Darlingtonia Trail,
Smith River National Recreation Area
The Darlingtonia Trail is located on California's highway 199, at mile post 17.9 in the Smith River National Recreation Area. This short botanical trail leads to a wooden platform that overlooks the Darlingtonia Bog. Darlingtonia, also known as the Pitcher Plant (darlingtonia californica) is a rare plant that grows in northern California and southwestern Oregon and looks a little bit like a hooded cobra with fangs, the plant traps insects and other small organisms within this hood for nutrients. Please do not pick the plants, illegal collecting and loss of wetlands habitat have severely reduced the number of these plants growing in the wild.
Elevation
The Darlingtonia Trail has a maximum elevation of 602 ft., a minimum elevation of 588 ft. and an elevation range of 14 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 0.2 mi | 588 ft | 602 ft | 14 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 5 min | 0.8 | 9 ft | 10 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 5 min | 0.8 | 10 ft | 9 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF Darlingtonia Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: High Divide, CA
- North Topo Map: High Plateau Mountain, CA
- Northeast Topo Map: Shelly Creek Ridge, CA
- West Topo Map: Hiouchi, CA
- Topo Map: Gasquet, CA
- East Topo Map: Hurdygurdy Butte, CA
- Southwest Topo Map: Childs Hill, CA
- South Topo Map: Canthook Mountain, CA
- Southeast Topo Map: Ship Mountain, CA
FAQ
What is the length of the Darlingtonia Trail?
The length of the trail is 0.2 miles (0.3 km) or 468 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Darlingtonia Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 5 minutes in one direction and in 5 minutes in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) may be present in this area. The Western blacklegged tick transmits Anaplasmosis and Lyme Disease.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.