Paradise: Kelsey Creek

Klamath National Forest

DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3

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

Daniil decided to head up Kings Castle before heading down, but didn't get a very early start. I think he was expecting me to want to go up, but I didn't want to add the 1.5k feet of descent from it to the 4k feet already waiting for me. I got to watch the newts and read from Teddy Roosevelt about his trip through South America. The snow around us, at least that which was left, now had a very distinct crust to it as I plowed through it to the lake.

128: light coming down the peaks to the lake — Morning by the lake when the light is still colored.

131: person at the top — I can confirm that Daniil made it to the top of Kings Castle.

134: new swimming past weeds — Rough skinned newt minding its own business.

137: newt on the way away — Away it goes.

138: nearby newt — There's rows of pits on their face?

140: snow on trail with footprints melted clear — The snow has melted and compacted since we started north the day before.

141: lots of bare ground seen between the trees — There's a lot less snow below, too.

Once we started down, there wasn't much snow. Even the part of trail where we had plowed through up to our thighs was now down around our ankles. There were a few soggy patches along the trail, but there really wasn't much call for dry socks anymore.

142: fingers of snow down the hillside — What was a snowy bowl, except high on the left, now just has fingers of snow where the trees provided enough shade.

143: snow on trail, not around — The only snow left is on the trail.

We did meander up the trail toward Turk Lake far enough to find it more obvious among the trees and decide it is really there before continuing down the creek.

144: creek with three short drops — Some short drops on a tributary.

146: creek with cascades and pool — Some lovely light in one pool along Kelsey Creek.

147: splashing water — Noting the splashes in Kelsey Creek.

I changed out my dry socks for more breathable ones at the edge of the cattle range, though it might have been smarter to wait for after the crossing below it. That creek has some flow.

148: dark butterfly on a grey rock — A mourning cloak stopped by.

150: bit of trail falling away — Not only were most the trees cut off the trail, but this slide is definitely getting regular work to keep the trail passable, if still a little scary.

151: yellow violets with rounded lobe leaves — Shelton's violets.

152: saplings getting started — The bigleaf maple had new starts everywhere. One here still wears its sail as a hat.

When we got to Maple Falls again, I spotted the first of the Pacific dogwood. There had been amazing dogwood all along the drive up, but I somehow missed seeing it on the hike up. There was so much on the way down that it's hard to believe there wasn't any to see on the way up.

155: flow in rocks and dead trees — Kelsey Creek from just above Maple Falls.

157: two drops in 3 bits each — Coming around to see Maple Falls. The Pacific dogwood are all low down, far off the trail.

160: more yellow violets — Stream violets.

161: long cascade — The whole of what is potentially Maple Falls.

162: butterfly on fritillary — Edith's checkerspot drinks from the scarlet fritillaries.

164: tall flowers with bright bells at the top — The scarlet fritillaries are still numerous.

165: creek — Back to North Fork Kelsey Creek.

The day felt warm, particularly as we dropped elevation. We stopped in the shade and cool moisture of the North Fork for some lunching time.

166: yellow points — The stonecrops still aren't blooming.

168: falling water between rocks — A hidden away waterfall.

169: coiled snake in a log — A northern pacific rattlesnake moved off the trail in front of Daniil into this log with a large hollow to shake at the far end.

171: big bracts — Pacific dogwood, close enough to see that it is all in bud no matter what the first impression of this might be.

172: sign on a tree — Leaving the Marble Mountain Wilderness.

173: scales looking over a rock — A common sagebrush lizard makes eye contact.

175: lots of dangling flower lines — Some California black oaks were wildly in flower.

176: insect among the floers of the oak — Close up on the flowers and a creepy crawly.

177: little flowers open within the dogwood flower bract — This Pacific dogwood does have a few flowers open inside the showy bracts.

178: flowing water — Water of a tributary.

179: little waterfall combination cascade — Kelsey Creek taking steps.

181: creek water pouring — Just a little piece of Kelsey Creek.

183: white things in the sun — Even if they aren't petals, they look nice turned to the sun.

185: dogwood flowers — A couple more flowers among the buds and bracts of the Pacific dogwood.

188: high trail ledge — A section of high trail.

189: brown butterfly — A duskywing drank from every open blue dick in the area.

190: trail beside the creek — A section of low trail.

192: ditch and trees — Following an old ditch.

We arrived back at the car a little later than strictly desired. Which is what it is. But it was a glorious hike. However, besides the rattlesnakes already being out in the lower elevations, the ticks were quite numerous too.

*photo album*
Has more pictures of newts among other things...

©2026 Valerie Norton
Published 6 May 2026

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Paradise: Kelsey Creek

Klamath National Forest

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