Six Rivers Backcountry Discovery Trail
- OTG Crew
- Dec 5, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 17
Right smack dab in the middle of bigfoot country, that's where Six Rivers National Forest sits. With its dense evergreen forests, crystal clear rivers overflowing with steelhead and salmon, and steep river canyons-- you'd love this place too if you were sasquatch!
Route Overview
Trip Length & Season
Adventure Rating: Epic
Trip Length: 219 miles, 2-4 days
Season: Typically mid-May - November
Digital Maps & GPX Files
Download Digital Mapping Files
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Technical Ratings & Terrain
Avg Technical Rating: 1-2
Peak Technical Rating: 2-3
Typical Terrain: This particular BDT contains more pavement than other BDT routes in California (approx 40% dirt). Consider the alternative route that adds significantly more dirt.
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Recommended Vehicle: Stock 4x4
Recommended Moto: A big bike or mid-weight bike.
Adventure Vans: Sprinters and Transits (4x4/AWD) are good to go!
Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear
Fuel:
Covelo to Ruth Lake (105 mi)
Ruth Lake to Willow Creek (130 mi)
Provisions: Provisions can be obtained in the same general vicinity as fuel. Gear: no specialized gear is recommended for this adventure.
Alternative Routes
n/a
Camping Recommendations
Dispersed camping is permitted throughout the National Forest (make sure you are within NF boundaries, as the southern section traverses mostly private property.
Fir Cove Campground
Mad River Campground
Horse Ridge Camp
Discovery Points
Ruth Lake
Mad River (south of Ruth Lake)
Horse Ridge fire lookout
Pickett Peak fire lookout
Bigfoot Collection Museum (Willow Creek)
Arcata (college town)
Land Managers & Other Resources
Land Managers
Other Resources
Permits & Papers
n/a
Adventure Badge
OTG has partnered with All Roads Taken to offer an adventure badge for this route.
Route Details
At just under one million acres, Six Rivers National Forest stretches across the length of far Northern California, reaching all the way to the Oregon border. The Six Rivers Backcountry Discovery Trail traverses the southern portion of the forest, starting in Mendocino County and heading north into the heart of Humboldt County. This is Bigfoot country—and for good reason. It's perhaps too easy to disappear into the seemingly unending wilderness! But for those seeking solitude in the mountains, the Six Rivers BDT delivers in spades.
This particular version of the Six Rivers BDT follows the original route as marked on National Forest maps, but the trail has been extended to now terminate on Hwy 299, just west of Willow Creek (home of the once-famous Bigfoot sighting and Bigfoot Museum). The route begins in the town of Covelo, where the Mendocino Backcountry Discovery Trail finishes. The Six Rivers BDT heads north on paved country roads for some distance until the trail turns into a well-kept Forest Service road. The scenery along much of the route is a mixture of steep mountain slopes covered in mixed coniferous forests and open, rolling grass hills dotted with oak and chaparral. You'll pass through the tiny villages of Kettenpom and Zenia as you make your way toward Ruth Lake. Ruth Lake is a hidden gem that's frequented by locals during the warmer months. If you're lucky, you may even see an osprey or a bald eagle hunting over the lake. Peregrine falcons are also known to frequent the forest.
Ruth Lake seems like a thriving bastion of civilization compared to the deserted mountains that surround it (a small gas station, lodging, and a couple of restaurants). If you're planning to stay along the lake, consider checking out Fir Cove Campground, or Mad River Campground to the north (on the banks of the Mad River). From Ruth Lake, the route primarily follows the banks of the Mad River before heading up to Horse Ridge. Be sure to visit the two lookouts along Horse Ridge (one of which is abandoned, and the other is staffed during summer and early fall). Horse Ridge offers great views of Ruth Lake below, along with some excellent hidden campsites—if you know where to look (see the Google Map!).
From Horse Ridge, you'll cross the pavement at Hwy 36 as you continue north on the final leg of the journey. On this portion of the BDT, there's a good chance you'll see more wildlife than humans. The route continues along well-kept dirt roads until it meets its northern terminus at Hwy 299. If you like getting squatchy, consider heading a few miles east on Hwy 299 to Willow Creek, home of the Bigfoot Collection Museum. The college town of Arcata (head west toward Hwy 101) is another great place to end your adventure with a bite or a drink.
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