553

The 553 Trail starts as a wide dirt road that is mellow, with some erosion and water damage. NOTE* This trail is BLOCKED 2 miles in, and does not connect as it usually would with the Lockett Meadow Campground. As you come up into the beautiful Ponderosa Pines, you'll see sporadic campsites and pullouts. The trail narrows and becomes gnarlier the further you get into the burn scar, with charred trees and scattered damage present. After the fire, the Forest Service and fire crews saw fit to block this tail about 2 miles in, on an uphill slope, with trees and large boulders across the trail. This area is still popular with hunters, so don't be surprised to see people camped, or hiking out and about in the distance. In this area, you might see elk, deer, coyote, and various bird species. There is little cell service in this area, so offline maps are recommended.