearby peaks can be seen through the trees.

Nobles Emigrant Trail (West) then enters denser forest as it continues to descend. As the forest becomes denser, the trail becomes easy to find, as it cuts through the trees. About 2.5 miles from the end of the service road, the trail reaches the main road, then without crossing the road, veers left back into the forest, and then about .4 miles later emerges at the main road again and crosses it.

To pick up Nobles Emigrant Trail (West) on the other (south) side of the main road, after crossing the road go left along the road looking carefully for a yellow dot on a tree to mark the trail entrance into the forest. The forest is dense here and the trail is easy to follow, however, the yellow dots on trees marking the trail soon end. About .8 miles after crossing the main road, the trees thin, and the trail becomes more challenging to find again. Carefully look for the slightly worn path and cuts through downed logs. About 1.2 miles after crossing the main road, the trail again emerges from the forest at the main road.

To again find the trail, cross the main road and go right for about a quarter of a mile. As you go, look for a service road on this side of the main road. This service road appears to be Nobles Emigrant Trail (West). There are no trail markings. Follow this service road. Eventually, the service road turns into singletrack path with no trail markings that is challenging to follow through the thin forest. And then after a short rocky wash area, the trail is unmaintained with downed trees across it. However, one can now hear Lost Creek to the left, and the main road is to the right. So continue straight, not crossing either, and eventually one comes out on the road.

Old growth fir forest. Deer.