Brown Mountain Trail #1005

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The Brown Mountain Trail #1005 is most commonly traveled from east to west, or clockwise when combined with the High Lakes Trail #6200 to make a loop. Starting on the west side of Lake of the Woods, the #1005 (#3724) cross Forest Road (FR) 3601 and then FR 3640 (limited parking), but you can also reach it from the nearby High Lakes Trail Trailhead via the High Lakes Trail Tie #6200B. From either trailhead, the Brown Mountain Trail heads south for a gradual singletrack ascent of 700 feet over 2.5 miles through big trees brings you to the trail's high point at 5700'. From here there is a long gradual descent, through huckleberry bushes which can at times partially hide some roots and rocks in the path.

The Pacific Crest Trail is crossed after 2 miles of this descent, then a small un-named doubletrack, then the Blue Lick Road (FR 3705-500, gravel) is met at about 6 miles from the trailhead. Go left (north), cross the creek, then look left (west) to pick up the singletrack again.

The next mile and a half follows the north side of the creek, and there are some rocky sections to negotiate before reaching the paved one-lane Brown Mountain Road (FR 3705) and South Brown Mountain Trailhead. Cross this road and continue on singletrack for another half mile before it merges with a 4WD doubletrack (FR 3705-375) which, after another mile and a half, brings you back around to the Brown Mountain Road near the South Fork of Little Butte Creek.

After crossing this creek, turn right on Forest Road 350 (sign for Brown Mtn Trail), and follow this for 0.1 mile before turning left on to a signed singletrack again.

This next section of singletrack is spectacular as it winds between and through lava fields, gaining a couple hundred feet as it climbs up over the west side of Brown Mountain. In a little more than two miles, another doubletrack is reached.

This one is FR 900 (called the "Pillette Road") and is also the "Lollipop Loop" nordic ski trail. Follow FR 900 straight north, past a gate closing the road, to the West Brown Mountain Trailhead at 4730', 13.8 miles from where you started.

At this point, it is possible to continue straight ahead on FR 900 to where the High Lakes Trail crosses it, then go left to Fish Lake resort for a beer. However, to complete the Brown Mountain Trail, continue up the final 3/4 mile section of trail, which is rough in places, to meet the High Lakes Trail #6200.