Updated: 2005-03-18 By: anonymous Comments: Rocky Ridge trail still in pretty good shape. A small waterfall running off painted rock. Lion Canyon stream flowing. Called F.S. proposed connection is dead at the moment, ,not enough demand I guess.Updated: 2004-03-26 By: Bryan Conant Comments: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/news/news-release/mptrail.html
News Releases: 2004
News Release
Los Padres National Forest
Cheryl Foster, (661) 245-3731
Public Comment Invited on Proposed Forest Trail
The Forest Service is inviting public comment on their proposal to construct a new trail in an area of Los Padres National Forest about six miles southwest of New Cuyama. According to Mount Pinos District Ranger Tom Kuekes, the new trail would be about 4.5 miles long and would link the Aliso Park Campground to the Rocky Ridge Trail. The trail would be open to hiking, equestrian use, and mountain bicycling, but not motor vehicles. A new trailhead at Aliso Park Campground would include a vault toilet, signing and other improvements. Access to the new trail would be via Highway 166 and Forest Road 10N04.
For more information about the proposed trail, call Cheryl Foster, at the Chuchupate Ranger Station, at (661) 245-3731. Written comments are encouraged and should be mailed by March 22, to the Mt. Pinos Ranger District, 34580 Lockwood Valley Road, Frazier Park, CA 93225.
Updated: 2005-03-06 By: Greg and Quynh McC Comments: Nice hike, though our GPS marked the hike at 3.25 miles one way. The trail starts at the Cove and winds around the lake inlets among lots of lizards and flowers. Halfway through the hike is Sweetwater campground, a primative camp site. With water in the lake, makes for a pretty 2 hr round trip hike.
- GregUpdated: 2005-02-07 By: BSA Troop 42 Comments: A 6 February 2005 hike found the trail in great shape; cleared wide with no Poison Oak problems. The Oak Canyon and Mohawk Mesa Loop Trails are also green and flowered. The Nature Center was a great stop during our hike.
Updated: 2005-02-21 By: Chris Chirgwin Comments: Feb 20, 2005 - Hiked the Willows Springs trail to the connector with Dave Brown Trail. The trail has been cleared and is easy to follow. LOTS of water in the creek at the junction.Updated: 2004-04-04 By: Diane Comments: I hiked the upper part of Willow Springs Trail. It's in pretty good shape, but a little overgown in some places. Likely to be very overgrown come summer.
A ranger was there putting in a sign to mark the trail on Catway road.
This is a really nice trail and I am looking forward to returning in June to see the scarlet larkspur blooming, and maybe making a loop with the upper part of Davy Brown trail. Maybe even leave a bike at the top of Davy Brown trail and ride back to Catway road.Updated: 2003-12-08 By: Trailhacker Comments: The trail from Willow Springs down to Davy Brown is overgrown. There is a lot of poison oak and many fallen trees. I cut some of the brush and poison oak but the trees are large so they are still there. Needs some work with a chain saw.
Updated: 2005-02-20 By: BSA Troop 42 Comments: 19/20 February 2005 - Backpacked NIRA Campground to Manzana Camp. Trail good overall; some erosion. When the Manzana Creek trail crossing above NIRA looks dangerous, like now, a better place to cross is reached by hiking upcreek until you run out of something to walk on and cross there; where the Creek is wider. This point will get you "above" the Wilderness Entry sign on the other side of the Creek.Updated: 2005-02-03 By: B3 Comments: Nira is open. Felt sorry for the dude hiking in from Happy Canyon as I drove by. Oh well!
Hiked in to Fish Creek. Trail is washed out in sections but in fine hiking shape.
Happy Cyn looks to be closed for quite some time so get used to the drive up past Figueroa.
