Trail Gulch and Long Gulch Lakes Loop: 2022 Hike Report After the 2021 River Complex Fire

I hiked the Trail Gulch Lake/Long Gulch Lake loop on July 8, 2022. Here’s my report of trail conditions, lake conditions, and how the two drainages and other nearby Trinity Alps regions fared in the 2021 River Complex Fire.

Overall, this is still a fantastic hike. The River Complex Fire did burn substantial parts of the two valleys holding the lakes, and also the southern ridge that connects the two, but there is still a lot of unburned portions, and the two lakes are both in fairly good shape. And of crucial importance, the trail is still easy to follow, although you’ll have to pay extra attention in a few spots.

Damage from the 2021 River Complex Fire in the Trail Gulch Lake valley. The Russian Wilderness escaped the wildfire. — Damage from the 2021 River Complex Fire is evident in the Trail Gulch Lake valley. The mountains to the north of Carter Meadows, including the Russian Wilderness, escaped the wildfire.

Trail Gulch Lake/Long Gulch Lake Loop Key Data

Distance: 9.8-mile loop; you can also do shorter hikes directly to either of the lakes, with Trail Gulch Lake the easiest
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous for the entire loop
Type: longer day hike, or an excellent one- to two-night relatively easy backpacking trip
Elevation gain: 2100 feet
High point: 7400 feet
Season: mid-June to mid-October, depending on snow
Contact: Klamath National Forest, Salmon/Scott River Ranger District
Maps: Green Trails Maps Trinity Alps Wilderness
Permits: required only for overnight trips
Notes: Dogs allowed. Wilderness permit required for overnight stays: contact the Salmon/Scott River Ranger District for details. Cattle may be present, especially later in summer

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Long Gulch Lake Trailhead Directions

Reach Callahan on Highway 3. Callahan is 39.2 miles from the junction of Highway 3 and I-5 in Yreka, 61.8 miles from Weaverville, and 26.7 miles from Gazelle near I-5 via Gazelle-Callahan Road. Reach Carter Summit (actually a saddle) at 12.0 miles and then turn left at 12.7 miles onto dirt Forest Road 39N08 signed for Carter Meadows. At 2.0 miles see the Trail Gulch Lake trailhead on the left, and then proceed 0.8 mile farther to the Lung Gulch Lake trailhead, the start of the loop.

Trail map of the Trail Gulch Lake - Long Gulch Lake loop hike. NOTE: THE NAMES OF THE TWO LAKES ARE REVERSED ON THE MAP! — Trail map of the Trail Gulch Lake – Long Gulch Lake loop hike. **NOTE: THE NAMES OF THE TWO LAKES ARE REVERSED ON THE MAP!** (Courtesy Caltopo)

Starting on Forest Road 39N08

I do this hike as a clockwise loop. I started at the Long Gulch Lake trailhead and got the 0.8 mile and 300 feet elevation gain on Forest Road 39N08 out of the way immediately. The River Complex Fire frequently burned right to the south edge of Forest Road 39N08, but burned very little beyond.

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The Hike to Trail Gulch Lake

From the Trail Gulch Lake trailhead it’s 2.1 miles and 875 feet of elevation gain to the lake.

Trail Gulch Creek meadow: the meadow is still green and beautiful, with some trees burned on its edges. You can see that the River Complex Fire burned fairly hot on the east slope.

The Trail Gulch Creek meadow is lush, with standing water at its northern edge well into summer.

Above the meadow, the trail climbs more steeply up to the junction with the side trail that leads to the Trail Gulch Lake. There’s a beautiful northward view down the drainage, with the Russian Wilderness beyond.

Trail Gulch Drainage: River Complex Fire damage is evident to the mouth of Trail Gulch Creek, but the mountains beyond, including the Russian Wilderness, are untouched.

Trail Gulch Lake

There is some River Complex Fire damage along the north shore and east shore of Trail Gulch Lake, but overall this is still a fantastic destination and one of the easiest backpacking trips in the Trinity Alps.

The south shore of Trail Gulch Lake is in beautiful shape. I once swam across the lake to that side, but it was too cool to swim on this day.

Lots of River Complex Fire Damage…

is evident upon returning to the trail junction and then doing the steep hike through the red fir forest up to the ridge.

The Trinity Alps River Complex Fire burned hot here in 2021, completely burning the trees and the ground cover. — The River Complex Fire burned hot here in 2021, completely burning the trees and the ground cover. Those are dead needles from the trees.

And some trees in the forest did survive the River Complex Fire — And some trees in the forest did survive the wildfire.

After the steep climb, I was happy to reach the ridge, close to the high point of the loop hike.

Extent of the 2021 River Complex Fire damage to the Trail Gulch Lake drainage in the northern Trinity Alps

River Complex Fire Damage on the South Side the Ridge Connecting the Trail Gulch Lake and Long Gulch Lake Valleys

The trail runs west by southwest, primarily through a red fir forest, to gently climb to a ridge overlooking Long Gulch Lake. Gaps in the trees allow good southerly views of the extensive Coffee Creek drainage.

At the beginning of this stretch are two trail forks within about 30 feet of each other: North Fork Coffee Creek Trail (sign burned), and the Steveale Trail (sign intact). I’ve never hiked either of these, but the River Complex Fire burned substantial portions of their routes.

Looking southeast: substantial 2021 River Complex Fire damage in the eastern tributaries of Coffee Creek

The River Complex Fire burned these red firs and the ground cover.

2021 River Complex Fire Trinity Alps North Fork Coffee Creek — North Fork Coffee Creek and surrounding slopes and mountains

2021 River Complex Fire Trinity Alps Coffee Creek — View southwest toward the heart of the Coffee Creek watershed

Long Gulch Lake

Long Gulch Lake and its valley fared a bit better than the Trail Gulch Lake drainage, although I did see substantial wildfire burn evidence on the hike from the lake to the Long Gulch Lake trailhead.

Long Gulch Lake itself survived the River Complex Fire in pretty good shape.

Long Gulch Lake: still beautiful and with the steep south slope lookin' good — Long Gulch Lake: still beautiful and with the steep south slope lookin’ good

Long Gulch Lake: view southeast. Still a Trinity Alps treasure... — Long Gulch Lake: view southeast. Still a Trinity Alps treasure…

My Youtube Video of the Trail Gulch Lake/Long Gulch Lake Loop Hike…

Shot at the same time I took all the pictures above. From my Northern California Hiking Trails Youtube channel:

Lots of Great Dispersed Camping Sites in/near Carter Meadows

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California’s national forests and BLM lands have thousands of miles of dirt roads with lots of spots for dispersed camping (boondocking). My book provides all the info you need to get started (but is not a guide to specific sites):