Del Norte County - The REAL Northern California
Horseback Riding in Del Norte County
As you sit up high and ride through California’s tallest redwoods, you’ll know the true meaning of getting back to nature. Here is an exciting list of places to trail ride from lush towering ancient redwood forest trails rimmed with undulating streams and rivers, high elevation lakeside trails, trails with sweeping panoramic vistas and trails that meander through mountain meadows filled with blooming wildflowers.
Riding Trails
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
- Redwood National and State Parks
- Smith River National Recreation Area
- Tolowa Dunes State Park
- Stables and Riding Supplies
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Howland Hill Road
This 10-mile paved and gravel meandering road features impressive and stunningly beautiful groves of majestic, moss-hung coastal Redwoods.
Trailhead: Take Highway 101 from Crescent City to Highway 199 and turn east. Drive about 6 miles to Howland Hill Road.
Mill Creek Horse Trail
Mill Creek, a crystal stream bordered by thick forest, provides this easy to moderate 5-mile round trip ride through majestic redwoods. The area offers several side-trails for excellent fishing. This trail is available for day use only.
Trailhead: From Crescent City, turn east onto Highway 199 and drive about 6 miles to Howland Hill Road. Turn right and drive 5 miles to the parking area on the left side of the road.
Nickerson Ranch Trail
Magnificent towering Redwoods and streamside vegetation are the attractions on this 2-mile trail. Across the creek is an old ranch, where only the orchard remains.
Trailhead: From Crescent City, take Highway 101 South and make a left onto Elk Valley Road. Turn right onto Howland Hill Road. The trailhead is at the Boy Scout Tree Trail parking area.
Redwood National and State Parks
Little Bald Hills Trail
Riding beneath the majestic redwoods, this rigorous 10-mile roundtrip trail follows the wild Smith River. The trail begins in the towering, ancient redwoods and gradually ascends to a mixed conifer forest bordering a prairie. This path provides good birdwatching and wildflower displays. This trail can be done as an overnight trip by staying at Little Bald Hills Camp, which is stock-ready. Potable water is available at this camp.
Trailhead: From Crescent City, take highway 101 North to Highway 199. Turn right onto Douglas Park Road, then go to Howland Hill Road. Trailhead is east of Stout Grove on Howland Hill Road.
Redwood Creek Trail
This trail travels through the heart of the Redwood National Park. It follows an abandoned logging road. This is the best area in the Park for riding. There are four trail loop options- 7-mile, 14-mile, 20-mile and 32-mile with two stock-ready camps for overnight pack trips.
Trailhead: Begins in Orick next to the Orick Rodeo Grounds off Highway 101, about 1 mile north of the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center. Ask at a visitor center regarding trailhead access.
Find out more about Redwood National and State Parks.
Smith River National Recreation Area
Buck Lake Trail
Located in the Siskiyou Wilderness, this trail leads to the pristine high elevation Buck Lake, which offers superb fishing. Old-growth Douglas firs and vine maple are some of the native plants on this trail. 4.5 mile round trip.
Trailhead: From Crescent City, turn east onto Highway 199 and drive 27 miles. Turn right on Little Jones Creek Road and drive south 9.6 miles. When road forks, bear sharply left on Forest Service Road 16NO2 and drive 3.5 miles to the trailhead at end of road. Go east on Doe Flat Trail for 1 mile to reach Buck Lake Trail.
Craig’s Creek Trail
Offering great views of the South Fork of the Smith River, this trail ends at the confluence with Craig’s Creek. The trail climbs to vista points high above the South Fork and passes through old-growth redwood, Douglas fir, knobcone pine, and younger groves of alder, tan oak, live oak and chinquapin.
Trailhead: From Crescent City, take Highway 101 to the junction with Highway 199. Go east on 199 to the junction with South Fork Road. Turn right and follow the sign to park at the river access area. Walk back to the South Fork Road, crossing it to access trail above the George Tryon Bridge.
Doe Flat Trail
This trail follows an old mining road along Doe Creek to an abandoned mine site, then continues to join the Clear Creek and Buck Lake trails. Equestrian use is permitted. Wilderness hunting and fishing areas may be accessed from this trail. Open during summer months only, a vault toilet is at the trailhead.
Trailhead: From Crescent City, turn east onto Highway 199 and drive 27 miles. Turn right on Little Jones Creek Road and drive south 9.6 miles. When road forks, bear sharply left on Forest Service Road 16NO2 and drive 3.5 miles to the trailhead at the end of the road.
Elk Camp Ridge Trail
A scenic 19-mile roundtrip trail that offers panoramic views of high mountain peaks, the Pacific Ocean and the North and Middle forks of the Smith River. This trail was originally a pack trail from Crescent City to gold mines in the Illinois Valley in Oregon.