Its nice when Lost Valley is flowing like Manzana usually does. Lots of water. First crossing at Manzana was about knee deep, Fish Creek crossing was rock hoppable.Updated: 2004-11-19 By: greg Comments: man i like treesUpdated: 2004-11-07 By: BSA Troop 42 Comments: 6/7 November hike to camp at Fish Creek Camp after third storm of the season. Roads good;recent work.Trail good;Manzana Creek crossings can be rock hopped. Fish Creek is flowing into the Manzana;the soaking pool is ready. Tree leaves changing color and some green grass.Updated: 2004-03-21 By: Duane Comments: There is a new latrine at Manzana Narrows. Turn right at the big rock.
Updated: 2005-02-20 By: Greg and Quynh McC Comments: Revisited this trail with some friends...a recent slide closed a portion of this trail, but it's since been reopened by an alt route. Cachuma Lake finally looks like a lake again. Good trail.
- GregUpdated: 2004-09-26 By: Greg McCulley Comments: Great trail...a little hot near the top, but in October will be the "ideal" trail. Poison Oak prevented our ascent to Broadcast Peak, made it half way up the scrambling rocks, but the entire Tequepis Trail was easily passable. Lots of cat tracks, too.
Updated: 2005-02-20 By: Greg and Quynh McC Comments: Nice, 500' elevation change trail, only 3.1 miles round trip, and not too steep. The middle of the trail has a slide remnant that was a little slippery, but overall the trail was very wide and easy to see, for San Rafael. I'd recommend it.
- GregUpdated: 2005-01-02 By: BSA Troop 42 Comments: 1 January 2005 hike from Davy Brown Camp to Sunset Valley. Brush near Munch Creek crossing.
Updated: 2005-01-30 By: Duan Comments: My mistake; at the trail junction, the trail on the RIGHT is Munch Canyon Spur, and the trail on the LEFT is Willow Springs Connector. Sorry about that.Updated: 2005-01-30 By: Duane Comments: In surprisingly good shape, although there are several washouts near the bottom, beginning about a half mile from Davy Brown camp. Just follow the creek and you will be ok.
A much steeper trail than I realized. Hiking downhill is very difficult in some places.
There is a trail junction about a mile down from the trailhead at Figueroa Road. The trail on the right is the Willow Springs Connector; the one on the left is the Munch Canyon Spur. Davy Brown Trail continues as the middle trail on the right hand side of the creek.Updated: 2005-01-02 By: BSA Troop 42 Comments: 1 January 2005 hike from Figueroa Mountain Road to Davy Brown Camp. Thank you for the great trail work. Creek crossings are rock hoppable. Two trees and two dirt slides across trail.Updated: 2004-01-06 By: hiker a Comments: few trees fallen over trail on lower section - forest service should clear when they get the chance - passable on foot & bike but horses may have trouble 1-6-03
Updated: 2005-01-30 By: blueice Comments: The trail is good shape except for a few small slides which can be easily negotiated. BUT, Paradise Rd was still closed at the first river crossing right before Lower Oso (ranger told me they may open it next weekend). You have to wade the river (about 5 - 10 inches), walk up the road to Upper Oso and then join the trail.
