Pine Creek Trail #15E20

Dogs Leashed

Features Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

This trail runs from the Pine Creek Trailhead on Forest Road 42N05B easterly through the Pine Creek Basin to end on the crest of the South Warner Range at its junction with the Summit Trail #15E10.

For the two miles, the trail ascends through the forest along the South Fork of Pine Creek up a steady but gentle grade. This wilderness area is open to ranching, so you'll likely have to share the space with cows. There are some unique rock formations along this stretch of trail.

After two miles the trail opens up into meadows with small lakes in the Pine Creek Basin. This location is a riot of color when fall comes to the high country; something that can happen in late August here at 7,400 feet.

From Pine Creek Basin, the trail, which can be a little hard to follow in this area, starts climbing a broad sagebrush covered hillside, with the occasional aspen or pine grove, and views west over the Alturas Valley and of Mount Shasta. Even during a drought, many of the springs in this area are likely to still be running. Dense patches of California corn lilies cluster around these springs.

After about 5.5 miles, the trail ends at the wilderness' dividing ridge and a junction with the Summit Trail #15E10. From here, it's a short ways north to Patterson Lake or a longer journey south to Eagle Peak, the wilderness' highpoint.