Bigfoot Trail: Little Bald Hills-Paradise Section

The Little Bald Hills-Paradise section of the Bigfoot Trail is a 9.8-mile point-to-point hike from the east end of Howland Hill Road to South Fork Road. Published totals vary, so this listing counts the full connection between those two access points. Expect about six hours on the trail and roughly 1,800 feet of cumulative climbing, then add time for the shuttle. This is a strenuous outing, not a loop.

The start is fairly level through lush lowland redwoods and tall shrubs, then the trail climbs into upland forest with smaller redwoods and Douglas-firs. Around mile 3.3 it reaches Little Bald Hills Camp. Beyond camp, it passes logged ground and a gravel bypass around Port-Orford-cedar root rot before climbing into a broad, rolling pine savanna. The ridge tread is less maintained than the lower park trail.

The route continues beyond the park boundary on the Paradise connector toward South Fork Road. At the Paradise junction, turn left toward Sand Camp and the road. The straight-ahead Little Bald Hills branch is overgrown and leads toward a Rock Creek ford that can be too deep in rainy weather.

Small pine groves, grass and summer wildflowers replace the redwood canopy. The ridge has occasional openings toward Crescent City, the ocean and Castle Rock; later scrub openings look into the Smith River valley. Views are intermittent, so expect a quieter savanna crossing rather than an uninterrupted overlook. Near the route, cobra lilies grow beside a wet seepage face.

About three miles follow the Kelsey Trail pack route used from 1855 to 1909 to supply mining camps and settlements. Part of the route later became a fire road before being converted to trail in 1986 and 1987. The landscape changes with the ground: redwood forest sits on sedimentary soils, serpentine supports Port-Orford-cedar and coffeeberry, and the pale ridge soils support beargrass and hairy manzanita.

Start at the marked Little Bald Hills Trailhead at the east end of Howland Hill Road. Parking is limited, and RVs and trailers are not advised on that narrow road. The finish is on South Fork Road, so arrange a pickup or second vehicle before setting out. There is no food stop on the route, and Little Bald Hills Camp has no treated water; carry enough or bring a filter. Overnight stays at the backcountry camp require a free advance reservation permit. Pets are not allowed on the park trail sections.