Hike Snow Mountain - Mendocino National Forest

10 years ago several of us day-tripped to Snow Mountain. We drove the 2 1/2 hours on a dirt road, forded a creek in our high clearance vehicles, and parked and hiked up the 2000 feet in 4 miles, returning to Ukiah on the same day.

10 years older and the mountain still calls to me. The Summit Springs trailhead washout has been repaired! I want to drive to Bear Creek campground the afternoon before and car camp. It's a pretty creekside camp with lots of poison oak. For those who need a bathroom - I don't remember any except a probable pit toilet. It's primitive camping, first come first serve. Upper Lake Rangers answered the phone 6/20/2025. very helpful staff!!!

Saturday morning, we will drive the 45"+ to Summit Springs. You are welcome to join me in this adventure, Last time, I invited my other meetup. This year I'll just post here on Mendocino County Outdoors Recreation Group. You are welcome to do it as a day trip and meet us at the Bear Creek Campground Saturday morning. Or you're welcome to car camp. Please know how to navigate Mendocino National Forest without a phone or electronic device. It's easy to get lost and there's no cell service.

Bear Creek Campground is here: Google Maps Bear Creek.

Being a weekend, there are high chances of dirt bike riders riding by and also camped here, as well as other yah-hu's. Hip Camp description of Bear Creek. It's also a favorite memory of when I brought friends who like to make wine, and we didn't make it to the top, the next day.

More Random thoughts:

Snow Mountain is the tallest mountain of two nearby counties - Lake and Colusa. It is visible from Williams and the high hills above Ukiah. It's also has a history of fire. Fire or any danger of fire will cancel this trip.

The picture above is looking up the trail to the summit of Snow Mountain. Snow Mountain is more of a ridge than a summit, although if a hiker started at the bottom, the hiker could climb 3000+ feet of clear mountain elevation. I'm not a fast hiker, especially 10 years and 30 lbs more. We will gain about 1800 feet of elevation. Uphill I sometimes average than 1.5 mph. Downhill I have done 3 mph. We will take it easy.

The summit is 7,100 feet.

Bring

1. warm clothes and layers, 2. two quarts - water, 3. map and compass. 4. food for all day & more, 5. hat for sun shade/ sunscreen - sunblock, sun glasses. 6. rain protection - just in case. 7. first-aid -- personal items, 9. day pack 10. extra water, 11. communication - cell phones are untested on snow mountain & signals are unlikely to reach cell towers. two-way radios are recommended. 12. other fun things to bring: nice camera, drawing materials, trail guide, wildflower guide, dogs.

The only wildlife I've observed on snow mountain is deer, squirrels, birds, snakes; but according to my map - snow has the highest population of mountain lion in the state.

The reason we are planning to leave so early in the morning is to avoid the potential of afternoon lightning and thunderstorms that occur when the hot air of the low valley's hits the cold air of high summits.

The drive from Ukiah is a little over two hours,

The following description is from the parking lot at Summit Springs.
Hiking to the 'summit fork' in the trail to the two summits is 4 miles. Add a half mile leg in each summit - the total in and out of the trail will be about 10 miles. We will have plenty of time for leisurely taking pictures, and taking time for lunch, and snacks, and enjoying the trail. Most interesting is walking through the burns of past forest fires (1987 was one biggy).

We begin walking at Summit Springs Trailhead (39.345841, -122.752100). The plan is to be walking by 9am in the cool of the morning.

favorite websites: http://www.summitpost.org/snow-mountain/151659

and

http://www.summitpost.org/summit-springs-east-peak-loop/158244

Please message through meetup if you have any questions. I have driven many types of cars on these roads. If you have a sedan, know that there is a serious creek crossing with potential for a few inches of water, and big rocks to navigate around. About half the time I come out with a flat, or some wear on my tires. Also, admittedly, the times I've done this as a solo trip, I've been more casual about making it to the top. There's a fantastic view of the great valley from several places along the trail.

More rambling thoughts: the reason why I pick this weekend - it's my free weekend, no obligations, and it's the latest in the season that I would choose to go into this country with the fire dangers of recent history. Join me if your free, and enjoy being outdoors. It's a lot of driving, too!

Photo by David Nelson May 2015