Bigfoot Trail

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Bigfoot Trail
Russian Lake in the Russian WIlderness.jpg
The Bigfoot Trail passes Russian Lake in the Russian Wilderness
Lengthapprox 360 miles (600 km)
Location Klamath Mountains, California, United States
UseHiking
Hiking details
Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap  
Download coordinates as: KML  ·  GPX

The Bigfoot Trail is an unofficial U.S. long-distance hiking trail in northern California. [1] The Bigfoot Trail was originally proposed by Michael Kauffmann in 2009 as a suggested route to navigate the Klamath Mountains from south to north as well as a long-trail to introduce nature lovers to the biodiversity of the Klamath Mountains region. [2] The trail begins in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness and ends in Redwood National Park at the Pacific Ocean near Crescent City, California. A major focus along the trail is conifer diversity, passing 32 species in 360 miles (580 km). The route crosses six wilderness areas, one National Park, and one State Park. Northwest California's Klamath Mountains foster one of the most diverse temperate coniferous forests on Earth, [3] and this route is intended to be a celebration of that biodiversity.

Contents

Route

Of the 360 miles, approximately 100 miles (160 km) are along seldom used Forest Service roads while the remaining segments are backcountry trails, either in wilderness or on National Forest land. The Pacific Crest Trail briefly coincides with the Bigfoot Trail in the northern Marble Mountain Wilderness and north of Seiad Valley to the edge of the Red Buttes Wilderness. Due to the strenuous nature of the trail and the fact that some sections have been un-maintained for many years it is not a trail that can be hiked quickly. Experience using map and compass as well as the ability to read the landscape are necessary for a successful thru-hike.

The Bigfoot Trail Route Bigfoot-Trail-Route.jpg
The Bigfoot Trail Route

The trail passes through these areas, listed south to north:

Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness
Trinity Alps Wilderness
Russian Wilderness
Marble Mountain Wilderness
Red Buttes Wilderness
Siskiyou Wilderness
Siskiyou Wilderness

Flora

The botanical diversity exists in northwest California because of the interactions of a variety of factors that have remained "consistent" for millions of years. Northwest California is a museum of sorts, hiding relicts of epochs gone by, called paleoendemics, and fostering the growth of new species, called neoendemics, in unusual nooks created by complex climate and soils. These small microclimates, linked with isolation in space and time, create this unique setting. [4]

Northwest California is an ancient meeting ground—having a central location and continuity with other mountain ranges as well as a proximity to the Pacific Ocean. [5] While there are many endemic plants in northwest California, the endemic and relict conifers are of particular interest and importance because there is so much diversity in such a small area. There are 3,540 vascular plant taxa (species, subspecies, and variations) of plants—and as many as 38 species of conifers depending on where one delineates northwest California [6] The Klamath Mountains fosters one of the most diverse temperate coniferous forests on Earth and the Bigfoot Trail is in place to visit and celebrate that diversity. [7]

Geology

Serpentine outcrops in the Siskiyou Wilderness foster the growth of Jeffrey pine Jeffrey pine Siskiyou Wilderness.jpg
Serpentine outcrops in the Siskiyou Wilderness foster the growth of Jeffrey pine

For the majority of the route, the Bigfoot Trail is in the Klamath Mountains. [8] Topographically, the Klamath Mountains are part of the set of coastal ranges that run roughly parallel to the Pacific Ocean in California and Oregon, but the Klamath Mountains differ in history, complexity, and geological character. In fact, the Klamath Mountains' closest geological connection is to the Sierra Nevada (U.S.). [9] While most of northwest California can geologically be referred to as the Klamath Mountain Province, the region also presents a coastal area called the North California Coast Range. The first 27 miles and final 16 miles traverse the Coast Range (here defined as the Franciscan Complex). This geologic region also has its share of interesting botanical rarities.

The geology of northwest California has helped foster the regions high plant species diversity. Complex soils of the Klamath Mountains have helped create a spectrum of subtle microclimates in which plant species have been able to "hide out" and evolve. [10]

Climate

Bigfoot Trail Logo Bigfoot Trail Logo.jpg
Bigfoot Trail Logo

On a grand scale, the area is comfortable for plant growth compared to other areas of the West—there is a moderate climate. The region fosters three distinct climatic gradients. First, there is a north-to-south trend of decreasing winter precipitation and warmer summer temperatures. Second, there is a west to east trend away from cooler and moister summer temperatures to a warmer, drier environment. Third, a montane gradient is expressed in which temperature decreases and precipitation increases with elevation. [11] While in California's Mediterranean climate it is difficult to calculate an "average" level of precipitation—as fluctuations from year to year are common—northwest California offers more year-to-year stability than any other place in the state. These climatic gradients contribute to the plant diversity of the region—and the botanical rarities that can be seen along the Bigfoot Trail. [12] Because the trail traverses varied topography by first traveling in a south to north direction and then east to west, many of northwest California's common and unique vegetation types are visited.