Made it into the Schoolhouse this past week. Crossings were knee deep and the water was moving pretty fast but overall it was pretty easy getting across. Lots of erosion along the trail, trees across the road, water everywhere, awesome!Updated: 2004-12-20 By: BSA Troop 42 Comments: Spent 18/19 December 2004 at Coldwater Camp. Seven rock hopping Manzana Creek crossings to camp. Thanks for the recent trail work. Thanks to Troop 93 for the great tables.Updated: 2004-11-14 By: Brian Comments: I hiked again to coldwater on 13-14 Nov 04. Spent the night at coldwater. No ticks, no bears, but about a tenth of a mile past protreo (sp) there is a big deadfall in the way and you really have to go around it. Its the section where the trail comes out and cuts back on itself around the big rock. I have coords when I get to them. If you are going before I do again, please try to cut some out. Updated: 2004-10-27 By: Bryan Comments: October 26, 2004
Lots of water flowing from Nira to the Davis Property boundary. From there the water is intermittent to the Cody house. From Cody's to the Schoolhouse it is dry. Sisquoc is dry at the Schoolhouse.Updated: 2004-09-17 By: Brian Comments: I hiked to Coldwater. Found water about .15 mile before coldwater and agin a few hundred feet before cold water. Look for the really BRIGHT green trees on the left of the trail going to coldwater about 50 yards off trail. There is a big pool about 4 feet deep. Updated: 2004-05-22 By: Chris Chirgwin Comments: Hiked from Nira to Manzana Schoolhouse on Friday May 21. Running water most of the way from the trailhead to just below Dabney cabin. Saw quite a few deer in the meadows around ColdWater.Updated: 2004-04-12 By: hiker a Comments: water a plenty frok nira down to schoolhouse
april 10 2004Updated: 2004-01-15 By: Cory Gallipeau Comments: Weekend of Jan 10 went to Schoolhouse. Plenty of water from trailhead until about 1.5 miles upstream of dabney cabin. Intermittent from Dabney to Schoolhouse with the last mile or so of Manzana Ck being dry- no water at Schoolhouse at all, neither in Sisquoc or Manzana. Tics were prevalent, not too many, but the ones that are out are pretty tiny.Updated: 2003-12-28 By: Brian Comments: Just finished the Manzana trail to the School House on the weekend of the 27/28th No water at the School house, closest filterable stuff was about 2 miles before campground, right before Dabney Cabin. There is a few small stagnent pools about half a mile into the Sisquoc River bed towards the west, but they don't look that good.
Trail was good, there is a fallen pine tree about half a mile after Coldwater. Was lots of water along the way in Manzana Creek, nothing more than 8 inches deep to cross. Was cold, got below freezing Saturday night, and the ground was still frozen Sunday at the trail head at Nira.Updated: 2003-12-02 By: hiker a Comments: no water at schoolhouse but are some pools remaining upstream about a mile decemebr 2 03
Updated: 2005-01-16 By: BSA Troop 42 Comments: 15 / 16 January 2005. Camped at Upper Ballard Camp. Good trail to Camp from Figueroa Mountain Road. Cleared several branches. More Lady Bugs in canyon than Davy Brown Trail on 1 January. Nice gurgling stream through Camp.
Updated: 2005-01-02 By: BSA Troop 42 Comments: 1 January 2005 hike from Munch Canyon Trail junction to East Pinery. Another great trail with recent trailwork; Thank you. Snow on the north side of San Rafael Mountain.
Updated: 2005-01-02 By: BSA Troop 42 Comments: 1 January 2005 hike from Sunset Valley to White Rock Trail. Thank you for the recent great trail work. Is there a story about the large trash area above the last stream crossing?
Updated: 2004-12-04 By: BSA Troop 42 Comments: 4 December 2004 hike on old construction road on left about 1 mile up river from the end of Paradise Road parking. Old road is shown on photo updated Little Pine Mtn 7.5’ Topographical maps after the 1964 edition; it ends near Gibraltar Lake. Trail is usable with some erosion, and you will become one with the bushes at least once; more if you hike to the mine shown on the map.Updated: 2004-10-31 By: BSA Troop 42 Comments: 30 October 2004 hike up Santa Ynez River to Gibraltar Dam. Dry feet; rock hopping at River crossings. Tree leaves changing color.
Updated: 2004-11-15 By: BSA Troop 42 Comments: 14 November 2004 hike to Knapp's Castle found the area clean and groomed. Had to range further to fill our trash bag. Fremont Trail is great, but still steep in places. What is the use of the ceremony rock circle and ribbons found about half a mile below Camino Cielo?
Updated: 2004-10-19 By: Bryan Comments: The Alejandro trail is fairly overgrown and covered with oak. It is findable but expect some bushwhacking. There is a tricky turnoff just after Alejandro camp heading downstream. Look for the turnoff to the left. A group of bikers missed the turnoff last month and had to be rescued.
