[2] The trail begins in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness and ends in Redwood National Park at the Pacific Ocean near Crescent City, California.

Northwest California's Klamath Mountains foster one of the most diverse temperate coniferous forests on Earth,[3] and this route is intended to be a celebration of that biodiversity.

The trail passes through these areas, listed south to north: The botanical diversity exists in northwest California because of the interactions of a variety of factors that have remained "consistent" for millions of years.

[4] Northwest California is an ancient meeting ground—having a central location and continuity with other mountain ranges as well as a proximity to the Pacific Ocean.

Complex soils of the Klamath Mountains have helped create a spectrum of subtle microclimates in which plant species have been able to "hide out" and evolve.

[12] Because the trail traverses varied topography by first traveling in a south to north direction and then east to west, many of northwest California's common and unique vegetation types are visited.