PUERTO SUELLO TRAIL
- USFS Trail # 3E08
- Parking: Los Padres Dam
- Watershed: Carmel River
- Junctions: Carmel River Trail,
Ventana Double Cone Trail
- Connects: Carmel River Trail at Hiding Canyon Camp with Ventana Double Cone Trail at Puerto Suello
- Camps: Hiding Canyon Camp
Conditions reported by: Myron
Survey date: 12-JANUARY-2008
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
Tread is evident and can be followed without difficulty, but covered with slippery acorns and oak leaves. Tread is less evident in the creek bottoms but the logic of the terrain makes the way clear. Many recent deadfalls, but passable with care.
Conditions reported by:
Ken Swegles
Survey date: 15-APRIL-2007
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
The trail is in very good condition in comparison to a lot of previous years, considering the clearance in general. It was a little muddy this time of year with the rain, but there were only a few small dead falls that were of no difficulty. Some parts of the trail are eroding near Hiding Camp, with tons of Bigleaf Maple leaves that make the trail very soft yet slippery. We encountered rain on the trail and had to set up a tarp for shelter, so always be prepared for sudden weather.
Conditions reported by:
Adam
Survey date: 17-FEBRUARY-2007
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
The trail is in good condition and distinguisheable at all sections. There are several deadfalls across the trail. Also, the trail is pretty steep at times with leaves making the traction uneasy. Poision oak is minimal at this time.
Conditions reported by: NR Schmidt
Survey date: 8-JANUARY-2007
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
Section: Ventana Double Cone Trail to Carmel River Trail - Passable
Well defined but somewhat unspectacular trail with water about 0.5 miles from Ventana Double Cone Trail junction. Downed madrone and oak encroach on the trail in a few spots.
Conditions reported by: Greg Minter
Survey date: 25-NOVEMBER-2006
General: CLEAR
Specific:
Found the turnoff at the top of the ridge and plunged down a clear trail. Some slippery sections, especially with all the fallen leaves. The trail was evident and meandered obviously down the ravine. Water was scarce, if not non-existent, at the top of the trail, and by the time you hear it, you've meandered toward the more abundant Carmel River at Hiding Canyon Camp. Note that the river at Hiding Canyon Camp at this time was the only water between Hiding Canyon and Pat Spring. Heaven help those that climb this trail with a pack up to the ridge. Hiding Canyon Camp had a little trash, which we packed out. But overall, camp was in good shape, with intact tables and fire rings.
Conditions reported by:
Bob Burd
Survey date: 29-MAY-2006
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
The trail is easy to follow for most of the way down to Hiding Camp. A few sections were obscured by blow down, but these were flagged with pink ribbon. Regular encroaching brush. No problems with creek crossings, and Carmel River was easily forded at Hiding Camp.
Conditions reported by: Bren
Survey date: 27-MARCH-2006
General: IMPASSABLE
Specific:
Section:
Heavily overgrown from from Ventana Trail, lots of deadfall. Overflowing creeks have erroded much of trail. Waist deep crossings to Hiding Camp. Carmel River too high to cross, turned back, returned to Los Padres via Big Pine.
Conditions reported by: TreeProf
Survey date: 27-DECEMBER-2005
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
Pretty decent shape from Hiding Camp to Lone Pine Camp [ed: on the Ventana Double Cone Trail south of the junction], with some deadfall, but little brush under the tanoak, madrone, and bay overstory (very lush and nice).
Be prepared to lose some blood on the scrub oak and other brush on the [ed: Ventana Double Cone] trail up to Ventana Double Cone, which is beginning to take over on many parts of that trail.
Conditions reported by:
Roland Piedrahita
Survey date: 9-OCTOBER-2005
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
Section: Hiding Camp to Ventana Double Cone Trail junction - Passable
There was poison oak throughout, sometimes I had to swat it away with my walking sticks or trample over it. There are a few places you have to duck under fallen branches, but they're fairly easy to pass. Bugs weren't a problem at all until I got bitten by something on the back of the neck almost at the top of the trail. I think it was a deer fly though I did not see it. It was pretty painful though. No bugs after that either. There is only water to about a third up the trail where it happens to be the most beautiful.
