Foster Creek Trail Route Map

Route map of the Foster Creek Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...

Foster Creek Trail Route Map

Route map of the Foster Creek Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...

Foster Creek Upper Trailhead -- 2,240'

We'll begin this tour from the upper junction of the Foster Creek Trail and Forest Road 5026. Don't be too shocked if you're the only one here...

Foster Creek Upper Trailhead -- 2,240'

Leaving the parking area in the previous shot, the start of the trail is clearly marked alongside a bullet-riddled sign for the gated forest road...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,250'

This portion of the trail follows the extension of Forest Road 5026 north for about the first 4/10-mile...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,260'

The forest here is a fairly normal mix of hardwoods and pines...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,270'

On the right, towards the creek, the terrain is noticeably wetter...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,280'

Passing a beautiful area of the forest carpeted in a thick mat of club moss...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,290'

The trail as it nears the northern extent of its loop...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,290'

The route now dips slightly to cross Foster Creek itself, via a large buried culvert...

Foster Creek -- 2,290'

Looking downstream, from atop the culvert, at tiny Foster Creek...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,300'

The road the trail has been following immediately turns back south beyond the creek and splits. Stay right to remain on the correct route...there are no blazes to indicate this...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,290'

Looking down towards Foster Creek, which once again becomes hidden underneath the foliage...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,280'

The route remains fairly flat along this first southbound stretch...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,270'

The trail soon arrives in an area where logging operations took place not many years ago...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,260'

A faint path can be seen leading down towards the creek at the mid-point of the loop. This path allows for a short-cut back to the upper trailhead...if you don't mind getting your feet wet...

Foster Creek -- 2,240'

A look at Foster Creek where the spur path in the previous shot crosses to cut the loop short. As you can see, there's no way to make this crossing without getting wet...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,260'

Back on the main "trail", which now enters a rather ugly area where the USFS conducted clear-cutting operations a short number of years ago...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,280'

You might start wondering at this point why the Forest Service hasn't decommissioned this trail by now. At the very least it needs to be rehabilitated or re-routed...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,270'

The terrain here is really getting ridiculous...the logging road the trail is following splits, at a large muddy area. Though there are no blazes or signs to indicate it, the route continues down the right fork...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,270'

If there is an upside to the logging area the trail is crossing, it's that you can enjoy some limited views of the surrounding hillsides...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,260'

Beyond the muddy split the trail descends a bit. Take note of the V-split tree just to the right of the path in center distance...it's an important landmark to spot if you want to stay on the correct route...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,250'

Here I'm standing beneath the V-split tree I had you take note of in the previous shot. The road continues ahead from here and shortly peters out. Look for a faint path leading towards the wood-line alongside this tree. You should quickly pick up the Foster Creek Trail again bearing left into the forest. Again, there's no trail blaze in sight so you'll have to keep a close watch out for this exact spot to continue on the trail...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,250'

The faint trail leads towards the young pines seen in the previous shot then makes a left alongside them, descending slightly towards the trees beyond...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,240'

Once in the woods the trail, thankfully, presents itself more clearly again...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,240'

Passing another small cluster of pretty club mosses...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,240'

As the path descends toward the creek it becomes quite cluttered and overgrown in spots...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,230'

Veering right around one of the larger pines seen along the way...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,230'

Here the trail dips through a small mud pit...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,230'

The trail as it makes the turn at the south end of the loop...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,220'

Your eyes do not deceive you...that is a bridge AND a trail blaze ahead...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,220'

This is literally the only blaze you'll spot the entirety of the loop...

Foster Creek -- 2,220'

Looking down on Foster Creek from the bridge at the south end of the loop...

Foster Creek Trail -- 2,220'

Beyond the bridge the trail continues back towards the road through a small field of early-blooming ragweed...

Foster Creek Lower Trailhead -- 2,220'

Arriving back at Forest Road 5026, at its lower junction with the Foster Creek Trail...

Foster Creek Lower Trailhead -- 2,220'

The Foster Creek Trail as it departs from its lower junction with Forest Service Road 5026. This spot is 1/3-mile from the upper trailhead, which you can follow the road to to complete the loop.