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A family-friendly trail through old growth redwoods along Elk River.


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Map Key

5.2

Miles

8.3

KM

Point to Point

1,475' 450 m

High

103' 32 m

Low

1,500' 457 m

Up

284' 87 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

27%

Max Grade (15°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Views · Wildlife

Family Friendly An easy out and back to the 3-mile bridge is a great option for the entire family.

Open year-round.

Description

The Elk River Trail is a multi-use accessible trail for the first three miles on a former road with a gentle grade in Headwaters Forest Reserve. The first mile is paved and wheelchair accessible, and passes through the historic location of the town of Faulk with many fruit trees and building remnants as evidence of the past. The trail is in excellent condition for hiking, biking and running, and follows Elk River upstream. At the 3-mile bridge, the trail becomes a dirt and gravel singletrack path and climbs steeply and quickly to an old-growth grove of redwoods known as Headwaters. A common way to explore the Elk River Trail is by biking to the 3-mile bridge, then hiking the old-growth grove loop trail.

Flora & Fauna

Maples, alders, redwoods, huckleberry, salmon berry, thimbleberry, black berry, choke cherry, apples, plums, salmon, birds.

Contacts

Shared By:

Dara Zimmerman

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 12 votes

#7233

Overall
  4.3 from 12 votes
5 Star
50%
4 Star
42%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
8%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#560

in California

#7,233

Overall
10 Views Last Month
1,010 Since May 27, 2017
Intermediate Intermediate

10%
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70%
20%
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Mar 16, 2023
Valerie Norton
https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/03/fetid-adderstongue-on-south-fork-elk.html
Jan 28, 2022
Valerie Norton
https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2022/01/south-fork-elk-river.html and all the way
Oct 8, 2021
Valerie Norton
Finally took the South Side Trail: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2021/10/elk-river-and-south-side-trail.html
Apr 27, 2021
Valerie Norton
https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2021/04/little-south-fork-elk-river-trail.html
Apr 2, 2020
Valerie Norton
Hiked it all: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2020/04/elk-river-trail-plus-another-quest.html
Apr 14, 2019
Clifford LaMastus
Jan 4, 2018
Turkey Grady
6mi
Jan 3, 2018
Noah Abrahamson
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