63. North Yolla Bolly Trails

Length:	13.7 miles round trip
Hiking time:	9 hours or overnight
High point:	7,900 feet
Total elevation gain:	3,900 feet
Difficulty:	moderate to strenuous
Season:	mid-June through mid-October
Water:	available from lakes and streams; purify first
Maps:	USGS 7.5' Black Rock Mtn, USGS 7.5' North Yolla Bolly Mtn, USFS Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness
Information:	Yolla Bolly Ranger District, Shasta-Trinity National Forest

This hike's trail system takes you into the heart of the North Yolla Bolly Mountains, the southernmost section of the vast Klamath mountain range. You can choose from four different trails that leave the central trail: The lower two visit secluded lakes; the upper two climb high summits with extensive views.

From Redding drive 40 miles on Clear Creek Road (off Highway 273) to Platina. From Red Bluff drive 47 miles on Highway 36 (off I-5) to Platina. From Platina drive west 11 miles on Highway 36, then turn south onto Wildwood-Mad River Road (Road 30) about 0.25 mile west of the Hayfork Creek bridge and about 81 miles east of Highway 101. Go 9 miles to Pine Root Saddle, then turn left onto Road 35. Drive 10 miles to the intersection of several roads. Take the one signed for Stuart Gap trailhead for the last 1.8 miles to the parking area. All roads are paved except for the last 1.8 miles.

From the parking area, take Pettijohn Trail, the central path for this hike. It climbs gently for the first mile and then much more steeply for the final 1.5 miles to a broad ridge. Several small streams cross it and usually provide water until late summer.

Black Rock Lake Trail. The right-hand trail leaves Pettijohn Trail 1 mile from the trailhead. It quickly descends to Pettijohn basin, an expansive meadow with a good view of North Yolla Bolly Mountain, one of this hike's destinations. The basin also holds several campsites and the fledgling South Fork of the Trinity River, a sure source of year-round water. Cross the river and continue on the gently rolling path through a forest of Jeffrey pine, incense cedar, and red fir. Shallow Black Rock Lake awaits 1.5 miles from Pettijohn Trail. You'll find several campsites near the water that offer southward views of looming Black Rock Mountain, another hike destination.

North Yolla Bolly Lake Trail. This lake is both more attractive and more secluded than Black Rock Lake. It also requires a bit more effort to reach. Take the trail on the left off Pettijohn Trail 1.2 miles from the trailhead. Climb 0.7 mile to the ridge, then look for a rock outcrop with vistas to the east, north, and west. From here, descend 0.4 mile to the lake, which offers good swimming, good campsites, and a view of a 1,000-foot cliff stretching up to the south.

North Yolla Bolly Mountain Trail. The trail goes left from Pettijohn Trail 2.5 miles from the trailhead; look for a sign directing you to North Yolla Bolly Station Spring. Head east 0.5 mile to the spring, where you'll find a lush meadow, a campsite, and ice-cold water flowing from a pipe, the ridge's only reliable source of water. Continue east 0.1 mile, then head cross-country uphill (southeast) where the trail fades. Reach a ridge, then turn left (northeast) for the final climb to the 7,900-foot summit, 1 mile from Pettijohn Trail. Note that you began the climb in the company of red fir, but at the summit you'll find primarily foxtail pine, a hardy species that can withstand extreme conditions of wind and cold. Most people climb this mountain for the spectacular panoramic vistas: the Trinity Alps and the rest of the Klamath mountain range to the north; Mount Shasta, Lassen Peak, and the rest of the Cascades to the northeast; the Sacramento Valley and the Sierra Nevada to the east and southeast; and row upon row of Coast Range mountains stretching south and west.

Black Rock Mountain Trail. This 1.8-mile path on the right also leaves Pettijohn Trail 2.5 miles from the trailhead. It initially travels west along the open, lupine-covered ridge and allows good views to the north and south, including Mount Linn and the Ides Cove area. After 1.2 miles, it begins a gentle climb to the summit. Once at the top of the 7,755-foot peak, you'll have views similar to those from North Yolla Bolly Mountain.