An official website of the
United States government
Here's
how you know
Official websites use .gov A .gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the
United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock
(
) or https:// means you've safely
connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only
on official, secure websites.
The Mad River Ranger District is located on Highway 36 approximately 50 miles east of Highway 101 and the Eureka/Arcata area and 100 miles west of Interstate 5 and the cities of Redding and Red Bluff. Traveling south for 20-30 miles on county roads brings you to the communities of Ruth and Zenia.
The Mad River Ranger Station is at an elevation of 2550 feet. The remainder of the district varies from 2000 to 6000 feet.
The climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Average precipitation in the area is 60" with the majority of the moisture falling between October and April. Snow is uncommon at elevations under 3000' but many areas on the district receive substantial snowfall.
There are a variety of trails in the Mad River District that are sure to appeal to everyone. One very popular trail is the Discovery Trail. The Discovery Trail is primarily open to street legal vehicles and makes for a great weekend activity.
It is not possible for us to visit all trails on a frequent basis. We often must rely on reports from the public concerning current trail conditions. If you visit any trails on the forest and note conditions different from what is listed here, we invite and welcome you to report what you observe to our recreation and wilderness program manager, Bryson Code, at brysonhcode@fs.fed.us.
The District is one of four on the Six Rivers National Forest, encompassing approximately 500,000 acres. Located about 30 miles from the Northern Coast of California and subsequently under a coastal influence that produces a long summer season.
The Orleans District has twenty documented trails to choose from. Trails destinations range from the scenic beauty of the Siskiyou Wilderness high country to short fishing trails leading to one of the many river access points in the Orleans District.
It is not possible for us to visit all trails on a frequent basis. We often must rely on reports from the public concerning current trail conditions. If you visit any trails on the forest and note conditions different from what is listed here, we invite and welcome you to report what you observe to our recreation and wilderness program manager, Bryson Code, at brysonhcode@fs.fed.us.
