Name: Steve Fork Trail #905
Rating: 2.0

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Features Commonly Backpacked · River/Creek

This trail is within the Red Buttes Wilderness and the usual federal wilderness area regulations and restrictions apply. Practice Leave No Trace (LNT) ethics; camp 100 feet from fragile areas; bury human waste at least 200 feet from water, trails, and campsites.

This trail is usually closed by snow between November and May.

Forest Road 1030 is currently (11/2017) closed by a slide two miles from the trailhead. Until the slide is fixed, add two miles one way to this hike.

Description

NOTE: The Forest Service website refers to the Steve's Fork Trailhead and the Steve's Fork Trail #905. However, the USGS and Forest Service topo maps show Steve Fork and the few remaining trail signs also refer to this as the Steve Fork Trail.

The trailhead is at the end of Forest Road 1030; there is ample parking but no amenities. This trail leaves the trailhead, crosses into the Red Buttes Wilderness (and California), then parallels the west side of Steve Creek for 0.8 miles to a junction with the Sucker Creek Trail #906. Shortly after this junction it crosses Steve Creek. This is a good water source but it should still be treated.

The next 0.5 miles of trail may be a little hard to follow due to erosion; when this section ends at the start of the switchbacks the trail is once again easy to find and follow. The Steve Fork Trail #905 zig zags up the ridge on five long switchbacks, tops the ridge, and then descends briefly to end at the Azalea Lake/Fir Glade Trail #955.

This trail is a nice alternative approach to Azalea Lake.