Pit River Trail
- 6.2 mi
- round trip
- 78 ft
- climb
- 4,329 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Jun, Sep
- best months
Is Pit River Trail open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Modoc National Forest.
Forest Fire Restrictions 2026 have been lifted as of 09/27/2026
Agency alert covering Modoc National Forest · Order 09-26-01 · USFS · Modoc National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Modoc National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Pit River Trail is a 6.2-mile out-and-back hike in the Big Valley Ranger District of Modoc National Forest in California. The route rises about 80 feet from a low point of 4,244 feet to a high of 4,329 feet, making it a short, easy walk with little elevation change. The trail is open year-round and is a natural-surface route that allows both horses and bikes. That makes it a flexible option for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show May highs around 69°F and September highs around 80°F, while July and August average in the upper 80s. Howards Gulch Trail and Howards Gulch campground sit about 8 miles away, and Duncan South Boating Site is roughly 10 miles off.
Best time to go · May–Jun, Sep
Best time to visit Pit River Trail
Best months: May–June and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
42° / 20°
Feb
48° / 23°
Mar
53° / 27°
Apr
59° / 30°
May
69° / 37°
Jun
78° / 43°
Jul
88° / 48°
Aug
87° / 45°
Sep
80° / 38°
Oct
67° / 28°
Nov
52° / 23°
Dec
41° / 19°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Canby 3 Sw, CA, 7.6 mi away at 4,310 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: JOE BLOWE from Bountiful, Utah, Iran, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Timbered Crater Trail
~48 min drive
1.1-mile out-and-back hike in California with 194 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Schonchin Butte Trail Start, Tulelake, Ca
~1h drive
This trail climbs 0.7 miles (1.4 km) to the fire lookout and a panoramic view. Trail has a 500 -foot elevation gain. You can be a guest of the lookout on duty in summer. Please stay on the designated trail and do not shortcut switchbacks. Lava Beds has twelve hiking trails.…
Photo: ex_magician, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Little Mount Hoffman Trail
~56 min drive
6.12-mile out-and-back hike in California with 678 ft gain
HIKE
Three Sisters Trail
~55 min drive
7.1-mile out-and-back hike in California with 429 ft gain and 4,580 ft max elevation.
Photo: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Medicine Lake Glass Flow Trail
~55 min drive
0.74-mile out-and-back hike with 33 ft gain at Medicine Lake Glass Flow Trail, California
HIKE
Whitney Butte Trail Start, Tulelake, Ca
~1h 1m drive
From Merrill Cave parking area to the west boundary of the monument, this trail crosses the wilderness in an east-west direction, curving around Whitney Butte. Enjoy an impressive view of Mount Shasta and the Callahan Lava Flow. This trail is 3.3 miles (5.3 km) one way. Due…
HIKE
Red Tail Rim Trail
~32 min drive
19.13-mile out-and-back trail in California with 3,015 ft gain.
HIKE
Modoc Line Trail
~57 min drive
9.2-mile out-and-back hike in California with 1,004 ft gain/loss
Photo: ex_magician, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Medicine Lakeshore Trail
~55 min drive
2.36-mile out-and-back hike at Medicine Lakeshore Trail in California
HIKE
Heppe Cave Trail Start, Tulelake, CA
~58 min drive
Heppe Cave Trail can be found on the road to Mammoth Crater. This 0.4-mile (0.6 km) trail begins under tall Ponderosa pines. As you reach the end of the trail, you will view an enormous collapse. Follow the trail into Heppe Ice Cave that has a large opening at both ends. Due…
