Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park: Tanbark Trail

[Site Administrator]

Date Hiked: October 8, 2007
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Condition Reports
Conditions reported by: David Brainin
Survey date: 8-OCTOBER-2007
General: CLEAR
Specific:

The trail is in fine shape. We really enjoyed the hike although it is fairly steep up and down.
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Conditions reported by: Josh and Emily
Survey date: 1-JULY-2006
General: PASSABLE
Specific:

The trailhead and it's sign are partially obscured by a rockslide. Much of the trail is in very good shape, but we encountered several significant deadfalls as well as some sections of encroaching brush and loose tread. Overall, a very nice trail in need of some attention in a few spots.
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Conditions reported by: Greg Heck
Survey date: 26-AUGUST-2005
General: PASSABLE
Specific:

Section: Trailhead to Tin House

Clear trail up to headwater of last watershed. After that we encountered some deadfalls and rock slides on the way to the Tin House. No grapes left and no water at the house. Average time up this grade should be about two hours (unless you are packing extra weight).

Took fire break down to hwy 1 and was mostly clear of brush. Nice spring near the end. Walking the mile or so on hwy 1 back to the car is the most risky maneuver of any hike we have ever made in the Big Sur area and not advisable. We feel that one is much better off facing down an angry mother cougar than an over medicated elder behind the wheel of a mega RV.

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Conditions reported by: Rob May
Survey date: 31-JULY-2005
General: PASSABLE
Specific:

A well worth it hike. The trail is extra bushy this year, I guess due to all the extra rain we got. A few extra fallen trees across trail but still quite passable. I hiked it from the trailhead at Paddington Cove to the tin house and down the fire road and then finished on Highway 1 in a very lesurely 5 hours.

[Site Administrator]

TANBARK TRAIL

The Tanbark Trail trailhead is on the east side of Highway One where it crosses Partington Creek in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. It begins with a gentle ascent beneath towering redwoods along cheerful Partington Creek, eventually climbing higher up on the canyon wall and passing beneath mixed hardwood forest until eventually regaining redwood cover at historic Swiss Camp, a beautifully forested glade about 2 miles from the trailhead that makes a perfect resting spot. Beyond Swiss Camp the trail climbs gently through mixed forest once again before descending gently for half a mile to its terminus at the upper end of the fire road leading to the (Latrop Brown) Tin House, just over 3 miles from the trailhead. The meadow in front of the Tin House is a delightful spot for a picnic and basking in the coastal views, and a loop trip can be made by descending a steep 2 miles down the fire road back to the highway at a point about a mile's roadside walk from the Tanbark trailhead.