The Bigfoot Trail is a rugged 360-mile wilderness route through the Klamath Mountains of northwest California, running from the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness to Crescent City on the Pacific Coast. Created by botanist Michael Kauffmann in 2009, the route passes 32 conifer species, more than anywhere else in North America. It crosses six wilderness areas (Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel, Chanchelulla, Trinity Alps, Russian, Marble Mountain, and Red Buttes) plus Redwood National Park, and the country it passes through is wild and very lightly traveled.
This is an expert-level route requiring strong navigation skills, self-sufficiency, and bushwhacking experience. Approximately 100 miles follow seldom-used Forest Service roads connecting wilderness sections, while the remaining 260 miles are backcountry trails ranging from well-maintained to completely overgrown. Expect steep, unmaintained trails built by miners and mule packers with minimal switchbacks. The trail gains and loses over 100,000 feet of elevation in total. It attracts experienced thru-hikers looking for challenge and solitude rather than an established trail experience like the PCT.
Permit requirements vary by wilderness area. The Trinity Alps Wilderness requires both an overnight wilderness permit and a California Campfire Permit, available free at ranger stations in Weaverville (360 Main St), Shasta Lake (14225 Holiday Road), and outdoor kiosks throughout the area. The Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel, Marble Mountain, Russian, Chanchelulla, and Red Buttes Wilderness areas do not require wilderness permits, but all mandate a California Campfire Permit for stoves and fires, available at ReadyForWildfire.org.
Redwood National Park requires a free backcountry permit for the Little Bald Hills camp and Redwood Creek dispersed camping, obtainable online at nps.gov/redw. Bear-resistant canisters are required in the Canyon Creek and Swift Creek drainages of the Trinity Alps and for Redwood Creek camping. In other areas, any bear-proof food storage system is required. Campfires are prohibited in many areas, and restrictions tighten during fire season (typically late July-August). Group size limits are 10 people in the Trinity Alps and 15 in other wilderness areas.
Contact ranger districts before your trip: Shasta-Trinity NF, Klamath NF, Six Rivers NF.
Mid-June through late October is the best window. Most northbound thru-hikers start mid-June from Ides Cove, which allows snowmelt in the higher northern mountains and safer stream crossings. Snow typically clears by late May in average years, but heavy snow years (like 2023) can push that to mid-June. Early season (June-July) brings flowing water sources and lush vegetation, but also higher creek crossings and lingering snow patches. Temperatures range from the 70s-80s in the high country to the 100s in the valleys during summer.
Trail veterans call late September through late October "magic": minimal bugs, stable weather, fall colors, and solitude. The tradeoff is that water sources become unreliable and days are shorter. Summer thunderstorms are common July-August, with lightning risk on exposed ridges. Wildfire season typically peaks late July through September. Check current fire conditions at Postholer's Bigfoot Trail Fire Map before departure.
Water availability varies dramatically by season. Streams and springs are reliable June-July, but many dry up by August-September. The guidebook marks water sources; confirm seasonal reliability with recent hikers or ranger districts. Carry 4+ liters of capacity for dry sections, especially on road walks. Treat all water.
Resupply options come every 50-120 miles: Hayfork (Mile 85, full services, grocery store, bus connections to Eureka/Redding), Junction City (Mile ~120, limited services, bus access), Etna (off-trail hitch from the Scott Valley area, full grocery), Sawyers Bar (minimal services), Seiad Valley (near the PCT intersection, limited services), Orleans (small town, basic supplies), Willow Creek (gateway town), and Crescent City (northern terminus, full services, Greyhound, small airport, or bus from Arcata airport 1.5 hours away).
Several resupply points have limited or no services, so plan mail drops carefully or carry larger food loads. The southern terminus at Ides Cove is 50 miles and 3 hours on dirt roads from Red Bluff, and trailhead shuttles are difficult to arrange. No established shuttle services exist specifically for this trail.
Trail Conditions: The middle section around Wooley Creek (starting ~Mile 196 northbound) requires intense bushwhacking for approximately 8 miles through overgrown trail. Trail maintenance began in 2024 and continues in 2025, but expect overgrown sections, blowdowns, and faint tread throughout; some sections haven't been maintained in years. The Bigfoot Trail Alliance coordinates volunteer maintenance trips, and their website posts current conditions.
