Six Rivers National Forest · California · Trail 5E21

Skull Camp

Skull Camp Trail is a 6.4 miles trail in Six Rivers National Forest, California. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2, moderately developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock, mountain biking, motorcycle, atv and e-bikes.

Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Six Rivers National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.

Map

One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.

One end40.5463, -123.5439 · Directions ↗
Other end40.5660, -123.5722 · Directions ↗

The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 4 segments.

The trail

Length6.4 miles
Trail class2, moderately developed
Typeland trail
Surfacenative material
Typical grade20-30 percent
Typical tread width18-24 inches
Motor vehiclesOpen to at least one motorized use
AccessibilityNot evaluated
Trail numbers5E21, 5E21D
ForestSix Rivers National Forest (unit 0510)
StatesCalifornia
Detail publishedmanagement level, with uses

Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.

Allowed uses

HikingAllowed year-round
Horse and pack stockAllowed 05/01 to 11/15 (month/day)
Mountain bikingAllowed year-round
MotorcycleAllowed 05/01 to 11/15 (month/day)
ATVAllowed 05/01 to 11/15 (month/day)
E-bikesAllowed year-round

A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.

Trailheads

The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record. The forest's recreation pages list the trailheads it does publish.

Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date. The recreation page link goes to the Forest Service site, which may redirect to the forest's recreation index.

Camping nearby

No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.

Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.

Reference

Questions people ask

How long is the Skull Camp Trail?

6.4 miles, the sum of the 4 segments the Forest Service records under this name in Six Rivers National Forest.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

What is allowed on the Skull Camp Trail?

hiking, horse and pack stock, mountain biking, motorcycle, atv and e-bikes. The trail is open to at least one motorized use. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Where does the Skull Camp Trail start?

The line begins at 40.5463, -123.5439 and ends at 40.5660, -123.5722. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Is the Skull Camp Trail in a wilderness area?

No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Where can I camp near the Skull Camp Trail?

No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.

Source: Six Rivers National Forest official page

How developed is the Skull Camp Trail?

Trail class 2, which the Forest Service describes as moderately developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

How steep and how wide is the Skull Camp Trail?

The typical grade is 20-30 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Who manages the Skull Camp Trail?

Six Rivers National Forest, Forest Service unit 0510. The trail is in California.

Source: Six Rivers National Forest official page

Source

This page is built from 4 segments named SKULL CAMP in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0510. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.