TRAILS - COAST TO CLEAR LAKE TRAIL

The western third of the Cross-California Trail has not yet been determined. Although John Olmsted, Stephen Hein, Frank Cook and others have walked this route, major portions of their hikes involved surreptitious trespassing and/or passage along public roads.  Segments of publicly accessible trail do exist, notably through the Jackson State Demonstration Forest along the Big River just south of Mendocino and the Pygmy Forest trail originating at Jughandle State reserve. MTC supports the work of local associations to implement a hiking trail along the old railway route between Willits and Ukiah and there is existing trail connectivity between Ukiah and Clear Lake over the Scotts Valley – Mayacmas trail. In addition, we have pioneered a northerly forest route from Willits up the Eel river drainage through the Snow Mtn. Wilderness to Goat Mountain and Bear Valley. There remain gaps in the public trail access to all these alternatives.