TURNER CREEK TRAIL
- USFS Trail #1E02
- Parking: Bottchers Gap ($5/day), The Hoist
- Watershed: Turner Creek
- Junctions: Ventana Double Cone Trail,
Skinner Ridge Trail
- Connects: Palo Colorado Road at The Hoist with Ventana Double Cone Trail and Skinner Ridge Trail
- Camps: Turner Creek Camp, Apple Tree Camp
Conditions reported by:
EW
Survey date: 4-NOVEMBER-2007
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
We started this hike from the Hoist on a cool, clear Autumn afternoon, the black oaks were in full golden display and though the whole affair was somewhat spur of the moment (we'd never been on this route and originally intended to walk up to Devils Peak from 'Pigeon' Gap) we found our way without too much difficulty. Just as 'Long Ridge' road begins to descend precipitously, a flagged trail ascends to the left (north?) skirting signed private property to join an old fire road. Soon enough, the road reverts to trail and thins significantly to a narrow tread between posion oak, blackberry and various other prickly and/or viney stuff.
Turner Creek Camp is indeed a dismal, claustrophobic sight, but things open up when approaching Apple Tree Camp; beyond the madrone groves make for very pleasant walking. Coming from this direction, we especially appreciated the view from the saddle / intersection with Skinner Ridge Trail (a site shown to fine advantage in one of the VWA's brochures) Returning via Skinner Ridge and Palo Colorado Road completed what we guessed to be an 8 or 10 mile loop.
Conditions reported by:
Adam Wachtel
Survey date: 25-JULY-2007
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
Section: Skinner Ridge Trail to Apple Tree Camp - Clear
However, this time around there WAS water at Apple Tree Camp, even in the same place I checked last time. The creek is flowing about 3 inches deep for about 30 feet below the lower camp. It is probably due to ground water rising this time of year. Also, be aware that there is a yellowjacket hive living in a log next to the lower campsite.
Section: Apple Tree Camp to Turner Creek Camp - Passable
Lots of overgrowth. This section is indeed not as bad as the guides say. The poison oak seems to appear mostly in "patches" which isn't too bad. We brought clippers, and were able to get the bad stuff. Other than Poison Oak, be prepared to rub against berry vines and other undergrowth of the sorts. The trail easily goes around the recent deadfalls.
Water was flowing at Turner Creek Camp with some knee-deep pools.
Section: Turner Creek Camp to Long Ridge Road - Mostly Clear
The trail goes up and out of the canyon and away from the thick undergrowth.
On the way to the road, you reach a "No Tresspassing" sign in about a half mile. The trail then turns left (downhill, south) and bypasses the property. Then the trail meets up with Long Ridge Road, where you want to turn right (uphill, North) and follow the road all the way to the Hoist. The views are spectacular up on the road.
The entire hike took about 6 hours, but we made lots of stops and worked on the trail a little.
Conditions reported by:
Adam Wachtel
Survey date: 3-JUNE-2007
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
Section: Skinner Ridge Trail to Apple Tree Camp - Clear
Not much is different from my March trip this year, except that the plants, especially the poison oak, are blooming and encroaching a lot more at ankle-level.
There was also no water at Apple Tree Camp.
Conditions reported by:
Adam Wachtel
Survey date: 14-MARCH-2007
General: CLEAR
Specific:
Section: Skinner Ridge Trail to Apple Tree Camp - Clear
Mostly clear and well defined. Leaf little makes the trail a bit slippery but still well defined.
There is a little bit of Poison Oak (still dormant) encroaching the trail. The correct location of the camp is N 36.37225 W -121.79865, which is the location on most USGS topo maps of "BM 2952" and about 1/3 mile down.
The water level at the camp was on average, about 8in to 1 ft. deep.
Conditions reported by:
Carl A. Mounteer
Survey date: 5-MAY-2005
General: PASSABLE
Specific:
Section: Skinner Ridge Trail to Apple Tree Camp - Passable
The interval from Skinner Ridge Trail to Apple Tree Camp is 0.4 miles with 9 easily negotiable trees crossing the trail and one stream to cross. There are two campsites at Apple Tree Camp. The first is on your right just before the old wooden sign in front of you saying "Apple Tree". Go about 25 yards further and there is a nice camp on a small bench over Turner Creek. This 0.4 mile interval was pretty clear. It took me 10 minutes from Skinner Ridge Trail to Apple Tree Camp.
