Horseback Riding in Smith River NRA

The Smith River National Recreation Area (NRA) offers many different types of recreation. There are Rafting and Kayaking opportunities, fishing opportunities and horseback riding opportunities. Here are some of the horseback riding trails you can enjoy in the 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.

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Horseback Riding in Smith River NRA

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