Chapman Campground to South Fork Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The start of the trailhead from the Chapman Campground is not marked and difficult to find. As you follow the campground road past where the rangers supply shack is located, keep an eye out to the right when the pine trees appear for a worn out section in the woods - this is where the trail starts. A GPS and trail map allowed me to spot the start of the trail - you can always use the Trail Run Project mobile app.

The trailhead and first 1/4 mile are hard to follow due to some power line construction that has taken place. About 1/4 to 1/3 mile in, the trail starts to steepen and enters an older forested section. Once there, the trail is easy to follow. The trail tends to follow the power lines up the side of the mountain along a seasonal stream. At the top of the first steep section, about 3/4 of a mile up, it starts to flatten and eventually the path intersects S. Fork Rd.

We didn't spot any elk, but the trail had elk scat all over.