North Fork Trinity River to Grizzly Lake

See Papoose Lake notes to Rattlesnake Creek. The trail along the North Fork of the Trinity River is thought to be an old native American path linking the New River or Trinity River to the Salmon Mountains. Early travelers used the route to connect to the Salmon River and the Scott or Sacramento River Valleys.

Landscapes at China Gardens show daunting rockpiles dating back to the Gold Rush of the 1850s. These were the Chinese claims. There were even Chinese stores at the town of Petersburg, later hydraulic mined to oblivion. The packers were anglos and separate pack strings were designated for white and Chinese miners, carrying distinctly different supplies. Some Chinese descent people lingered on in the gold mining towns, and became honored members of extended families. The passing of the last Chinese immigrants were mourned as the end of an era in turn of the century Helena.

Two historic cabins are near the trail: Jorstad and Morrison. Stories around building the Jorstad Cabin and revelations of the country are told in W. Jorstad's Behind the Wild River and articles in Trinity 1990.

Points Along the Trail:

Follow trail directions to Papoose Lake Junction at Rattlesnake Creek.
Distance: 4.5
Elevation: 3440'
Ford Rattlesnake Creek. Good Campsite. Trail goes up 5 switchbacks.

Distance: 6.0
Elevation: 3360'
Rattlesnake Lake (Morrison Cabin). New River Divide Junction.

Distance: 8.2
Elevation: 3440'
Pfeiffer Flat/Jorstad Cabin.

Distance: 8.7
Elevation: 3480'
Pegleg Camp.

Distance: 9.6
Elevation: 3760'
Ford of Grizzly Creek.

Distance: 11.0
China Gardens.

Distance: 11.7
Elevation: 4180'
Mill Gulch Trail junction to seldom used Cecil Lake & Cold Spring (11W02). Specimen Creek trail Junction to Papoose Lake via Bob Farm

Distance: 13.4
Elevation: 4680'
China Creek Junction. Trailhead is 2.5 miles over Salmon Divide 1350 feet up to the crest and 1600 feet down the other side.

Distance: 14.4
First long view since Hobo Gulch Trailhead.

Distance: 16.4
First glimpses of Thompson Peak and snowfields.

Distance: 17.0
Elevation: 6300
Upper Grizzly Meadow. Use guidebook from here.

Distance: 17.5
Elevation: 7100'
Grizzly Lake.

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