Bigfoot Trail
Encyclopedia
The Bigfoot Trail is a U.S. long distance hiking trail in northern California . 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 400 miles (643.7 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 and this route is a celebration of that biodiversity.
The trail is in its initial stages of creation. Of the 400 miles, approximately 120 miles (193.1 km) are along seldom used Forest Service roads while the remaining segments are backcountry trails, either in wilderness or National Forest land. The Pacific Crest Trail
briefly coincides with the Bigfoot Trail.
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. 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 Again, this landscape fosters one of the most diverse temperate coniferous forests
on Earth and the Bigfoot Trail is in place to visit and celebrate that diversity.
. 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.). 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.
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. 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. Because the trail traverses varied topography by first travelling in a south to north direction and then east to west, many of northwest California's common and unique vegetation types are visited.
40°2′16"N 122°49′48"W
41°45′0"N 124°11′26"W
Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness
The Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area located west of Red Bluff in the state of California. Created by the Wilderness Act of 1964, the land area was originally ....
and ends in Redwood National Park at the Pacific Ocean near Crescent City, California
Crescent City, California
Crescent City is the county seat and only incorporated city in Del Norte County, California. Named for the crescent-shaped stretch of sandy beach south of the city, Crescent City had a total population of 7,643 in the 2010 census, up from 4,006 in the 2000 census...
. A major focus along the trail is conifer diversity, passing 32 species in 400 miles (643.7 km). The route crosses six wilderness areas, one National Park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
, and one State Park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
. Northwest California's Klamath Mountains
Klamath Mountains
The Klamath Mountains, which include the Siskiyou, Marble, Scott, Trinity, Trinity Alps, Salmon, and northern Yolla-Bolly Mountains, are a rugged lightly populated mountain range in northwest California and southwest Oregon in the United States...
foster one of the most diverse temperate coniferous forests
Temperate coniferous forests
Temperate coniferous forest is a terrestrial biome found in temperate regions of the world with warm summers and cool winters and adequate rainfall to sustain a forest. In most temperate coniferous forests, evergreen conifers predominate, while some are a mix of conifers and broadleaf evergreen...
on Earth and this route is a celebration of that biodiversity.
The trail is in its initial stages of creation. Of the 400 miles, approximately 120 miles (193.1 km) are along seldom used Forest Service roads while the remaining segments are backcountry trails, either in wilderness or National Forest land. The Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
briefly coincides with the Bigfoot Trail.
Route
The trail passes through these areas, listed south to north:- Mendocino National ForestMendocino National ForestThe Mendocino National Forest is located in the Coastal Mountain Range in northwestern California and comprises 913,306 acres...
- Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel WildernessYolla Bolly-Middle Eel WildernessThe Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area located west of Red Bluff in the state of California. Created by the Wilderness Act of 1964, the land area was originally ....
- Shasta-Trinity National ForestShasta-Trinity National ForestThe Shasta-Trinity National Forest is a federally designated forest in northern California, USA. It is the largest National Forest in California and is managed by the United States Forest Service. The 2.2-million acre forest encompasses five wilderness areas, hundreds of mountain lakes and of...
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest
- Trinity Alps WildernessTrinity Alps WildernessThe Trinity Alps Wilderness is a 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 are administered by the Bureau of Land Management. The wilderness is located in...
- Klamath National ForestKlamath National ForestKlamath National Forest is a national forest, in the Klamath Mountains, located in Siskiyou County in northern California, but with a tiny extension into southern Jackson County in Oregon. The forest contains continuous stands of ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, Douglas fir, red fir, white fir and...
- Russian WildernessRussian WildernessThe Russian Wilderness is a wilderness area of located approximately northeast of Eureka in northern California. It is within the Klamath National Forest in Siskiyou County and is managed by the US Forest Service...
- Marble Mountain WildernessMarble Mountain WildernessThe Marble Mountain Wilderness is a wilderness area located northeast of Eureka, California, USA. It is managed by the US Forest Service and is within the Klamath National Forest. The land was first set aside on April 1931 as the Marble Mountain Primitive Area , it was one of four areas to gain...
- Red Buttes WildernessRed Buttes WildernessThe Red Buttes Wilderness is a wilderness area in Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest in the U.S. states of Oregon and California. It comprises , approximately of which is located in California, and in Oregon...
- Siskiyou WildernessSiskiyou WildernessThe Siskiyou Wilderness is a federal wilderness area designated by the passage of the California Wilderness Act of 1984. Originally, the land area was The Northern California Wild Heritage Act of 2006 added for the current total of . All of the wilderness is in Northern California and is managed...
- Six Rivers National ForestSix Rivers National ForestSix Rivers National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in the northwestern corner of California. It was established on July 1, 1947 by U.S. President Harry S. Truman from portions of Klamath, Siskiyou and Trinity National Forests. Its over one million acres of land contain a variety of...
- Six Rivers National Forest
- Siskiyou WildernessSiskiyou WildernessThe Siskiyou Wilderness is a federal wilderness area designated by the passage of the California Wilderness Act of 1984. Originally, the land area was The Northern California Wild Heritage Act of 2006 added for the current total of . All of the wilderness is in Northern California and is managed...
- Smith River National Recreation AreaSmith River National Recreation AreaSmith River National Recreation Area is located northwestern California, United States. The Smith River National Recreation Area is in Six Rivers National Forest and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Created by Congress in 1990, Smith River...
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State ParkJedediah Smith Redwoods State ParkJedediah Smith Redwoods Park, established in 1929, was named after the noted fur trapper Jedediah Smith, who visited its location during an 1826 expedition. It is located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California, nine miles east of Crescent City, on U.S. Route 199...
- Redwood National Park
- Smith River National Recreation Area
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.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. 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 Again, this landscape fosters one of the most diverse temperate coniferous forests
Temperate coniferous forests
Temperate coniferous forest is a terrestrial biome found in temperate regions of the world with warm summers and cool winters and adequate rainfall to sustain a forest. In most temperate coniferous forests, evergreen conifers predominate, while some are a mix of conifers and broadleaf evergreen...
on Earth and the Bigfoot Trail is in place to visit and celebrate that diversity.
Geology
For the majority of the route, the Bigfoot Trail is in the Klamath MountainsKlamath Mountains
The Klamath Mountains, which include the Siskiyou, Marble, Scott, Trinity, Trinity Alps, Salmon, and northern Yolla-Bolly Mountains, are a rugged lightly populated mountain range in northwest California and southwest Oregon in the United States...
. 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.). 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.
Climate
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical 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. Because the trail traverses varied topography by first travelling in a south to north direction and then east to west, many of northwest California's common and unique vegetation types are visited.
External links
- Bigfoot Trail Web Site
- Conifers of Northwest California
- Group for Bigfoot Trail Advocacy
- Traildino Description
40°2′16"N 122°49′48"W
41°45′0"N 124°11′26"W