Wolf Gap Trail

The Wolf Gap Trail is a 5 mile loop in the Sterling Mine Ditch Trail system in the Little Applegate area. Views, ticks, and a decent elevation gain work out!

Driving

– It’s about a 45 minute drive from the I-5 exit 24 into Phoenix. Drive towards Phoenix but turn right onto Route 88 for a coupld undred yards and you’ll hit South Stage Road where you will turn left towards Jacksonville. When you hit Griffin Creek Road don’t turn right… TURN LEFT! Maybe a half mile on that and you turn right on West Griffin Creek with a tiny sign so look for the produce stand on your left, and turn right.

A couple miles on that and the road changes names to Poorman’s Creek (?) I think but it dead ends into Sterling Mine Road. Turn left. Now you have 8 miles on this but pay attention. A TINY TINY BROWN SIGN that says Sterling Mine Ditch Trail is on the right side of the road pointing left. Turn left even though it looks like it might be a country driveway.

Short 1/4 mile and you dead end into gravel road where you will turn left towards The Deming Trailhead. Now 3 miles uphill on a very well groomed gravel road until you hit the significant trailhead turnaround for the Wolf Gap Trail

Parking

– So much parking in a well signed dirt lot.

Hiking

– Start uphill from the well maintained trailhead & information sign and within 100 yards you will hit an intersection. This is the beginning of your loop. Take the right fork and don’t worry, that left fork will still be there for you to return on. You will begin heading downhill for the next 1.5 miles. In a couple hundred yards – POW – you burst out onto an open field with a dramatic slope and spectacular views.

The trail crosses this field twice as you head downhill and you then plunge into a mixed madrone, oak, and pine forest until you reach the Sterling Mine Ditch Trail. This is the bottom of this hike. Turn left along the empty ditch for 1/4 mile and you’ll see a sign for the Upper Bear Gulch Trail so take that to the left and begin the climb back up hill. Another 1/2 mile on this and another intersection with excellent signage. Take the left fork uphill toward Wolf Gap.

Now the real uphill hiking begins. And if it’s a hot, sunny day, man I hope you brought a hat. It is 1.5 miles up through many more open fields with wildflowers and ticks. Towards the top of the ridge The Wolf Gap trail splits to the left and the right fork heads towards Tunnel Ridge. Today, we turn left and the trail begins to flatten out paralleling the ridgeline above and giving you 180 degree views for days.

After 1/2 mile along this section a spur trail heads off the the left to a viewpoint called the Siskiyou Viewpoint. It’s nice. It’s fine. 270 degrees instead of 180 degrees and… no bench. I know. Disappointing but fine. Come back to the Wolf Gap Trail, turn left, and you will return back to your car in less than a mile. 5 miles. Boom.