Annie & Mary Trail with Powers Creek Industrial Loop Trail

Blue Lake

(map link)

The Annie & Mary Trail is planned to stretch from Blue Lake to Arcata, generally along the old Arcata and Mad River Railroad route. It will form the northernmost 6.8 miles of the Great Redwood Trail, assuming that isn't derailed by Montana coal concerns. The first mile of multiuse trail was completed last year after some 20 years of work. (Getting a trail really is a long haul project.) Although it is paved and through the city, I decided I should go and see it. There is a bit of parking near the southeast end of the trail, but I actually parked way over on the far side of the bridge where quite a bit of parking, generally utilized by fishermen on the Mad River, can be found.

The view from the bridge of the North Fork (ahead) coming into the Mad River (right).

I then headed across the bridge and north, taking the right at the Y to find the start of the trail. This end of the trail is among distinctly historic buildings that I've driven past, but that missed some fun details. Turning to follow the trail, there were more Victorian businesses and homes and I realized I've never really looked at Blue Lake.

The railroad line actually extended on to Korbel from here between the bar and the Grange, but it is not expected that the trail will.

The trail goes the other direction between more historic businesses, including one displaying that people once thought it was a good and sensible thing to build right across the top of a creek.

There are both small crests and larger banners to mark the trail, although the banners will not last too many years. Turning to follow the trail, there were more Victorian businesses and homes and I realized I've never really looked at Blue Lake. I had to pause on the bridge over Powers Creek to ponder if it would be a privilege or not to have the office above the creek.

The shape of the museum gives away its history as the local depot.

Past the Victorians, there are parks with ball fields and small farms. Half my fellow trail users (of which there weren't many in the already chill evening) were with horses.

Already to the end of the trail, which might not quite actually be a whole mile long.

One of the small farms along the trail.

Having come to the end of the trail, I turned south to find a way to the levee. My way was blocked by fencing as I ended up returning a block south of the trail. I wasn't certain about a track past a park with tennis courts which would have been a perfectly fine way to cut down to more trail. Instead, I ended up back at the depot and hotel.

The old hotel and a little of the Victorians found in the area of downtown Blue Lake.

As I came to the sign illustrating the Industrial Loop, I decided to take it in spite of the late hour. Maybe by high summer, it'll finally get into my head that if I leave at 3PM and stop by some geocaching things on the way, the sun won't be very high by the time I get somewhere. The sign is actually on a "spur" off the loop which is not marked as it leaves the main road. It follows the grassy, gravelly, muddy flat between the bits of industry and Powers Creek.

Powers Creek from the bridge that leads to the park with tennis courts. (Gymkhana Field)

After the bridge, the gravel trail is more used and less muddy after the bridge.

The trail is marked as it crosses a road (Taylor Way) and makes its way up onto the levee.

Up on the levee.

Mountains and trees and flats from the top of the levee.

I enjoyed the way the bright sky reflected off the river through the dark trees as I walked along the top of the levee.

Closer to the water now.

Light and dark in water and sky.

Then I wandered back across the bridge with no sidewalks to my parking.

This time looking up the main fork of Mad River from the bridge. A little of the snow up high can be seen on the distant mountains.

*photo album*




©2021,2022 Valerie Norton
Written 2 Jan 2022