If you reach Jorstad's Cabin (8 miles from the trailhead), you will feel like you have discovered a place in history. This is where I spent much of my time as a wilderness ranger with the Forest Service horses and where you might also find other campers and equestrians using the corrals. Another quaint cabin is Morrison Cabin, a mile closer and situated off the beaten trail. These are just a couple of the rustic destination along this route, once teeming with zealous gold miners who left their historic log cabins, old mining tailings and rusting equipment behind.
To get there, first go
to Rattlesnake Junction (4 miles from the trailhead), then cross Rattlesnake
Creek and ascend several hundred feet to where the trail levels off again. Hike
along these steep banks with the North Fork of the Trinity River on your left
until you eventually reach a flat alluvial plain where Jorstad's Cabin rests
(8 miles from the trailhead). Here is a (Trail Map)
[131K- JPEG]
If you opt to continue on to Grizzly Meadows, it is about another eight (8) miles. At first the trail is level then meanders up and down a bit. The last section is fairly steep, especially after you pass Low Gap (also a good camping spot), but the trail is fairly wooded and pleasant. Incidentally, a difficult alternative route exists to access Grizzly Meadows via the China Creek trailhead for a short weekend trip. Check your map if you are interested in this alternative route because it is a long drive to reach.
As you ascend to Grizzly meadows from either trailhead, you will catch your first glimpse of 9000 foot Thompson Peak towering above Grizzly Meadows. In time you will reach a 150 foot waterfall at the end of the Meadows. For both equestrians and backpackers, this meadow offers the best camping.
From Grizzly Meadows, you can hike to Grizzly Lake perched high above the meadows. This requires an extremely steep 1 mile hike to reach this lake. Although I don't recommend backpacking to this lake because it is extremely difficult to climb and there's not enough camping spots, I encountered some creative solutions when I discovered two people using goats (all 9 of them) to haul their stuff to the top.
Grizzly
Lake is nestled deep within gleaming granite walls of the Trinity Alps. It is
the deepest alpine lake of the Alps (over 200'), and one of the prettiest. It
is also one of the most isolated lakes. In addition, if you have made it this
far, I recommend climbing to the top of Thompson Peak. No trail exists, but
it took me less than three hours of careful scrambling to reach the top by following
a broad ravine with the obvious saddle, then following a scattered deer path
along the southern ridge. If you reach the top, you will definitely feel like
you are on top of the world. In fact, you are on top of the Trinity Alps (9002'),
where you can spy onto the Canyon Creek drainage, the upper part of Stuart Fork
drainage as well as onto unnamed distant valleys and coastal mountains.
How about the Papoose Route.
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