Also the SLTCC and Santa Lucia Ranger District are planning a trail day to clear out this trail in November 2004.
Updated: 2004-08-21 By: Chris Chirgwin Comments: Hiked the loop from East Pinery Rd to Munch Trail and up White Rock trail back to East Pinery. Much of the trail is becoming overgrown (especially from East Pinery Rd down to Munch). There is a little water still running in the creeks and a lot of poison oak.
Updated: 2004-08-19 By: hiker a Comments: found this on another site about the puerto trail
http://photos.sb-outdoors.org/Dick-Smith
Updated: 2004-03-26 By: Bryan Conant Comments: I last hiked the Don Victor Valley trail in Spring 2003. Just a warning that the trail into DV from Madulce is badly overgrown and shouldn't even be called a trail anymore. Expect to crawl, bushwhack, and cuss your way the 5 miles down into the valley.
Updated: 2004-07-31 By: Duane Comments: I didn't make it all the way, but...
Trail in very good shape. Water is available in spots along the creek, but it will obviously need to be filtered. Water also available at the end of SB Canyon Road / Buckhorn Road near the gate.
It's a bit cooler than I thought it would be because of the higher elevation.
There is a campsite at the trailhead on SB Cyn Road.Updated: 2004-03-15 By: doug ross Comments: Trail in good shape. A little overgrown in places. Water is available at present.Updated: 2004-02-25 By: Doug Ross Comments: Santa Barbara Canyon trail to Madulce Cabin. Trail in good shape except for a few nasty sections with very thorny bushes. Very little water and it was quite foul looking. Snow at cabin!
Updated: 2004-07-10 By: Brian Comments: I hiked to here and then on to Fish Camp. There was a good spot of flowing water about a 1/4 mile or less past Lost Canyon towards Fish Camp. No water at Fish Camp, and dry most of the way. HOT. I saw 98 on my van guage at Nira when I got back in at 2 pm.
Updated: 2004-05-05 By: Diane Comments: Fire in May, 2004, has burned much of McKinley Road from the Saddle into Hell's Half Acre (and possibly beyond because as of this writing the fire is not out yet.)
Updated: 2004-04-20 By: Diane Comments: We worked on this trail with the forest service. There were two crews, one that has been working periodically starting from Big Pine in toward the basin. We worked from the Basin toward Big Pine. (Our two groups never met in the middle.)
The trail didn't seem that bad to me. Mission Pine trail from McKinley to the Basin is in good condition. From the Basin toward Big Pine it does get overgrown, but it's not horrible.
Updated: 2004-04-01 By: jacob Comments: trail is wel marked with rockpiles and colored tape flags...just requires some paying attention. Water is flowing all the way through and the rattlesnakes are out! Last tile I walked the river course most of the way...what a difference to be on a trail and move through some of the high meadows...great!Updated: 2003-12-02 By: hiker a Comments: water at mormon south fork and abel very little at sycamoreUpdated: 2003-10-04 By: Bryan Conant Comments: Heading up the Sisquoc from the Schoolhouse: starting at Big Bend Canyon the Sisquoc River trail goes high on the right side of the river. At Big Bend look for an old post marking where the trail continues. The trail is overgrown but faster than walking up the river.Updated: 2003-09-27 By: Diane Comments: The trail is clear at the beginning (out of White Ledge) but deteriorates by Sycamore. You finally end up in the creek the rest of the way.
Updated: 2004-03-21 By: Duane Comments: I hiked from the Narrows up the Big Cone Spruce trail this weekend, and it looks a hundred percent better than last year. Someone did a marvelous job of clearing this trail out. The trailbed is still very faint in most places, as this trail obviously sees little use. But the deadfalls are gone, the poison oak has been beaten back(!) and the camp is in stellar shape.
I didn't have time to make the ascent to McKinley Road, but the few hundred yards I walked were cleared out, as well.
