The usual access to this trailhead is from Fort Jones, CA via the single-lane paved road (Forest Road (FR) 44N45) toward Lovers Camp, with a turn-off on to gravel FR 44N45 to a five-way junction next to a large corral, then a turn left (south) here on to FR 44N59Y for the short, but steep and narrow, drive to the Box Camp Trailhead. FR 44N45 is, however, temporarily closed for repairs, so it was necessary to take gravel FR 44N41 (which starts as Canyon Creek Road) to get around the closure. Lots of gravel driving ensued. The hiker trailhead is at the first big wide spot in FR 44N59Y, with parking for several cars and identified with a signboard (it's not at the corral at the five-way junction as the Forest Service website indicates).
Box Camp TrailheadThe trail itself - which was in great shape all the way to its junction with the PCT - starts out through a forest,
Along the Box Camp Trailsoon crosses an old road, passes the end of another old road, and then climbs steadily up into meadows overlooking Canyon Creek (part of the Klamath River watershed).
Looking east down the Canyon Creek Valley from the the Box Camp TrailHigher up, the trail passed above "Death Valley" (headwaters of Death Valley Creek) with a view south to the Sky High Lakes area.
The meadow above "Death Valley"; Sky High Lakes are in the meadow (orange spot) in the distanceFurther up, the meadows give way to stubby manzanita and rock outcroppings,
Crossing rocky ground on the Box Camp Trailand the trail then passes through a band of the white marble rock which gives this wilderness area its name.
A band of white marbleThe last stretch of trail before its junction with the PCT is largely treeless,
Approaching the junction with the PCTallowing for views of Black Marble Mountain (7,442 feet) and Kings Castle (7,405 feet).
Black Marble Mountain to the west
Kings Castle to the northI could see smoke still rising from the Salmon-August Complex Fire to the south and from the Miller Complex Fire to the north - this year's fire season just isn't going to end until we have some seriously wet/snowy weather.
Smoke (yellow arrow) from the Salmon-August Complex Fire (red arrow is Thompson Peak in the Trinity Alps)
Smoke (red arrow) from the Miller Complex FireThe PCT is essentially level from its junction with the Box Camp Trail to Paradise Lake and the 2.5 miles from the junction to the lake went quickly. The weather was clear and crisp all day - it was only along the PCT that I encountered noticable (and cold) wind.
Going north on the PCTFrom the PCT, I could look back (southeast) toward the long ridge that is Box Camp Mountain (it's highest point is not specifically named). The Box Camp Trail climbs along the other side of this ridge.
Box Camp MountainParadise Lake gets disparaged by some as shallow and muddy but I found it to be very pretty, surrounded as it was by muted Fall colors.
Paradise Lake, with blocky Kings Castle above
Paradise Lake
Paradise LakeFrom the lake it's a short cross-country hike up to the summit of Kings Castle, but I couldn't muster any enthusiasm for doing this. There's a nice large campsite on the east shore of the lake, so I stopped there for a snack (and also to pick-up trash left by incondiderate campers). After that, it was back the way I'd come to the trailhead. A moderate (11.7 mile roundtrip; 2,200 feet of elevation gain) hike to a nice little lake, along trails in great condition, with big views along the way. If you can muster the enthusiasm, both Black Marble Mountain and Kings Castle are close-by as straighforward climbs up from the PCT.
My out-and-back track to Paradise Lake