Middle Fork Trail Map

"The Middle of Nowhere"

GPS Coordinates: 35.43288, -82.69951 (Forest Service Road 5097 Junction)

GPS Coordinates: 35.42941, -82.68142 (Fletcher Creek Trail Junction)

Album Direction-Of-Travel: Eastbound

Highlights: Middle Fork Fletcher Creek, Solitude

Length (one-way): 1.5 miles

Petzoldt Rating: 2.00

Difficulty: MODERATE

Total Elevation Gain: 250'

Elevation Gain/Mile: 167'/mile

Min. Elevation: 2,610'

Max. Elevation: 2,820'

Blaze Color: ORANGE

See Following Trip Reports for more info:

Trace Ridge - Fletcher Creek/Middle Fork Loop

Connecting Trails:

Fletcher Creek Trail (#350)

Middle Fork Trail (#352)

Middle Fork Trail Map
Route map of the Middle Fork Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Middle Fork Trail Map
Route map of the Middle Fork Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...
Middle Fork Trail @ F.R. 5097 -- 2,820'
The remote western terminus of the Middle Fork Trail is seen here on the left, as it departs Forest Service Road 5097...
Middle Fork Trail @ F.R. 5097 -- 2,820'
the Middle Fork Trail welcome sign at Forest Service Road 5097...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,810'
The Middle Fork Trail as it departs east from Forest Service Road 5097...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,800'
The Middle Fork Trail is all but flat...the downward grade, when traveling west-to-east, is barely perceptible most of the time...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,790'
The upper end of the Middle Fork Trail is a bit damp in spots, as seen here...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,780'
Passing through a small wildlife clearing...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,770'
The surroundings close in for a bit...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,760'
A pretty bit of fern-lined path...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,750'
A trail through the green tunnel...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,740'
There isn't much to note about this trail, it's just a nice easy path...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,720'
The trail had turned away from the creek for a bit, but now was heading back towards it...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,700'
The only crossing of the Middle Fork takes place at about the halfway point of the trail. As you can see it's little more than a rock hop to cross...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,680'
The trail as it now begins following the north side of the creek...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,670'
The trail is now sticking much closer to the Middle Fork...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,660'
Following the straight and narrow...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,640'
As you near the bottom of the trail, the downhill grade gets a slight bit steeper...
Middle Fork Trail @ Spencer Branch Cutoff Path Junction -- 2,620'
Just before reaching Fletcher Creek the official Middle Fork Trail makes a hard left at this signed junction. An unofficial connector trail heads directly down to the creek on the right...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,630'
The trail now curves to the north, around the ridge toward its junction with the Fletcher Creek Trail...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,620'
Fletcher Creek as seen from the lower end of the Middle Fork Trail...
Middle Fork Trail -- 2,610'
The Middle Fork Trail as it nears its junction with the Fletcher Creek Trail...
Middle Fork/Fletcher Creek Trail Junction -- 2,610'
Arriving at the eastern terminus of the Middle Fork Trail, where it meets the Fletcher Creek Trail...
Middle Fork/Fletcher Creek Trail Junction -- 2,610'
The eastern terminus of the Middle Fork Trail (right), where it meets the Fletcher Creek Trail (straight-left & behind).