01
Best overall pick
Mount Bidwell via Forest Road 391
Warner Mountains Above Fort Bidwell • High-Elevation Summit Hike • Local Favorite For Big Views
A demanding climb to one of the best viewpoints above Surprise Valley.
From the higher forest roads west of town, the Mount Bidwell route heads up through open forest and rocky slopes to a broad summit with a true end-of-the-world feel. On clear days you can see deep into Nevada and up the Warner crest in both directions. Expect rough access roads, cooler temperatures, and a hike that feels properly wild even by Modoc County standards.
02
Classic ridge walk
Crane Mountain National Recreation Trail
Northern Warner Mountains Crest • Rugged Ridge Trail • Best For Experienced Hikers
A long, airy ridge route with constant views into California and Oregon.
Reaching the Crane Mountain trailheads takes a bit of driving on forest roads, but the payoff is a classic Warner Mountains traverse. The path clings to the high crest, weaving past rock outcrops, small lakes, and open slopes that bloom with wildflowers in early summer. Strong, prepared hikers can make a long out-and-back day of it or sample a shorter section near a trailhead for a quicker taste of the ridge.
03
Quiet nature escape
Dismal Swamp Area Trails
High Plateau West Of Fort Bidwell • Forest And Meadow Ramble • Best For Solitude Seekers
Gentle paths and old tracks wander through cool forest and wet meadows misnamed as "dismal."
Despite the name, Dismal Swamp is a pleasant pocket of mixed forest, springs, and open meadow on the Warner Mountains plateau. Short, informal routes and old roads let you wander at your own pace, watching for wildlife sign and enjoying the shade on hot valley days. It is a great choice when you want an unhurried walk without committing to a big climb.
04
Best for wide-open scenery
Bald Hills via Forest Road 391
Ridge South Of Mount Bidwell • Open-Slope Ridge Hike • Best For Sunrise And Sunset
Rolling, mostly treeless hills offer huge skies and easy improvising of routes along the ridge.
South of Mount Bidwell, the Bald Hills area is exactly what the name suggests: rounded, largely open high country with grass, low brush, and distant horizons. Hikers typically follow old tracks and faint paths along the ridge, choosing their own turnaround point based on time and weather. Come early or late in the day for golden light over Surprise Valley and a cooling breeze off the crest.
05
Most varied outing
Barrel Springs Back Country Byway Stops
Back Country Between Cedarville And Fort Bidwell • Scenic Byway With Short Hikes • Best For Mixed Driving And Walking
A remote dirt-road loop with pullouts to stretch your legs on overlooks, rims, and old two-tracks.
The Barrel Springs Back Country Byway is primarily a driving route, but several high points and rim edges along the way make natural short hikes. You can park at wide spots, walk out along old tracks or across open sage to overlooks, and piece together a day of many short strolls instead of one big push. It is ideal for visitors who want a sampler of Warner Mountains and Surprise Valley landscapes without committing to a long backcountry trek.