California's Waterfalls

If you're planning to make the trek to Wilderness Falls, you've got some soul-searching to do. Two different trails can take you there, each with its individual challenges. You need to know the details of both itineraries, consider your options, then decide which path suits you best. Once that's accomplished, the hard work is over and the fun begins, because Wilderness Falls is the most spectacular cataract in the northwest corner of California.

The route from the Young's Valley Trailhead is the longest and most scenic route to Wilderness Falls. It requires a long, winding drive to reach the trailhead — at least an hour from Gasquet — then a 9.5-mile hike to the falls. If you've got the time and don't mind the mileage, this is the way to make the trip.

The first two miles of trail are a closed road, but after that, you drop into the canyon of Clear Creek — a 600-foot elevation loss — and it's smooth sailing the rest of the way. The trail strolls pleasantly along the east side of the stream, mostly out in the sun, covering a gentle and gradual descent from the headwaters of Clear Creek at 4,600 feet to Wilderness Falls at 3,000 feet. The elevation loss is spread out over seven miles, making for an easy climb on the return trip.

Siskiyou Route

The alternative is to come in from the Doe Flat Trailhead at Siskiyou Pass, a shorter drive from Gasquet and a much shorter hike to the falls — only 6.5 miles one-way, with a 1,200-foot elevation loss. As with the Young's Valley Trail, here again you walk on a closed road for 1.5 miles before you reach the real trail, which is an old mining path along Doe Creek. You pass an old mine site on your way to Trout Camp at 3.5 miles, where the Doe Flat Trail ends and joins with the Clear Creek Trail out of Young's Valley. (There's also a turnoff here for the trail to Devil's Punchbowl, an area of stunning glacial beauty.) Then it's an easy three miles on the Clear Creek Trail to Wilderness Falls.

If the Doe Flat Trail seems like the obvious choice for the trip, be forewarned about the junction at Trout Camp where the trail ends and connects with the Clear Creek Trail. The problem? The Doe Flat Trail is on the west side of Clear Creek and the Clear Creek Trail is on the east side, and never the twain shall meet unless you ford the stream. Clear Creek is not a narrow, babbling brook. Especially early in the summer, when Clear Creek runs full with snowmelt and is freezing cold, the crossing can be difficult. You can't make the ford with your shoes off; your toes will go numb in no time, and the streambed is too slick. The only choice is to take off your socks and wear your boots on your naked feet, then grit it out till you get to the other side. Those warm, dry socks will feel heavenly when you put them back on. Late in the summer, some people walk up and down the stream near Trout Camp till they manage to find a way to rock-hop across, but most hikers just give up and wade.

Arriving at the Falls

Consider your route options, make a choice, then one way or another get yourself to Wilderness Falls. What can you expect when you get there? An excellent camp, for starters, just five minutes from the waterfall. It's at a clearing near the stream, where you can watch the stars all night. Then, just around a few boulders lies magnificent Wilderness Falls, where Clear Creek drops 50 feet in perfect freefall, then collides with a big rock and cascades downward. Although the Clear Creek Trail crosses the creek at a ford right above the falls, you need not do so to see the waterfall. There are two excellent overlook points on big boulders on the east side of the stream, just 50 feet from the falls. If you choose to make the ford, you can descend to the fall's spectacular 100-foot-wide pool, which is clear, deep, and white with foam from the continual pounding of water.

Keep in mind that by the time you've driven this far east on Highway 199, you've left the giant redwood forests and the cool, foggy coast far behind. That means they have"real" summer here, and because the forest is a mixed bag of Douglas firs, cedars, and Jeffrey pines, you're not protected by impenetrable shade all day long. It can get hot, especially when hiking back out, heading uphill on either of the trails. Make sure you have your water filter with you, and keep your canteen filled up.

Trip notes: There is no fee to enter the park. A free wilderness permit is required for overnight stays; they are available at the Gasquet Ranger Station, along with a free map of the Siskiyou Wilderness. For a map of the Smith River National Recreation Area, contact Smith River National Recreation Area and Six Rivers National Forest.

Directions: For the Young's Valley Trailhead, drive four miles north from Crescent City on US 101 to the Highway 199 exit. Turn east on Highway 199 and drive 14 miles to Gasquet, then continue east for 15.5 more miles to the Knopki Road turnoff on the right. Turn right on Knopki Road/Forest Service Road 18N07 and drive approximately 14 miles, passing Sanger Lake. The trailhead is at the end of the road.

For the Doe Flat Trailhead: Follow the directions above to Gasquet. From Gasquet, continue east on Highway 199 for 11 miles to the Little Jones Creek Road/Jawbone Road turnoff on the right, shortly past Patrick Creek Lodge. Turn right and drive for about 10 miles to the Bear Basin junction. Turn left and follow the road to Siskiyou Pass. The trailhead is at the end of the road.