Shell Mountain: Blue Slide and Horsehead Mountain

Mendocino National Forest

Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Six Rivers National Forest

DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3

static map — Purple line for day 3. Click for interactive map

Being up on the ridge, we did get something like a sunrise. There were no clouds for the coming sunlight to decorate, so it was quite plain for a sunrise. As soon as I was vertical, I headed down the hill to see if the water I expected really was there. At the bottom of the very slanted meadow, it started running. A few more feet and it was easy to gather. It was maybe 100 feet vertical down, certainly not more than 200 feet. It didn't feel like too much at all.

069: light and dark — A little orange tint to the sky as the sun rises.

070: long stretch of dropping meadow — The view of Shell Mountain from the top of our meadow, now with a lot more light.

We packed up and got moving along the ridge. We saw some spots that looked a bit like a length of trail tread, but it was hard to claim there was a trail in the area where Chicago Camp Trail travels that ridge. For cross country travel, it's not a bad route.

071: pressed down rocks on the ridge — There could be a trail here along the top of the ridge. Or not.

072: bumps of mountains — Looking ahead to Blue Slide with the pointy Horsehead Mountain to the right.

074: distant valley with cloud far down inside — The points of the Lassics (center horizon) preside over far inland marine layer on the Van Duzen River.

075: lizard on bark — A western fence lizard with a vertical position on a fallen tree.

From the east, climbing Blue Slide is a few steps to the right and up. We spent a little time on its bare flanks after taking in the little bit more view from the very top.

076: small point up ahead — Blue Slide's peak, which the trail's route passes just to the left.

078: 40 miles of ridge — A look along South Fork with the South Fork Trinity River (right) also looking a bit foggy.

079: pointy mountain — The way ahead and Horsehead Mountain.

080: peak to peak — Shell Mountain from Blue Slide and it's long easy side.

082: flowers with leaves in a tiny piece of intense beauty — We found Brandegee's springbeauties at the peak again.

083: bird on a branche with orange breeches — A Say's phoebe came by.

We found at least an animal trail around the side of the peak and down where the trail is indicated. From here, the trail gets off the ridge and passes a rocky section to the south, or so the map claims. We wiggled down to lower level animal trails to find a way across the side of the ridge. This was the sketchiest part of the whole hike with one bit of "crux move" where water cuts a steep gully, but my GPS track suggests we were still too high up.

084: red flower that is actually bracts, not petals, but it has red flowers too — One of several paintbrushes trying to make it on the loose rock slope.

085: pointing people — Stopping, pointing, and discussing the going as we make a way along the ridge west of Blue Slide.

We made it through to safer ground without even a scratch, so it all worked out. The next bit was also a navigation challenge, but the splash of oaks weren't too large or thick and we started to see some trail signs from recent work. It was, however, easy to question if it was work on trail.

086: lizard in a cool spot — That seems an odd spot for a western fence lizard.

087: distant snowy peaks — The Trinity Alps looking maybe a little less starkly white than they should this time of year.

089: tiny flowers — Tiny slender phlox scatter about some spots.

090: greening slopes — A look behind as we start to climb again after crossing the difficult stretch past Blue Slide.

091: bright yellow flower called violet — Goosefoot violet were seen frequently.

092: little white flowers — More tiny flowers: common sandweed.

We had managed to be outside of recently (last 20 years) burned areas for a while, but got back into August Complex area, some of it quite badly done by that fire.

093: peaks and burn — Blue Slide (left) and Shell Mountain (right with snow).

094: furry leaves with flowers starting — Klamath rockcress just getting started with one shooting out some flowers already.

095: rocky peak — A closer look at Blue Slide makes it look like staying high might have worked better.

096: white peak poking up — The snowy tip of Mount Shasta pops up. You can see it from everywhere!

We followed increasing evidence of an attempt at trail work to the end of the closed road spur that marked one possible start of road walking.

097: thick snow patch — The road was covered in a thick layer of snow.

098: flat shelf in the dirt — Actual trail tread cut into the landscape at the end of the closed road. There's parking at the other end.

Plowing through the snow didn't look too attractive so I suggested we go for Horsehead Mountain, then down the other side. I wanted to go up the mountain anyway. I've got a Peakbagger account to satisfy, after all. Also, it is a triple divide (between Mad River, Eel River, and Trinity River) and the meeting of three forests.

099: ridge line — Most the way up and looking back at the rest of the lower ridge.

100: triangle on a post — Shell Mountain with a fuel break marker.

101: pointy top — The very top of Horsehead Mountain.

103: point of snow top and lots more — A little more of Mount Shasta (far right) visible through the fire killed trees.

Supposedly, Chicago Camp Trail continues up and over this mountain and down to the junction of the closed road with the main one. That part hadn't gotten any maintenance and we saw no sign of trail unless the blue ribbons were meant to be. I suspect they had something to do with timber harvest. We decided against taking the shortest route down expecting it to be brushy, but it actually looked okay from the bottom. The last piece to get to the road was a challenge, but less so when moving over to a gully.

105: on the road — On the road again with a long road walk ahead.

106: prairie and fog — It was gone for a while, but the marine layer is back.

We hit the road on gravel, but were on pavement about halfway to the Little Doe Wilderness Trailhead. It had everything the Four Corners one had and a register! The only information on the board was that permits are required to cut firewood, though.

107: board and register — The Little Doe Wilderness Trailhead.

The register has directional sign information painted on it. It says Water Spout is both ways and Little Doe Camp headed into the wilderness. Maybe they changed the name of Sulphur Camp too?

109: trail beside water — The trail on the other side of the register.

There weren't all that many trees down on the road, but the last one was quite thick and had splintered into thirds on the landing. There was also a piece of road, only half of it currently, that was falling away where it had clearly be repaired before.

111: burned forest — A view of burned and somewhat timber harvested forest.

113: big tree, big mess — The last tree is a big, complicated mess.

Just before we finished, I saw something dark, almost black, and fox sized that went running leisurely up the hill. I tried for a zoomed image and it got behind a much closer twig just in time for me to take a photo of the twig, so now I don't have any sort of photo. The road miles were, indeed, much easier than the trail miles.

*photo album*

©2026 Valerie Norton
Published 26 Apr 2026

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