[b]Date Hiked:[/b] August 2, 2021
[b]General Condition:[/b] Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

More info on what is left of Mill Creek Trail. The original trail remains until ~0.5 miles from the trailhead, where it has descended to creek level. Thereafter some helpful flagging, cairns, and saw cuts follow a route, not tread, weaving between downfalls until ~0.7 miles from the trailhead. Beyond that there is some occasional flagging but not frequent enough to follow continuously - you essentially follow the creek as best you can, departing from it as need be to get around downfall. I had to cross to right (south) side of creek at ~1 mile and thereafter saw no flagging.

But this is now a route - not a trail. Essentially the old Mill Creek Trail along the creek is gone. What I remember as a path winding in shade below redwoods is now a wide gash created by mudflow, with packed mud remains and rocks and fallen trees and other debris under an open sky and a creek trickling through. To me not very attractive and not much of a destination. Will take years to recover some beauty.

Jack

PS: have now made most of former Mill Creek Trail a "lost trail" on my Big Sur Trailmap, replacing western-most part of "lost" section with a use trail. Will be interesting to see how much "use" that route incurs in future.

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

[b]*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***[/b]

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

[b]*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***[/b]

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.
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[b]Date Hiked:[/b] July 30, 2020
[b]General Condition:[/b] 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

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] April 1, 2020
[b]General Condition:[/b] 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.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] November 23, 2019
[b]General Condition:[/b] 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.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] November 7, 2019
[b]General Condition:[/b] 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.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] October 11, 2019
[b]General Condition:[/b] 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.

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

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

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] August 4, 2019
[b]General Condition:[/b] 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.

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

See Link Above.