Mule Creek Trail #920

This trail follows Mule Creek through dense forest in the Siskiyou Mountains near Applegate Lake. It is possible to drive to the upper end of the trail via Forest Roads 2010 and 300, or Mule Creek Trail may be used as part of a loop by ascending the Little Grayback Trail, or the Mule Mountain Trail. Using Mule Mountain Trail is more straightforward in terms of parking, but is a more difficult ascent than Little Grayback Trail. In any event, once you have arrived at the top of the trail at 3960 feet on the Hanley Creek / Mule Creek divide, the steep descent begins immediately and continues for 3.25 miles at an average grade of 11%. The trail has many rough sections with roots, rocks, and stream crossings, and it is recommended to check recent conditions as the undergrowth can get pretty thick. At the low point of the trail at 1950 feet, merge briefly with a smooth doubletrack but watch for the continuation of the Mule Creek Trail singletrack heading up the hill on your right. This final portion of the trail gains 350 feet in 0.75 miles as it winds up the south-facing slope through oak, manzanita, and mountain mahogany to meet the Mule Mountain Trail on the ridge top, a little over a half a mile from its trailhead on the Applegate Lake road.