Poker Flat-Young's Valley Trail

Poker Flat-Young's Valley Trail (Trail #5232, ref 5232) is a long-distance hiking route in the Siskiyou Wilderness near Happy Camp, California. It runs about 12.5 km total (roughly 7.8 miles) and is rated medium/moderate with about 671 m (roughly 2,200 ft) of elevation gain. The route uses a ground path and supports foot travel and horseback riding.

Expect a sustained walk through dense conifer forest. The trail heads into Young's Valley, a meadowed basin with established campsites toward the far end of the meadow—useful as a base segment if you’re splitting a longer outing.

Navigation matters because there are multiple junctions and options after reaching the broader Young’s Valley area. From there, the corridor connects to other destinations, including the Clear Creek National Recreation Trail (a creek-side route) and the Poker Flat Trailhead direction via the continuation of this trail.

If you continue farther south past the Young’s Valley connections, the route reaches toward Raspberry Lake, which is a common destination for longer hikers and a practical starting point for nearby objectives like Preston Peak.

Trailheads and road access are via the Poker Flat Trailhead area and nearby junctions off Highway 199/Knopki Creek Rd and Sanger Lake/Young’s Valley roads. Plan on backcountry-style logistics: carry enough food and water for your whole day or multi-day plan, and use Leave No Trace practices in the wilderness meadows.

Winter-shoulder and wet conditions can affect ground-travel surfaces in a meadow-and-forest network; before committing, scout the exact junctions you intend to take and be cautious around saturated ground areas—especially where the trail traverses boggy meadow sections. Watch for loose, narrow road access when driving the final spur(s).

More information: Backpack to Raspberry Lake, Del Norte County, California, Young’s Valley Trail - Smith River Alliance, Young’s Valley Trail - Smith River Alliance