Sunday, October 19
Start: West End Road Arcata Ridge Trailhead
Stop: Diamond Dr. Trailhead
22.5 miles
Including 1.5 miles hiking to and from trailheads
Unceded land of the Wiyot
4562′ ascent
4623′ descent
Many months ago I had the idea to try hiking all the Arcata Community Forest Trails including the Sunny Brae Tract in one day. The mileage for all the trails totals just over 20. Plus looping around adds some duplicate segments.
I start out at 8am just as sprinkles fall lightly from the cloudy sky. To keep things lightweight and quick for the day, I take only my small ZPacks utility fanny pack and trekking poles. I carry 4 bars, electrolyte and coffee mixes, 11 oz. bottle of water, meds, a couple bandaides, swiss army manager knife, chapstick, patagonia houdini jacket, id, credit card, cash. Carabinered to the outside is my pee rag. Phone and buff are in my legging side pockets. Neighborhood peeps join for the first bit and then Ro and I continue on our normal loop. We hike over 2 miles together before parting ways.
The forest is quiet and it seems like there is no one else out here as I tread up 11 and 19 to 17. After a pee break at the top of 12, my stomach rumbles and I eat a snack as I hike down 12. I finish drinking my small 11 oz. bottle of water and refill it along Janes Creek above trail 7. As I climb out of the little canyon on 7, I can hear some voices of people across the gully.
I re-hike a small portion of trail 11 before turning onto trail 6. I can hear more voices approaching on 11.
I hit trail 8 before climbing 13.5 to 13, passing through this unique redwood tree that certainly must be a portal. 8.25 miles in three hours.
I backtrack down 13 while eating a bar, and turn left on the Arcata Ridge Trail towards Fickle Hill Road. I descend into the Sunny Brae Tract, finding forest wonders like snail friend and several Agaricus mushrooms tipped over.
There’s only been a little rain so far this Fall so Beith Creek is at minimal flow and an easy cross.
Big Leaf Maple leaves and fossil remnants make for a entertaining Beith Creek Loop. Not to mention the one window through the trees out towards Humboldt Bay and the Pacific Ocean. I luck out with such a clear view today!
At the connector trail to Fickle Hill Road, I take a 20 minute break on the bench there. 13.7 miles in five hours. I eat a bar and collect water several times from a spring feeding Grotzman Creek. I make one bottle with electrolyte mix and drink it. I make another to last me the rest of the afternoon.
Back in the main Arcata Community Forest, I turn onto trail 8 to head towards the Redwood Park Area of the community forest. I take the long way of course, and head down 15 under the powerlines before circling back up 8 to 9. I go down 3 past the Redwood Curtain Disc Golf Course. Wow, I haven’t been in this part of the forest in decades. I may need to dig out the discs!
This part of the Arcata Community Forest feels like our local State and National Parks. The trees are larger and have not been logged as recently as other parts of the community forest. You can imagine that this part of the forest, which is also really well signed, is designed to wow the tourist. The afternoon sun really adds to the forest ambiance too.
I take Nature Trail #1, which leads me towards and through the Redwood Park parking lot. It is overflowing and the park is full of families and friends enjoying this lovely Fall day.
18.5 miles in seven hours. I loop back around towards 8 and 9, dropping down to 14 via trails 3.5 and 14.5.
One final push up trail 4, past stoner’s rock, before reconnecting to 8 via 16. I had originally planned to end the hike where I started at West End Road Arcata Ridge Trailhead but decide to change things a bit. I pass trail 5 and continue through trails 11 and 10 before looping back to 5 to finish at Diamond Dr. Trailhead.
This was a fun and legit challenge. I had to skip last months long hike so it felt good to get back to it. The elevation gained and lost over the 22 miles was substantial and a lot more than a long day in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The gain and loss reminded me of long Fall days in Washington on the Pacific Crest Trail as we raced to make it to Canada.
The Route:
West End Road Arcata Ridge Trailhead
South Fork Janes Creek Loop
Left on 10 Vista Trail
Left on 11 Janes Creek Road
Left on 19 Spruce City and loop back to 11 Janes Creek Road
Straight onto 17 Long Loop Trail
Right on and down 12 Ridge Road
Right on 7 Upper Janes Creek Trail
Left on 11 Janes Creek Road
Left on 6 Lower Janes Creek Trail
Left on 8 Community Forest Loop Road
Left on 13.5
Out and back on 13 Ridge Loop Trail returning to 13 Road
Left on 13 Road towards Fickle Hill Road
Arcata Ridge Trail into the Sunny Brae Tract
Arcata Ridge Trail down to Margaret Lane Trailhead
bike path and road to Beith Creek Trail Loop Trail
Arcata Ridge Trail back to main Arcata Community Forest
13 to 12 Ridge Road
Left on 8 Community Forest Loop Road
Right on 15 Powerline Trail
Left on 8 Community Forest Loop Road
Right on 9 Fickle Hill Grade
Right on 3 Meadow Trail
Left on 2 Sitka Trail
Right on 1 Nature Trail Loop
Across to 18
Left back onto 1 Nature Trail Loop
Left on 9 Fickle Hill Grade
Left on 3.5
Right on 14.5
Right on 14 Jolly Giant Road
Right on 4 Big Rock Trail
Left on 16 Big Rock Cutoff
Left on 8 Community Forest Loop Road
Straight on 11 Janes Creek Road
Left on 10 Vista Trail
Left on 10 Vista Trail
Right on 5 California Trail to Diamond Dr. Trailhead
I consider my loop to be complete enough but it did leave a several unhiked pieces of trail. This route leaves a few short missing segments of the Arcata Ridge Trail on the South Fork Janes Creek Loop and 8. I also missed short parts of 12, 1, 9, 3.5, 4, and 5.
Journey Return 