Forums
Ventana Wilderness Forums • Post a reply

Mill Creek Trail

Forum rules

Trail Report

In the form below, select the date you used the trail and a rating of its general passability. Follow up with a detailed narrative of specific conditions, needed repairs, etc. To keep reports accurate, please indicate which section of the trail you used, and please post separate reports for separate trails. For example, if you hiked from China Camp to Pine Valley, report on Pine Ridge Trail from China Camp to Church Creek Divide, then post a separate report on Carmel River Trail from Church Creek Divide to Pine Valley. “Trip reports” involving numerous trails belong on the Ventana Discussion forum, not here! If you are unsure about the name of a trail, don’t guess, simply consult this map. To protect opportunities for discovery and solitude, the moderators may edit or delete reports that reference sensitive features like unofficial trails, cross-country routes, hot springs or cultural sites. Thank you for contributing to this valuable community resource and keeping Wilderness wild!


Enter the code exactly as it appears. All letters are case insensitive.
Wilderness Freeway: Heavily used and well maintained.
Clear: No obstacles and tread well defined.
Passable: Some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident.
Difficult: Brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread.
Impassable: Completely overgrown or tread obliterated.
BBCode is ON
[img] is OFF
[flash] is OFF
[url] is ON
Smilies are OFF
Topic review
   

Expand view Topic review: Mill Creek Trail

Re: Mill Creek Trail

Post by VWA_Ranger on Sat Jul 03, 2021 11:03 am

Date Hiked: July 1, 2021
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)

*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***

Recent reports indicate the Mill Creek Trail has been made passable until it reaches Mill Creek. From there the trail comes and goes as many portions were washed away during the winter rains. There are lots of brush, debris and small rocks across the trail. The trail has not been scouted to far Mill Creek.

Some more photos from the Mill Creek Trail.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attachments
Another log jam.JPG
Another log jam along the creek.
Section of original trail.JPG
Section of the original trail.
Lions Creek Crossing.JPG
Lion Creek crossing.
Canyon Narrows.JPG
Where the canyon narrows.

Re: Mill Creek Trail

Post by VWA_Ranger on Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:35 pm

Date Hiked: June 8, 2021
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)

*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***

Recent reports indicate the Mill Creek Trail took a severe beating during the winter rains and Dolan Fire. There are lots of brush, debris and small rocks across the trail. Once the trail reaches the creek, many sections have disappeared. The trail has not been scouted beyond this point.

A couple photos from the trail as it reaches the creek.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attachments
End of Trail.JPG
End of known trail as it reaches Mill Creek.
Steam Vierw from EOT.JPG
Stream View.

Re: Mill Creek Trail

Post by annwride on Tue Aug 04, 2020 4:55 pm

Date Hiked: July 30, 2020
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Hiked Mill Creek 7/30. Saw 8.people, most I have seen on this trail. Went off on a use trail to the left, past a TP made of sticks. If anyone could give me a hint where the old homestead is...
We checked out several use trails to no avail.
Clear trail, a few down trees. Not much poison oak, relatively speaking.
Some trash, not bad.
Ann

Re: Mill Creek Trail

Post by Steve B on Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:23 am

Date Hiked: April 1, 2020
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

The trail is in fairly good condition but could use some brushing and in a few places the trail makes some sharp turns due to brush or down trees that has caused to trail to go off track. There are a few trees across the trail but only a couple trees are difficult to get around. The trail up to the homestead is in very poor condition, covered with invasive Genista and is likely to disappear without some clearing, it is still possible to find the use trail to the homestead but the trail is very faint. The Homestead site is beautiful and the citrus trees are full of fruit.
Attachments
Mill Ck lemon.JPG
Lemon Tree at the old Homestead

Re: Mill Creek Trail

Post by Hoser on Tue Nov 26, 2019 9:33 am

Date Hiked: November 23, 2019
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

This trail is quite popular and the tread is well defined. As one goes further up the trail, it becomes a rock scramble. I did not go to the homestead site, but made it to the stream crossing. There were no dead falls at the time of this writing. I found it interesting to see logging cuts in the center of redwood bundles. I also found cables that were used to move the cut logs. There was plenty of water flowing.

Re: Mill Creek Trail

Post by gfelsman on Thu Nov 07, 2019 6:49 pm

Date Hiked: November 7, 2019
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Today USFS/VWA Volunteer Rangers patrolled the Mill Creek Trail. As in the previous report, the trail is basically clear with encroaching brush to the large flat area along the creek. The tread is in fair shape. The trail continues beyond the camp a short distance before it ends in a creek bed which was one the old trail. The trail now a rock scramble up the creek, then there is some thick brush to contend with. Reaching the old homesite past the camp is much more difficult now.

There are two downed trees across the trail which are easy to navigate. Water is flowing nicely.

Re: Mill Creek Trail

Post by gfelsman on Sat Oct 12, 2019 1:14 pm

Date Hiked: October 11, 2019
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

From a friend:

The trail is open from NF road to the large camping area at end of trail (approx. 2 mi.). A number of downed trees have been cleared of the trail. Trees that could not be moved off the trail have been "notched" for easy step on/over. Poison oak has been cut back. Water level is low and all 4 stream crossings can be done without getting your feet wet. No ticks sighted.

Re: Mill Creek Trail - Reopened

Post by gfelsman on Fri Aug 16, 2019 6:57 pm

Date Hiked: August 14, 2019
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Mill Creek Trail has re-opened. Cone Peak Road remains closed.

Re: Mill Creek Trail Closed

Post by gfelsman on Sun Aug 04, 2019 8:41 am

Date Hiked: August 4, 2019
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

The Mill Trail is closed until the Mill Fire is declared out or until the USFS deems the area safe to enter again.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lpnf/alerts-notices/?aid=53926

See Link Above.

Re: Mill Creek Trail

Post by fjkehl2 on Mon Apr 18, 2016 12:21 pm

Date Hiked: April 2, 2016
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

We hiked up the Mill Creek Trail from the signed trailhead along Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. The trail is currently clear and very easy to follow up to the first crossing of Mill Creek, which is where we turned around. There's a lot of poison oak along both sides of the trail, but it's easy to avoid. Water levels are running high, and both Lion Creek and Mill Creek are wet fords at the moment. My son managed to find a small (2") scorpion under a rock - a first for us. We didn't find any ticks, although I'm sure they're out there. All in all, a very nice hike.

Top

Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group