There's something alluring to a remote trail like Big Cone Spruce. It starts out in the middle of nowhere, and it ends in the middle of nowhere, as well. I never felt alone at all on the Manzana Trail, as I met a hiker every few minutes. But the second I turned right and headed up Big Cone Spruce, I knew I was a man alone in the forest. And it's a useful trail, as well. A much more scenic (and rigorous) alternative to the McKinley and San Rafael peaks (and beyond) than the ol' jeep road.
Thanks again to whoever cleared the trail, and please use it whenever you can. Some of these trails are in danger of disappearing off our maps for good.Updated: 2003-12-12 By: hiker a Comments: rumor is that the trail up to big cone spruce has been cleared when a crew went in this past monthUpdated: 2003-11-11 By: Duane CommentsI hiked a portion of this trail in early April, 2003. The trail is obviously rarely used. There are deadfalls to get around, and a solid wall of poison oak about 1.5 miles from the junction with the Manzana Trail. The actual trailbed, however, is surprisingly easy to follow, and plainly visible except for a few rocky patches. Since the trail basically follows Manzana Creek up the canyon, getting lost shouldn't be a problem.
Time restraints and the aforementioned poison oak kept me from following the trail all the way to the BCS campsite. However, I have read elsewhere that the portion of the trail coming down to the camp from McKinley Road is in great shape, so I imagine that the camp itself is in usable condition.
I'm anxiously awaiting my full recovery from knee surgery so I can get back to that trail and hike it again (cursed ACL, the weeniest of all ligaments!)
Updated: 2004-03-19 By: Tony Comments: I talked with Kerry Kellogg yesterday about Falls Creek. It said that it is the only prohibited trail in his district. He tried to get it reopenned about ten years ago but the Condor people didn't allow it. He and another guy had cut the trail down to the spring when they were told to stop. Below that is where he said it gets bad. A thick forest of chamise. He said that officially he has to say no to any work on the trail, unofficially, if people work on it so be it.Updated: 2003-11-27 By: Diane Comments:Couldn't find the beginning of the trail from Mission Pine Basin.Updated: 2003-10-30 By: Diane Comments: Here's an update I got by email: I wanted to get to this trail this spring, but my work did not permit. The previous year I had cleared the trail from Mansfield up to about the 3000' mark. From there up to the spring is the bad part and I mean really bad. Just a wall of brush. Some people have crawled thru it but I don't see how they did it. I hope to attack it next spring by coming in from above and making a base camp at the spring. If you do get up to the basin, here is where it starts: Follow the trail across the meadow where the Coche trail comes in. The trail then swings north along the creek for a short distance and then curves east up a grassy swail. About 100' up the swail look for some old stone markers along the little rill running down the swail. This is the start. The trail runs north thru a flat scrubby area and then climbs up a low ridge towards some pines.
I would think that the water situation would make such a trip problematical at this time of the year. The Basin will be dry, but maybe you could hike down the creek and find water even now.
Updated: 2004-03-15 By: doug ross Comments: Trail in great shape between Rattlesnake Falls and Big Pine Road. Plenty of water along Sisquoc. Beautiful!
Updated: 2004-03-15 By: doug ross Comments: Trail in great shape. Clear of snow. Water is available because of snow melt but won't be for long.Updated: 2004-02-25 By: Doug Ross Comments: Madulce trail to Buckhorn road. Trail in awesome shape. 6 inches of snow and ice at around 5500ft made trail impassable. NO WATER except for the melting of snow.
Updated: 2004-03-15 By: doug ross Comments:Trail in great shape the whole length.Updated: 2003-09-27 By: Bryan Conant Comments: Judell Trail is in fine shape and suitable for hikers. There is a section towards the bottom where a slide has caused a bit of a sketchy traverse. Should not be a problem for hikers but could be difficult for horses.
