South Russian Creek Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · River/Creek · Wildflowers · Wildlife

South Russian Creek Trail is a seldom-visited level and single to doubletrack dirt path for the first two miles, then climbs up the creek steeply to reach magnificent Russian Lake, the most popular lake in the Russian Wilderness. The South Russian valley has a healthy bear population that can be encountered on this trail. The drainage was known for its extraordinary diversity of conifer species, but burned extensively a few years ago.

Very little now looks burned but ceanothus is coming up thick in burned areas in a couple short spots. Lost the trail in it on the way back. Most of the trail is shaded and beautiful. Cow trails have made it hard to keep from losing the trail.

After the first steep climb the trail gets lost and becomes a dry drainage gully. Keep slightly to the right as you emerge from that and go across a meadow and you should find it again. The last two miles to Waterdog lake are very very steep. Not for novices. Beautiful once we arrived.

Burned diverse conifer forest along a creek, with a large bear population.