Related Research Articles

Temperate coniferous forest Forests are found predominantly in areas with warm summers and cool winters

Temperate coniferous forest is a terrestrial habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Temperate coniferous forests are found predominantly in areas with warm summers and cool winters, and vary in their kinds of plant life. In some, needleleaf trees dominate, while others are home primarily to broadleaf evergreen trees or a mix of both tree types. A separate habitat type, the tropical coniferous forests, occurs in more tropical climates.

<i>Pinus balfouriana</i> species of plant

Pinus balfouriana, the foxtail pine, is a rare high-elevation pine that is endemic to California, United States. It is closely related to the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain bristlecone pines, in the subsection Balfourianae. The two disjunct populations are found in the southern Klamath Mountains and the southern Sierra Nevada. A small outlying population was reported in southern Oregon, but was proven to have been misidentified.

Klamath Mountains

The Klamath Mountains are a rugged and lightly populated mountain range in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon in the western United States. They have a varied geology, with substantial areas of serpentinite and marble, and a climate characterized by moderately cold winters with very heavy snowfall and warm, very dry summers with limited rainfall, especially in the south. As a consequence of the geology and soil types, the mountains harbor several endemic or near-endemic trees, forming one of the largest collections of conifers in the world. The mountains are also home to a diverse array of fish and animal species, including black bears, large cats, owls, eagles, and several species of Pacific salmon. Millions of acres in the mountains are managed by the United States Forest Service. The northernmost and largest sub-range of the Klamath Mountains are the Siskiyou Mountains.

Ecology of California Environments and natural history of California

The ecology of California can be understood by dividing the state into a number of ecoregions, which contain distinct ecological communities of plants and animals in a contiguous region. The ecoregions of California can be grouped into four major groups: desert ecoregions, Mediterranean ecoregions, forested mountains, and coastal forests.

Siskiyou Mountains Mountain range

The Siskiyou Mountains are a coastal subrange of the Klamath Mountains, and located in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon in the United States. They extend in an arc for approximately 100 miles (160 km) from east of Crescent City, California, northeast along the north side of the Klamath River into Josephine and Jackson counties in Oregon. The mountain range forms a barrier between the watersheds of the Klamath River to the south and the Rogue River to the north.

Trinity Alps mountain range in Siskiyou County and Trinity County, in Northern California

The Trinity Alps are a mountain range in Siskiyou County and Trinity County, in Northern California. They are a subrange of the Klamath Mountains and located to the north of Weaverville.

Six Rivers National Forest national forest in the United States

Six Rivers National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in the northwestern corner of California. It was established on June 3, 1947 by U.S. President Harry S. Truman from portions of Klamath, Siskiyou and Trinity National Forests. Its over one million acres (4,000 km2) of land contain a variety of ecosystems and 137,000 acres (550 km2) of old growth forest. It lies in parts of four counties; in descending order of forestland area they are Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, and Siskiyou counties. The forest is named after the Eel, Van Duzen, Klamath, Trinity, Mad, and Smith rivers, which pass through or near the forest's boundaries.

Trinity Alps Wilderness grizly lake

The Trinity Alps Wilderness is a 525,627-acre (212,714 ha) designated wilderness located in northern California, roughly between Eureka and Redding. It is jointly administered by Shasta-Trinity, Klamath, and Six Rivers National Forests. About 4,623 acres (1,871 ha) are administered by the Bureau of Land Management. The wilderness is located in the Salmon and Scott Mountains, subranges of the Klamath Mountains region. The high, granitic and ultramafic peaks of the eastern half of the wilderness area are known as the Trinity Alps. Granite peaks at the core of the area are known as the White Trinities, reddish ultramafic peaks in the southeast are known as the Red Trinities, and the forested mountains in the western half of the wilderness are known as the Green Trinities.

Red Buttes Wilderness

The Red Buttes Wilderness is a wilderness area in the Klamath and Rogue River national forests in the U.S. states of Oregon and California. It comprises 19,940 acres (8,070 ha), approximately 16,190 acres (6,550 ha) of which is located in California, and 3,750 acres (1,520 ha) in Oregon. It was established by the California Wilderness Act of 1984 and the Oregon Wilderness Act of 1984.

Siskiyou Wilderness

The Siskiyou Wilderness is a federal wilderness area designated by the passage of the California Wilderness Act of 1984. Originally, the land area was 153,000 acres (620 km2) The Northern California Wild Heritage Act of 2006 added 30,122 acres (121.90 km2) for the current total of 182,802 acres (739.77 km2). All of the wilderness is in Northern California and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The wilderness spans three national forests: the Rogue River–Siskiyou, the Klamath, and the Six Rivers.

Mount Linn mountain in United States of America

Mount Linn, at 8,098 feet (2,468 m), is the easternmost summit of South Yolla Bolly Mountain, and is located in the Yolla Bolly Mountains range of the southern Klamath Mountains System, in Tehama County, northwestern California.

Kalmiopsis Wilderness

Kalmiopsis Wilderness is a wilderness area in the Klamath Mountains of southwestern Oregon, within the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest. It was designated wilderness by the United States Congress in 1964 and now comprises a total of 179,755 acres (72,744 ha). There are approximately 153 miles (246 km) of trails on 24 established hiking trails in the area.