Navigation: Strong map and compass skills are essential. Download the official Bigfoot Trail maps and GPX tracks. Some sections follow cairns across alpine terrain or rely on faint tread through brush. Cell service is nonexistent in the wilderness areas, and the trail is not consistently marked or signed.
Stream Crossings: Major creeks and rivers can be dangerous in June-early July during snowmelt. Canyon Creek, Swift Creek, and Salmon River crossings require careful timing and assessment. Late-season (August-September) crossings are generally safe, but water levels vary yearly.
Wildlife: Black bears are common, especially in the Red Buttes Wilderness, and proper food storage is mandatory. Mountain lions are present but rarely seen. Rattlesnakes are possible at lower elevations and on road sections during warm months.
Fire History: Multiple wildfires have hit sections in recent years, particularly in Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Some trail sections cross burn areas with unstable dead trees ("snags"). Check recent fire perimeters and closures before departure.
Exposure: The big elevation changes bring lightning risk on ridgelines, heat exhaustion in valleys, and potential hypothermia at higher elevations. Weather can change rapidly.
Insects: Mosquitoes are present June-August but generally less intense than in the Sierra Nevada. Ticks are active April-November at lower elevations. Late September-October has minimal bug pressure.
Southern Terminus (Ides Cove): Located 50 miles west of Red Bluff via winding dirt roads (3+ hours of driving). Red Bluff has full services; the nearest major airport is Redding (30 miles from Red Bluff, twice-daily bus service). Finding a shuttle to the Ides Cove trailhead is hard because of the remoteness, so consider renting a vehicle or arranging private transport.
Northern Terminus (Crescent City): Full-service coastal town with a Greyhound station, Hertz rental, and small airport. The major airport is Arcata-Eureka (1.5 hours south) with twice-daily bus service Monday-Saturday. Logistics here are much easier than at the southern terminus.
Mid-Trail Access: Some trailheads are reachable via paved roads (Canyon Creek, Etna Summit); others require high-clearance vehicles. Sawyers Bar-Etna Road provides access to the Russian Wilderness sections. There is no reliable public transportation to trailheads, only regional bus connections to nearby towns (Hayfork, Junction City, Willow Creek) with hitching from there.
Parking: Trailhead parking is generally free, but vehicles left for weeks may be vulnerable to break-ins in some areas. Coordinate with ranger stations about extended parking.
Direction: Most thru-hikers go northbound starting mid-June, which lets snow clear in the northern sections and stream levels drop. Southbound is possible but requires an earlier start (late May) and acceptance of higher stream crossings.
Trail Maintenance: Check the Bigfoot Trail Alliance website for recent trail reports, maintenance updates, and volunteer trip reports; these are the best source of current conditions. Recent hikers report significant improvements from volunteer work in 2024-2025.
Section Hiking Highlights: If not thru-hiking, prioritize the Siskiyou Wilderness/Clear Creek section (exceptional conifer diversity), Caribou Lakes/Trinity Alps (alpine lakes and granite peaks), and Little Bald Hills in Redwood NP (old growth to ridgeline meadows). These sections combine the trail's best scenery with better trail conditions.
Road Walks: The roughly 100 miles on dirt and paved roads can be monotonous. The section between Canyon Creek Trailhead and the Yolla Bolly Wilderness includes 61 miles of continuous road walking. Some hikers skip these sections or arrange shuttles. Road camping takes different strategies (dispersed sites, scarce water).
Guidebook Essential: Get the official Bigfoot Trail Map Set and Trail Description by Michael Kauffmann and Jason Barnes (available at bigfoottrail.org). It has mile-by-mile descriptions, water sources, conifer species identification, and route details not available elsewhere.
Pace Expectations: Most thru-hikes take 20-28 days (2-4 weeks). Bushwhacking sections, navigation challenges, and unmaintained trail mean slower mileage than on maintained long trails. Plan on 12-15 mile days on average rather than 20+ mile days.
Conifer Identification: Carry the guidebook's conifer key. Meeting 32 different conifer species, from coastal redwoods to subalpine firs, is a large part of what makes this trail distinctive, and learning to identify them adds a lot to the trip.
Water Strategy: Early season (June-July), water is abundant. Late season (September-October), plan camps near reliable sources and carry extra capacity. The guidebook marks sources, but recent trip reports give current reliability.
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