Raspberry Lake Trail #5231

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Features Commonly Backpacked · Lake · Swimming · Views

Black bears are common, so remember to hang food 10 feet high at night or use a bear-proof container. Permits are required only for campfires or camp stoves, and are available at the Gasquet Ranger Station 18 miles east of Crescent City.

Raspberry Lake is one of the most popular destinations in the Siskiyou Wilderness, second only to Devils Punchbowl.

The Raspberry Lake Trail #5231 leaves the Clear Creek National Recreation Trail (also called the Clear Creek Trail #5223) at a signed junction in Youngs Valley, 3.5 miles from the Youngs Peak Trailhead (which some call the Youngs Valley Trailhead). Up to this junction, the Clear Creek National Recreation Trail has been an old road originally built to service a now abandoned chromite mine.

At the junction, the Clear Creek National Recreation Trail continues downslope to the south (and soon reverts to a singletrack trail), while the trail to the lake goes uphill to the southeast as a continuation of the old mining road. There are water sources in Youngs Valley but no reliable ones between this junction and the lake.

Just beyond this junction, you'll pass an unsigned junction with the Twin Valley Trail #5232 (also called the Poker Flat-Youngs Valley Trail #5232) and, at 1.6 miles from the junction, you'll pass a signed junction with the unmaintained Cyclone Gap Trail to Elk Lick Ridge.

At 5.6 miles from the trailhead (2.1 miles from the junction) you'll come to the end of the road at the former Cyclone Gap chromite mine. Here the #5231 becomes a singletrack trail that contours over two ridges before dropping, on surprisingly nice switchbacks, to the shore of Raspberry Lake. There are a few good campsites on the northwest side of the lake, near its outlet. These are likely to be full on busy weekends and holidays.

Fishing in the lake is reported to be excellent.