Fletcher Creek Trail Map

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

Fletcher Creek Trail Map

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

Fletcher Creek Trail/F.R. 142 Junction -- 2,430'

About a mile down Forest Service Road 142, from the Trace Ridge Trailhead, is the southern terminus of the Fletcher Creek Trail seen cutting up the hill to the right...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,440'

The Fletcher Creek Trail as it begins its climb from 142...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,500'

This initial climb is fairly significant...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,550'

Winding its way up the ridge...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,600'

One hazard you have to watch out for, and it's a common one in the Trace Ridge area, is bikers who will suddenly appear flying down the trail towards you. It's good to listen closely as you hike here...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,650'

With thick laurels and rhododendron surrounding the trail much of the way there isn't much variety in the surroundings as yet...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,700'

There are a few fleeting glimpses of the surrounding hills to be seen through the trees but nothing photo-worthy...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,740'

After a little over a half-mile of climbing the trail reaches the top of the ridge...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,720'

On the downhill for the first time...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,680'

Descending through a beautiful cove forest...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,640'

Passing a particularly pretty grove of ferns carpeting the forest floor...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,620'

The rhododendron filling back in translates to the trail nearing the river...

Fletcher Creek/Spencer Branch Trail Junction -- 2,610'

A mile after leaving F.R. 142 the trail arrives at its junction with the Spencer Branch Trail, which crosses left-to-right in this shot. The Fletcher Creek Trail continues by punching through the rhodo straight ahead...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,610'

Immediately on the other side of the rhodo in the previous shot, the trail makes a crossing of its namesake stream...

Fletcher Creek -- 2,610'

As you can see Fletcher Creek at the crossing is no monster. Most days you should manage to rock hop across without any difficulty. After heavy rains, it might be a minor wade at worst...

Fletcher Creek Trail @ Fletcher Creek -- 2,610'

Looking back at the crossing of Fletcher Creek...

Fletcher Creek/Middle Fork Trail Junction -- 2,610'

Immediately after crossing the creek, the trail passes its junction with the Middle Fork Trail, which arrives on the left...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,620'

The Fletcher Creek Trail as it departs north from its junction with the Middle Fork Trail...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,620'

This section of the trail is predominately flat as it follows the west side of the valley floor...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,620'

To the right the terrain is fairly wet, with Fletcher Creek being heard but not seen somewhere beyond the brush...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,630'

Suddenly the trail emerges into a large, sloping, wildlife opening...

Fletcher Creek Trail -- 2,640'

The trail turns to ascend the wildlife opening, and provides the only thing that passes for a view along its entire length...