Availability
Kelly Lake and West Branch Indian Creek are mapped at or near the camp-area marker. This is map evidence, not a real-time flow report.
Backpacking camp
Kelly Lake camp area
Red Buttes Wilderness, California
About this place
Kelly Lake is the named lake destination on NFS Trail 5233 from Poker Flat.
Camp on durable ground under wilderness setbacks and treat all lake water.
Water planning
Water at this camp
Natural water at or near this camp areaDrinking safety
Natural water is not verified potable. Filter and disinfect it or boil it according to the linked land-manager guidance before drinking.
Seasonality
Kelly Lake is a mapped waterbody; USGS does not classify it here as seasonal or year-round. Confirm current level, access, and quality. West Branch Indian Creek is classified as perennial in USGS hydrography, but current flow still must be confirmed.
- Kelly LakeLake or pond · at the camp areaMapped waterbody — level and access can change · Treat before drinkingOfficial source
- West Branch Indian CreekRiver or stream · at the camp areaMapped perennial source — verify current flow · Treat before drinkingOfficial source
Fire planning
Campfire & stove rules
Fire only where the applicable forest currently permitsCampfires
Red Buttes spans Klamath and Rogue River–Siskiyou jurisdictions. Use an existing safe site only when the controlling forest order allows a wood fire; never infer legality from an old ring.
Backpacking stoves
Shutoff-valve stove with California permit. On the California portion, use a gas or pressurized-fuel stove with a working shutoff valve and carry the California Campfire Permit; wood and twig stoves follow the fire restriction.
Permit
Carry the California Campfire Permit for any otherwise-legal California stove or fire and check Oregon rules before crossing the state line.
Current restrictions
Check both Klamath and Rogue River–Siskiyou fire orders; the stricter current order controls the corresponding segment.
Seasonal access
Closures & seasonal access
High Red Buttes routes and remote Oregon-side forest roads are commonly snowbound into late spring or summer and can close after wildfire, storms, washouts, or fallen treesPlace closure
No recurring date-based closure of Kelly Lake is published. The source-connected approach conditions below and temporary emergency orders still control access.
Seasonal access
Source-connected approaches: Poker Flat Trailhead, Sanger Creek Trailhead. High Red Buttes routes and remote Oregon-side forest roads are commonly snowbound into late spring or summer and can close after wildfire, storms, washouts, or fallen trees.
Before driving
Check Klamath and Rogue River–Siskiyou conditions and verify the exact Horse Camp road, gate, parking, snow, and fire status before travel.
Mapped approaches
Choose a trailhead for Kelly Lake camp area
Each option has a sourced trail route to this camp area. Choose one to open its itinerary builder with this destination in context.
- Poker Flat Trailhead2.4 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Sanger Creek Trailhead12.6 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 41.927703° N
- Longitude
- 123.545453° W