The Crawfish Basin Trailhead is a small rustic trailhead accessing Crawfish Basin Trail #1612 which enters the northern end of the North Fork John Day Wilderness.
Alert: The road to the site is steep and narrow. High clearance or 4x4 vehicles are recommended.
The Crawfish Basin Trail #1612 crosses the northeast portion of the North Fork John Day Wilderness and displays impressive views of Lakes Lookout, Lees Peak and Angel Peak. The trail also provides an excellent view of the ridges and draws extending to the southwest.
Traveling at 400 feet above Crawfish Meadow to the southwest, you can see the rock and spruce islands far below, as well as Crawfish Creek winding through the meadow. This meadow and a smaller, unnamed pond and meadow above the trail can be reached by short cross-country trips. At Dutch Flat Saddle the trail joins the scenic Elkhorn Crest Trail #1611.