Section: Apple Tree Camp to Turner Creek Camp - Passable
After Apple Tree Camp the trail deteriorates considerably. But it is not, in my opinion, as bad as Analise Elliot suggests in her "Hiking and Backpacking in Big Sur". Like she says the trail is "heavily overgrown", and there is lots of poison oak (no shorts or short sleeves here!). But this is easy to push through and the trail is fairly evident for the 1.1 miles from Apple Tree Camp to Turner Creek Camp. There are 3 small streams to cross and two downed but easily negotiable trees in this interval. This portion of the hike took me about 30 minutes.
The only question is, why bother? Turner Creek Camp is the most dismal, depressing place I have ever hiked to. It is in a small meadow, with a rusting stove and a rotting picnic table, with only one bench and a big, fat log substituting for the other bench. There is a fire ring and a place for one tent. But it is about 25 yards from Turner Creek. The whole ambience is one of decay. It was so dreary that, even though I was hungry, I hiked back to Apple Tree Camp for lunch.
Since you are hiking down a ravine, there are no views between the Skinner Ridge Trail and Turner Creek Camp.
Conditions reported by:
Henning Saul
Survey date: 8-JUNE-2003
General: DIFFICULT
Specific:
Hiked as part of a small group from Bottcher's Gap to Turner Creek camp via Apple Tree camp. Camped out at Turner Creek camp. A LOT of poison oak and even more mosquitos beyond Apple Tree camp. Creek has good water at both Apple Tree & Turner Creek camp. Encountered a rattlesnack on the way to the camp.
Conditions reported by:
Jake Goetz
Survey date: 9-OCT-2002
General: CLEAR
Specific:
The Turner Creek Trail is in generally good repair, the tread is clear and
there are few blow downs to work around. There is quite a bit of encroaching
poison oak, but this is common for this trail. There is a small amount of
water at Apple Tree camp, but no water at Turner Creek camp.
Conditions reported by:
Meade Fischer
Survey date: 26-APRIL-2002
General: PASSABLE- Lots of POISON OAK
Specific:
Trail is still in good shape (see my last report). However, Spring has
brought an invasion of poison oak. It's almost impossible to avoid between
Apple Tree and Turner Creek camps. Suggest hikers bring clippers.
Conditions reported by:
Meade Fischer
Survey date: 19-December-2001
General: CLEAR
Specific:
Passable and in good condition. Some vines and creepers on the trail,
but no problem if wearing long pants. Didn't see any Poison Oak, but
this time of year, may not have had leaves. More importantly, no sign of
itching from yesterday's hike. Water at Turner Creek camp and Apple
Tree. On a feeder creek half way between the camps, the middle and
faster flowing of the three creeks the trail crosses, lady bugs have
swarmed. Many hundred along the creek at the crossing.
Conditions reported by:
Steve Chambers
Survey date:29-SEPT-2001
General: PASSABLE WITH LOTS OF POISON OAK
Specific:
We recently walked the Turner Ck. trail from the saddle intersection with
the Ventana Double Cone Trail west to Turner Ck. Camp. The tread is always
visible, but frequently has PO growing heavily alongside. There was water at
both Apple Tree and Turner Camps. This was the old road used for vehicle
access the Comings cabin years ago. But you have to look closely to notice
the narrow road cuts.
This trail also continues west from Turner Creek Camp and connects with a
private road on Long Ridge which intersects with the Palo Colorado Road at
the "Hoist." The walking public has access to this road.
A hungry adolescent Great Horned Owl was crying to be fed all night long at
Turner Creek Camp. Only the coming of dawn brought quiet. Or maybe it just
got fed.
Conditions reported by:
Rob Yang
Survey date: 12-SEPTEMBER-2001
General: PASSABLE TO IMPASSABLE - depending upon your reaction to LOTS OF P.O.
Specific:
I just day-hiked from Bottcher's Gap to Apple Tree camp on the Turner
Creek trail, intending to go to Turner Creek Camp. However, there appears
to be a lot of poison oak and other brush on the trail, though the
tread is fairly easy to see. At Apple Tree I just decided that there
was too much poison oak to continue and turned around. The good thing
is that the creek at Apple Tree is still flowing this late in the season.
