Description:
From Elk Mountain, the trail enters the recently burned forest
on the south facing slope and soon parallels a fence. The
trail follows the fence line for a considerable distance straight
down the slope. This section of trail is not passable for
horses or bicyclists and footing is difficult for hikers.
At the bottom of the slope the trail joins a road and follows
it to the south for a short distance before veering off to
the left along the fence line
There is one meadow where it may be difficult to follow.
Otherwise the trail is entirely in the forest. The trail brieflt
becomes quite narrow crosses a dirt road (Forest Road 92).
In this stretch it goes up, down and around a series of small
hills. A signed junction for the Na-na-ka
Trail 217 is found at Bull Creek Saddle. Continuing south,
the narrower trail climbs steeply from this saddle and then
goes up and down a series of knobs. The forest is more open
in this section and it is easy to wander off the trail.
The trail continues to climb at a very gradual incline to
the junction with the trail from the Valle del Toro. Recently
widened as a result of the fire, this now looks more like
a road. To drop down through the Valle del Toro to Bull Creek
and Forest Road 86 turn right (west). To continue on this
trail, bear to the left. The trail, very wide in some sections,
continues to follow the divide to the south, passing through
forest and some meadow. As you get closer to Black Mountain,
it passes through some small clearings with exposed soils
and very few trees. As the trail starts the final climb up
a small hill to Black Mountain the tread becomes more obscure.
At the top of the climb the trail bears left and goes through
thick forest to emerge in about one mile at the Black Mountain
Road (Forest Road 203).
See Skyline Trail-Part
1, Skyline Trail-Part
2, Skyline Trail-Part
3, Skyline Trail-Part
4, Skyline Trail-Part 5
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Conditions
on this trail are highly variable. Some sections are narrow,
steep, and difficult to follow and others are easily-accessible.