Updated: 2003-12-16 By: Cory G Comments: Hiked to Indian Camp from Mono Gate the weekend of 12/13. Water was not very available in lower Indian Creek up to just below Buckhorn. Since Buckhorn is perennial, water was plentiful there. From Buckhorn to Indian Camp, water was intermittent and frequently stagnant. There was no water whatsoever at Indian Camp. It's definitely winter on Indian Creek as the trees are barren and there are dried leaves all over the ground. The trail below Buckhorn is wide open, in excellent shape, easy to follow and is quick. Above Meadow Camp the trail is kinda overgrown and a little hard to follow in some places
Updated: 2003-11-30 By: Bryan Conant Comments: In response to Diane's comments on the Santa Cruz Peak Fire Trail, yes the trail is in bad shape. This trail used to be a fire road back in the day and has been neglected for many years. It is easy to follow as you can see where the obvious car width road cuts are BUT whats on top of the old road is very overgrown and bushy. You will not get lost on this trail as you can see the road but its a tough push trying to follow it, especially with the steep climbs and lack of water. This is referring to the trail from McKinley Saddle down to Roma Potrero.
The trail to Santa Cruz Peak is a spur trail that comes off the main old fire road. It starts at a saddle just before the trail enters pine trees coming from the top. This trail requires a certain degree of climbing and is tough to follow. Santa Cruz Peak is the far peak of a 2 peak ridge. The trail starts on the northside of the northeastern peak and skirts through the chaparral until it joins the saddle between the two peaks. Here the trail gets tricky to follow. You can see an obvious cut going west along Santa Cruz Peak BUT THIS IS NOT THE TRAIL TO THE TOP. This cut is the remnants of an old fire road from way back when. The trail to the peak follows the ridge from the saddle and goes up through the rocks until you get to the peak. Once on the right trail its not hard to find but its tough not believing that the obvious cut is not the trail. Santa Cruz Peak is out there and does not see much human action.Updated: 2003-11-27 By: Diane Comments:This trail is HORRIBLE! If you hike from the bottom at Roma Potrero, you hike 4728ft up and 1643ft down. At one point, oh so close to Cachuma Saddle, you are actually HIGHER(!!) than the saddle. Then you have to lose about 500ft and climb it all over again.
Oddly, the bottom portion of the trail is in better shape that the upper portion. You would think most people hike this trail from McKinley saddle in order to do a bit of peak bagging. But the portion between Santa Cruz peak and McKinley saddle is overgrown with spiny green ceanothus and chamise.
Updated: 2003-11-24 By: Robert Duffy Comments: Just did this trail on Saturday with my cousin Michael. Quite a few mountain bikers and dirt bikes on the fire road, but never saw anyone else on the trail. Was somewhat rutted but otherwise nice, no dust, tacky and fun.
Updated: 2003-11-08 By: steve wayne Comments: Hiked from Nira to Hurricane Deck via the Potrero Trail Nov 2. Trail is slightly overgrown in places, but otherwise in good condition. No ticks to report.
Updated: 2003-10-30 By: DianeComments:Someone asked why it is "Salmon" and not "Samon" as appears on USGS maps.
According to Bryan who hiked to the summit of the peak, there is a USGS benchmark there and it says "Salmon" with an "l".Updated: 2003-10-04 By: Bryan Conant Comments: The trail to Salmon Peak is a little used trail that starts in the drainage just down the Buckhorn-Big Pine Road from Chokecherry Spring. Look for the rock markers and ducks. From there you have to scramble up the drainage following the markers. The trail is tough and requires minimal climbing skills. There is a point about 3/4 of the way up the drainage in which the trail disappears, at this point look left and scramble up the loose rocks on the left side. Trust me the trail is that way. Once you get to the ridge the trail becomes more obvious. You'll head South along the ridge towards a small meadow called Frijole Flats. From there the trail crosses the meadow and climbs up to the true Salmon Ridge. Once on this ridge head West towards Salmon. There are 3 humps you need to get past and it takes longer than you will think. Good news is the trail is findable and based on the cuts in the trees has been worked on over the past few years. Views are amazing and you'll feel like you're in a place not many people get to experience.