by Doug Major » Sun Oct 05, 2025 10:00 pm
Date Hiked: October 4, 2025
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
This is a report on the north end of Buckeye, from Adler Campground to Villa Creek Camp.
The Los Burros Road, which leaves HWY 1 at Tree Bone's Resort and proceeds up the steep grade that intersects in 7 miles at the Coastal Ridge Road, as well as to the camping site on St Martin Top. At that intersection, the old mine road also descends to Adler Campsite and the river. Please note that while Los Burros is in good shape, it is not recommended to attempt it during a rainstorm. All Wheel Drive is recommended on that road, and a true Four Wheel Drive is needed on the Adler Mine road. Please respect the property owners who do most of the road maintenance. You need to do some careful rut navigating as you descend to the river, passing the site of the old mining town called Manchester. The small town of Manchester with a record population of 350 people. A hotel, two general stores, a barber shop, a restaurant, a post office, a blacksmith shop, a one-room school, mess halls, bunkhouses, several cabins, a small cemetery, and of course, a dance hall and several saloons made in the town.
Today the town of Manchester is truly a ghost of the past-often referred to as 'The Lost City of the Santa Lucias'.
Adler Camp Ground appears to be in good shape, with three tables and nice shaded areas. The river is dry here. The big blowdown's branches have been cleared, and I am surprised that it is not used more. The trail exits Campsite #1 with a large, shot-up Buckeye trail sign displaying a mileage of 3 miles to Villa Creek Camp. I solo clipped about 5 hours as I made my way down the on North side of the drainage, and soon the pools and flow of the Adler Creek were evident. I did some major brush clearing in just 6-7 locations, removing most of the possible ingrowth and concentrating on clipping Poison Oak. In half a mile, the trail crosses the river at a very well-cannopied area with a lot of Adler and Sycamore trees, and soon you discover a well-placed, large Silver Peak Wilderness Sign. As you work up the southern side of the river, you cross one active riverette. There were also two flowing springs in the Villa Creek Drainage, providing numerous opportunities for water along this part of Buckeye.
As you leave the tree cover, you get your first view of the ocean as well as many larger redwood trees further down the drainage on the north-facing slope. This is just above the Adler Creek Cinnimon Waterfalls (hoping to get access to see them with better water flow). The tread is evident, with a very well-constructed mild incline, and the path goes in and out of shaded cover. You soon arrive at a larger area of tree cover for about a quarter mile, well cushioned with years of leaves, and the trail is easy to follow even without ribbons. As you exit, you encounter a fantastic view of both the Adler and Villa creek drainages. As that trail rounds the saddle, you head more due east. This slope is more cleared of trees, so the view of the large trees below and across to the Cruckshank trail side is fantastic. The slope here is more extreme, with a narrow tread and more sun exposure. Fortunately, you transition from one tree-lined gully to another, which breaks up the heat. Notably, there were minimal bugs or ticks at this time of year. The two blowdowns on this part are easily navigated, and you quickly drop down into the redwoods. Villa camp is a magical place with an old table and some nice pools, as well as some notable trees. The self-made medal sign still marks the camp, and the temperature is immediately cooler under these tall trees.
I clipped and cleaned the trail back to the camp's trailhead. I rate this part as clear because of the narrow tread in places, but it is very passable with the poison oak, which is now avoidable. Notably, I saw no one, not a single car or camper, from San Simon at 7 AM that morning until later that afternoon, when five vehicles passed me coming down Los Burros Road. I also found no camper on St Martin Top car camps. This is truly a place for those who want solitude. Dinner is available at Tree Bones, or you can grab a sandwich at Gorda after your adventure.
[b]Date Hiked:[/b] October 4, 2025
[b]General Condition:[/b] Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
This is a report on the north end of Buckeye, from Adler Campground to Villa Creek Camp.
The Los Burros Road, which leaves HWY 1 at Tree Bone's Resort and proceeds up the steep grade that intersects in 7 miles at the Coastal Ridge Road, as well as to the camping site on St Martin Top. At that intersection, the old mine road also descends to Adler Campsite and the river. Please note that while Los Burros is in good shape, it is not recommended to attempt it during a rainstorm. All Wheel Drive is recommended on that road, and a true Four Wheel Drive is needed on the Adler Mine road. Please respect the property owners who do most of the road maintenance. You need to do some careful rut navigating as you descend to the river, passing the site of the old mining town called Manchester. The small town of Manchester with a record population of 350 people. A hotel, two general stores, a barber shop, a restaurant, a post office, a blacksmith shop, a one-room school, mess halls, bunkhouses, several cabins, a small cemetery, and of course, a dance hall and several saloons made in the town.
Today the town of Manchester is truly a ghost of the past-often referred to as 'The Lost City of the Santa Lucias'.
Adler Camp Ground appears to be in good shape, with three tables and nice shaded areas. The river is dry here. The big blowdown's branches have been cleared, and I am surprised that it is not used more. The trail exits Campsite #1 with a large, shot-up Buckeye trail sign displaying a mileage of 3 miles to Villa Creek Camp. I solo clipped about 5 hours as I made my way down the on North side of the drainage, and soon the pools and flow of the Adler Creek were evident. I did some major brush clearing in just 6-7 locations, removing most of the possible ingrowth and concentrating on clipping Poison Oak. In half a mile, the trail crosses the river at a very well-cannopied area with a lot of Adler and Sycamore trees, and soon you discover a well-placed, large Silver Peak Wilderness Sign. As you work up the southern side of the river, you cross one active riverette. There were also two flowing springs in the Villa Creek Drainage, providing numerous opportunities for water along this part of Buckeye.
As you leave the tree cover, you get your first view of the ocean as well as many larger redwood trees further down the drainage on the north-facing slope. This is just above the Adler Creek Cinnimon Waterfalls (hoping to get access to see them with better water flow). The tread is evident, with a very well-constructed mild incline, and the path goes in and out of shaded cover. You soon arrive at a larger area of tree cover for about a quarter mile, well cushioned with years of leaves, and the trail is easy to follow even without ribbons. As you exit, you encounter a fantastic view of both the Adler and Villa creek drainages. As that trail rounds the saddle, you head more due east. This slope is more cleared of trees, so the view of the large trees below and across to the Cruckshank trail side is fantastic. The slope here is more extreme, with a narrow tread and more sun exposure. Fortunately, you transition from one tree-lined gully to another, which breaks up the heat. Notably, there were minimal bugs or ticks at this time of year. The two blowdowns on this part are easily navigated, and you quickly drop down into the redwoods. Villa camp is a magical place with an old table and some nice pools, as well as some notable trees. The self-made medal sign still marks the camp, and the temperature is immediately cooler under these tall trees.
I clipped and cleaned the trail back to the camp's trailhead. I rate this part as clear because of the narrow tread in places, but it is very passable with the poison oak, which is now avoidable. Notably, I saw no one, not a single car or camper, from San Simon at 7 AM that morning until later that afternoon, when five vehicles passed me coming down Los Burros Road. I also found no camper on St Martin Top car camps. This is truly a place for those who want solitude. Dinner is available at Tree Bones, or you can grab a sandwich at Gorda after your adventure.