Conditions reported by:
Lindsay Jeffers - Stevenson Wilderness Program
Survey date: 10-MARCH-2005
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
The first of our groups to use this trail found considerable clearing necessary. After that had been tackled, later groups report a trail with some minor obstacles, poison oak, and, in this wet season, slippery mud near the top and four wet creek crossings. However, the trickling water supply near the top of the trail was flowing and the route is always clear.
Conditions reported by: Josh and Kristin
Survey date: 16-APRIL-2004
General: CLEAR
Specific:
Section: Hiding Canyon Camp to Ventana Double Cone Trail
(3.5 miles, 2.5 hours)
Trail is well defined, clear in almost every section and steep. Nothing but
a continued climb to the top. There are a few washouts due to erosion on
some of the steeper sections of trail, but easily passable. Water is running
in the creek til about a 1/2 mile from the summit.
Conditions reported by: Andrew McDavid
Survey date: 14-MAR-2004
General: CLEAR
Specific:
Section: Hiding Camp to Ventana Double Cone Trail
Good trail, well defined. No washouts or major deadfall. Abundant water
throughout. Camped at the saddle.
Conditions reported by:
John Fedak
Survey date: 27-NOV-2003
General: CLEAR TO PASSABLE
Specific:
Section: Entire Puerto Suello trail
This trail is obscured in places by fallen leaves but never difficult to
follow. Minor brush obstructions in places but no major fallen trees.
*Large* gathering of ladybugs in a thicket about a mile from Hiding Camp.
Sign at top of Puerto Suello trail and VDC trail junction is broken.
The Carmel River near Hiding Camp is rock-hoppable before much rain.
Pics:
http://www.fedak.net/albums/pinevalley-page2.html
Conditions reported by:
Matt Fiori
Survey date: 27-MAY-2003
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
Well, after a lazy meander through the Carmel River canyon, Puerto Suelo
sure was a rude awakening! The tread was almost imperceptibly thin on parts
of the lower grade, and there were a few deadfalls and hanging brush up
higher. I managed to hack through some of the tangles, so the way is
definitely passable, though as steep as ever. If possible, having the trail
shots come in to do some tread work would be of great benefit. All in all,
its still in decent shape--for now.
Conditions reported by:
Ojai Valley School - "Las Papas Gigantescas"
Survey date: APRIL-MAY, 2002
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
From the junction at Puerto Suello it was steep down, brushy and there
was lots of P.O. Hiding Cyn was a great camp for lunch (pretty). Stream
crossing of Carmel River was easy but there was no good rock hop (shoes
off).
Conditions reported by:
Jim Yurchenco
Survey date: 14-21-APRIL-2002
General: PASSABLE TO CLEAR
Specific:
Passable to clear: I clipped here, but more could be done to keep the
poison oak back.
Conditions reported by:
Stevenson School Wilderness Expedition
Survey date: FEB-2002
General: CLEAR
Specific:
Puerto Suello to Hiding Camp: We cleared brush along this trail, and the way
is now quite clear.
Conditions reported by:
Mark Riddle
Survey date: 10-JAN-2002
General: CLEAR TO PASSABLE
Specific:
A few gnarly deadfalls requiring over/under, but very passable (the trail
was visible from the Carmel River Trail across the canyon).
Conditions reported by: Stevenson School Wilderness Expedition 2000
Survey date: APRIL-2000
General: CLEAR
Specific:
Except for a new madrone tree fallen across a drainage between Hiding
Canyon Creek and Uncle Sam Creek, which must be crawled under, the lower
section of the trail is very thoroughly cleared out eight feet wide up
through the Uncle Sam Creek valley until past the last major creek
crossing. Then the trail becomes more normal; the foot bed is always
clear and obvious, but brush encroaches and poison oak crosses the
trail. Stevenson School has done some clipping and clearing, but more
could be done on the upper third of the trail. The top of the trail
where it joins the Double Cone Trail is clear and clean; water still
drips in the first spring below the top, five minutes down the trail
from the junction.
Conditions reported by:
Mark Connell
Survey date: April 10, 1999
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
Passable - This is currently very muddy and slick.
Be careful. No real encroachment or fallen trees.