Trailhead: From Crescent City, turn east on Highway 199 and drive 17 miles. Turn left on Middle Fork/Gasquest Road, then bear right after about 100 feet. Continue .5 miles and turn right onto Old Gasquet Toll Road. Drive 2.4 miles, turn left at the trailhead sign. Continue 1.4 miles to the trailhead.
French Hill Trail
This historic pack trail was built to transport supplies from the Gasquet Ranger Station to construct the Camp Six Lookout. A moderate 2.8 mile horseback riding trail offers a shaded path in a garden-like setting with occasional vistas.
Trailhead: Slightly east of the Smith River National Recreation Area (NRA) visitor center in Gasquet, across Highway 199. To access the upper trailhead, travel 2.2 miles west on Highway 199 from Gasquet and turn left onto French Hill Road. Drive up French Hill Road for 4.48 miles to the trailhead on the left.
High Dome Trail
This moderate to difficult 4.1 mile trail (8.2 roundtrip) climbs to a scenic overlook atop High Dome Mountain and a natural grass meadow with views of the surrounding peaks and the Pacific Ocean. Ruins of a former fire lookout platform remain. The main trail descends to the west fork of Patrick Creek where the lower trailhead is located. Primitive camping is available at the three ponds site near the lower trailhead. High-clearance vehicles are recommended on road 315 to the upper trailhead.
Trailhead: From the Gasquet Ranger Station travel 0.1 mile west on Hwy 199, turn right onto Middle Fork Road and right again onto Gasquet Flat Road. Continue across the Horace Gasquet Bridge, stay left at Azalea Lane (now on North Fork Road) and stay left again at the intersection with the Old Gasquet Toll Road. Continue on North Fork Road for 0.8 miles to Stony Creek Trail Road. Turn right and park near the trailhead on the right edge of the road. Parking is limited. The trailhead is in a residential area.
McClendon Ford Trail
One-mile picturesque trail through old growth fir and cedar to a bouldered beach and beautiful pool of the South Fork Smith River. This is an easy side trip from South Kelsey trail.
Trailhead: Access to South Kelsey Trail: From Hwy 199 at milepost 7.2, turn onto South Fork road and continue 13.7 miles to the G-O Road (Forest Service Route 15). Turn right onto the G-O Road and travel 3.5 miles to FS road 15N39 on the left. Follow this gravel road 2 miles to the trailhead at the end of the road. Take the South Kelsey Trail for 0.4 miles to McClendon Ford Trail on the left.
South Kelsey Trail
This trail is an old mule train trail built in the 1850’s by Chinese immigrants. It is a 32 mile moderate trail that climbs to Baldy Peak. Return trip is mainly downhill. The trail follows the South Fork for 7 miles, affording numerous river accesses for trout fishing. Incredible views of the Pacific Ocean, Mount Shasta, and the rugged Siskiyou and Marble Mountains await those who make it to Baldy Peak. Look for signs of new growth on the way there.
Trailhead: From Crescent City, turn east on Highway 199 and drive 10 miles. Turn right on South Fork Road and drive 14 miles. Turn right at unsigned junction. Travel 3 miles to a trailhead sign, then turn left, continuing for 2 miles.
Summit Valley Trail
An 8.1 mile moderate to difficult trail that meanders through mountain meadows filled with wildflowers. Best to ride this in early summer when the wildflowers are blooming and temperatures aren’t too warm. This trail has a steep and rigorous return trip.
Trailhead: From Crescent City, turn east on Highway 199 and drive 10 miles. Turn right on South Fork Road and drive 14 miles. Turn right Forest road 15. Travel 15 miles to the trailhead on the left, park on the side of the road.
Young’s Valley Trail
In the Siskiyou wilderness, this is one of the easiest 2-mile trips (4-mile roundtrip). Set on the western slope of Preston Peak, the trail to Young’s Meadow is beautiful. This trail was formerly a forest road that is now closed to vehicles.
Trailhead: From Crescent City, turn east onto Highway 199 and drive 32miles.
Turn left on Forest Service Road 18NO7 and drive about 14 miles to the trailhead.
Find out more about Smith River National Recreation Area.
Tolowa Dunes State Park
Horse trails are available at Towala Dunes State Park.
Stables and Riding Supplies
Fort Dicks Stable
Offers horseback riding lessons
2002 Moorehead Road
Crescent City, CA 95531
707-487-3014
Orman Guest Ranch and Stables
Stables, camping, and paddocks
750 Humboldt Road
Crescent City, CA 95531
707-464-4434
Email: ormanranch@earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~ormaninc
Redwood Trails
Guided horseback riding tours in the Redwood National Park
265 Idlewood Lane
Trinidad, CA 95570
707-488-2061
800-443-5074
Email: info@rv4fun.com
http://rv4fun.com/redwood.html
Sorrel Hay & Feed
Offers hay and feed, delivery service only
900 Highway 101 North
Crescent City, CA 95531
707-464-9226
