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A steady ascent up a historic mining trail to Maple Falls and Paradise Lake.


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Map Key

6.9

Miles

11.1

KM

74%

Runnable

6,068' 1,849 m

High

2,412' 735 m

Low

3,656' 1,114 m

Up

0' 0 m

Down

10%

Avg Grade (6°)

21%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Waterfall · Wildflowers

Open year-round, generally accessible during winter.

Description

The Kelsey National Recreation Trail is a lightly used singletrack path that follows Kelsey Creek up to Paradise Lake in Marble Mountain Wilderness. The trail travels through lush forest with subtle remnants of the gold mining days when mule trains moved cargo along the route. Maple Falls is a scenic waterfall at 4.0 miles in, and is a good picnic spot and potential turn around point for runners looking for a shorter run. Views of King's Castle marble outcrop can be had toward the top of the trail. This section of the trail ends where the Pacific Crest Trail intersects the Kelsey National Recreation Trail at Paradise Lake, which is not as outstanding as many of the lakes nearby, but can be a good camping spot.

Flora & Fauna

Maple trees, Douglas firs, blackberry.

Contacts

Shared By:

Dara Zimmerman

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 3 votes

#10312

Overall
  4.3 from 3 votes
5 Star
33%
4 Star
67%
3 Star
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2 Star
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1 Star
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Trail Rankings

#953

in California

#10,312

Overall
2 Views Last Month
1,016 Since May 16, 2017
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

Maple Falls
Dec 19, 2020 near Fort Jones, CA

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
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