Klamath Mountains (ecoregion) Ecoregion (WWF)

The Klamath Mountains ecoregion of Oregon and California lies inland and north of the Coast Range ecoregion, extending from the Umpqua River in the north to the Sacramento Valley in the south. It encompasses the highly dissected ridges, foothills, and valleys of the Klamath and Siskiyou Mountains. It corresponds to the Level III ecoregion designated by the Environmental Protection Agency and to the Klamath-Siskiyou forests ecoregion designated by the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel Wilderness

The Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area in the Yolla Bolly Range of the southern Klamath Mountains and the Inner Northern California Coast Ranges, in Northern California.

Castle Crags Wilderness

The Castle Crags Wilderness is a 12,232-acre (49.50 km2) wilderness area in the Castle Crags rock formations of the Trinity Mountains, and within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, in northwestern California. It is located in Siskiyou County and Shasta County, 40 miles (64 km) north of Redding and south of Mount Shasta City.

Marble Mountain Wilderness

The Marble Mountain Wilderness is a 241,744-acre (978.30 km2) wilderness area located 60 miles (97 km) southwest of Yreka, California, in the United States. It is managed by the United States Forest Service and is within the Klamath National Forest in Siskiyou County. The land was first set aside on April 1931 as the Marble Mountain Primitive Area, which comprised 234,957 acres (950.84 km2). It was one of four areas to gain primitive status under the Forest Service's L-20 regulations that year. In 1964, it became a federally designated wilderness area when the U.S. Congress passed the Wilderness Act.

Russian Wilderness

The Russian Wilderness is a wilderness area of 12,000 acres (49 km2) located approximately 65 miles (105 km) northeast of Eureka in northern California. It is within the Klamath National Forest in Siskiyou County and is managed by the US Forest Service. It was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System when the US Congress passed the California Wilderness Act of 1984.

Russian Peak mountain in United States of America

Russian Peak is part of a sub-range of the Klamath Mountains called the Salmon Mountains—a horseshoe-shaped range encompassing the headwaters of the Salmon River. The mountain itself is part of the granitic Russian Peak batholith. This beautiful peak is also the highest peak in the Russian Wilderness—12,700 acres (51 km2) of subalpine lakes and botanical wonders.

Preston Peak mountain in United States of America

Preston Peak, is a dominant feature of the Siskiyou Wilderness in the Klamath National Forest. Many peaks in the wilderness rise to over 6,000 feet (1,800 m) but none come to within 500 feet (150 m) of approaching the height of Preston Peak. From the summit on a clear day, the Pacific Ocean is visible along with peaks in the Klamath Mountains and Cascade Range.

The Klamath Knot is a 1983 work of natural history and memoir written by David Rains Wallace.

References

  1. ↑ "Long Distance Trails". aldhawest.org. Archived from the original on 2010-08-17. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  2. ↑ Kauffmann, Michael (2012). Conifer Country. Kneeland: Backcountry Press. ISBN   978-0-578-09416-8.
  3. ↑ Sawyer, J.O. (2004). "Conifers of the Klamath Mountains". Vegetation Ecology, Proceedings of the second conference on Klamath-Siskiyou ecology: 128–135, Cave Junction, OR: Siskiyou Field Institute
  4. ↑ Sanders, Robert. "California's dry regions are hotspots of plant diversity". Berkeley News. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  5. ↑ D'Angelo, Lauryn. "The 10 Most Beautiful Cities And Towns In Northern California". The Culture Trip. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  6. ↑ Sawyer, John O. (2006). Northwest California. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press
  7. ↑ Kauffmann, Michael (2012). Conifer Country. Kneeland: Backcountry Press. ISBN   978-0-578-09416-8.
  8. ↑ "The Bigfoot Trail". Bigfoot Trail Alliance. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  9. ↑ DAVIS, GREGORY (1969). "Tectonic Correlations, Klamath Mountains and Western Sierra Nevada, California". Geological Society of America Bulletin. 80 (6): 1095. Bibcode:1969GSAB...80.1095D. doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1969)80[1095:TCKMAW]2.0.CO;2 . Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  10. ↑ Pace, Felice. Defenders of Wildlife (PDF). Washington, DC: Island Press. pp. 105–116. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  11. ↑ 2006 Skinner, C.N., Taylor, A.H., & Agee, J.K. Klamath Mountains bioregion. In: Fire in California's Ecosystems. Edited by N.G. Sugihara, J.W. van Wagtendonk, J. Fites-Kaufman, K.E Shaffer, A.E. Thode. University of California Press, Berkeley. pp. 170-194
  12. ↑ Hanson, Tim. "Preliminary Plant List of the Bigfoot Trail" (PDF). The Bigfoot Trail. Retrieved 29 August 2018.

40°2′16″N122°49′48″W / 40.03778°N 122.83000°W / 40.03778; -122.83000 (Ides Cove trailhead) 41°45′0″N124°11′26″W / 41.75000°N 124.19056°W / 41.75000; -124.19056 (Crescent City trailhead)

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