[b]Date Hiked:[/b] January 15, 2022
[b]General Condition:[/b] Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

The trail was mostly clear but a few down trees forced me to rate it as passable. It is easy to follow. Saw some big ponderosa pine along the trail

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] November 17, 2021
[b]General Condition:[/b] Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Hiked down to Pine Creek Camp from long ridge-Devil's peak direction. The trail from comings camp intersection down to Pine Creek Camp was suprisingly clear. I would rate the trail as passable (on the clear side) only because of some encroaching blackberry, poison oak, and gooseberry on the creek-side trail. there were recent cuts, and the trail is well flagged, so I assume that the folks at White Rock are maintaining this trail. It was quite beautiful down there, and the creek had a nice, robust flow. The camp was in ok shape except for a tree crushing the iron stove on the upper part of the camp. The fire ring and tent sites are looking good. all told, it was a pleasant surprise to the trail in nice shape.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] April 17, 2019
[b]General Condition:[/b] Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

I walked from the Ventana Double Cone Trail / Comings Camp junction down to Pine Creek Camp and back. The Soberanes Fire was the first in this area in a long time. Some trees died, some living trees lost limbs, and there’s variability from place to place, but the general feel of the place remains one of a mature madrone and oak (mostly black and tan) forest.

As for the trail, the poison oak patch near the top actually seems reduced, but at the cost of more encroaching ceanothus to push through. The trail down from the ridge to the creek is a little brushier in spots than when I was here in 2012, but there were no real difficulties. The section following the creek is more obvious, and certainly better flagged, than I remember it from 2012, but plenty of blackberry vines, more than before, lurk on the forest floor waiting to trip the unwary. I enjoyed the red currents and big leaf maples in bloom. The trail crosses the stream 10 times on the way to Pine Creek Camp and on this April day, I opted to treat the last few as boot-depth wades rather than rock hops. Pine Creek Camp looks like it’s seen a bit of use and, with the sun shining on it, didn’t seem as dank as it did on my last late winter visit.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] January 3, 2016
[b]General Condition:[/b] Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Checked out Pine Creek Camp. Creek is running at the bottom of the switchbacks (1/2 mile) from Big Pines Trail and running well at the camp. Trail is passable to Pine Cree Camp. There’s a big tangle of downed madrones across the trail right before the camp but one can get around them.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] December 10, 2012
[b]General Condition:[/b] Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

From Big Pines trail we headed down this steep section of trail, known on my National Geographic Big Sur/Ventana map as San Clemente trail. A few creek crossings and some dead fall and slippery leaf litter. The sign at the 4 way junction with Comings Camp does not indicate this trail, though its obvious what it is. Lots of dormant poison oak in some sections. A northerly orientated small valley, gets little sunlight and would probably make a cold moist camp in the wintertime. Actually a few camps here other than the official. Plenty of water in the creeks.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] December 8, 2012
[b]General Condition:[/b] Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Pine Creek Trail
Twixt Big Pines Trail
And Pine Creek Camp
• Trail: Passable
• People: 0
• Signage: Missing sign for this camp at top of trail and missing camp sign at camp.
• Note 1: At least in fall, leaves turn this trail into a slip-and-slide.
• Note 2: Lots of water, creeks.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] November 12, 2012
[b]General Condition:[/b] Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

From Skinner Ridge Trail to Ponciano Ridge

The previous description is spot on. The trail is faint in places, but always easy to follow. There aren't a lot of pines along pine creek, but there are a few, and some of them are ponderosas of monumental proportions. The fire grate at the camp was crushed, apparently long ago, by a fallen madrone, which also reduced the available space by more than half (though there is still enough space for a small group to comfortably camp). The grate has been replaced by a large fire ring. We found this camp to be exceptionally dark and damp. It is probably a bit more attractive as a campsite in late spring or summer. Beyond the camp, the trail climbs to a gap in Ponciano Ridge. The top of the ridge is heavily wooded and doesn't offer much view.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] March 3, 2012
[b]General Condition:[/b] Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

As a day hike, I followed this trail from the Skinner Ridge Trail to Pine Creek Camp and back. This area didn't burn in the Basin Fire. Trail reports from 2007 and earlier remain representative. The trail is unobstructed and generally easy to follow, if maybe just a bit faint in places. The patch of poison oak right at the top is still there, but somebody has trimmed it away from the trail. The gap isn't all that wide though. It will be back. Below that, the trail follows an obvious hillside cut down to Pine Creek. Parts of this descent have several inches of loose black oak leaves. I had no footing problems and there is no question where the trail goes. Once down, the trail follows the creek, crossing banks frequently. Pine Creek was running gently: all the crossings were simple rock-hops. The route can be a little obscure in spots, but it's easy to get re-oriented and there are some ribbons to help at the crossings. I saw less PO by the creek than the 2006 report suggested I would find. Pine Creek Camp, as marked on Jack Glendening's map, has a fire ring and a little bit of flat space. The canyon is narrow there. On a March morning it felt pretty gloomy and dank. (There's more sun elsewhere.) I continued down the creek to where the USGS topo locates the Pine Creek Camp. The trail has been re-routed so I couldn't get right to the spot without more bushwacking than I cared to take on, but there doesn't seem to be any indication of an active camp in the area.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] February 1, 2007
[b]General Condition:[/b] Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Conditions reported by: Carl A. Mounteer
Survey date: 1-FEBRUARY-2007
General: DIFFICULT
Specific:

Section: This report refers only to the first quarter mile of this trail from the "Ventana Cone Trail" or Skinner Ridge Trail.

In the interval I hiked, this trail was heavily obscured by fallen leaves. It is very easy to lose the trail in this part. At one critical point some kind soul marked the trail with pink trail tape. Thank God!!! At one point I lost the trail and was only able to find it with the help of this tape.

This experience is the best argument for the controversial use of trail tape. I have read on the VWA forum of those who turn criticize the use of trail tape as a nuisance. That kind of disdain works fine if you are familiar with a trail. For a person who is hiking the trail for the first time, trail tape marking on an obscure trial is essential to avoiding getting lost.

There were also frequent, mysterious patches of earth, freshly exposed, for about a square foot to a square yard. Two other hikers on the trail speculated these might have been created by wild boars.

I did not reach Pine Creek. I turned back because I was having knee problems, I had never been on this trail, and the obscuration of the trail by leaves spelled trouble for me.

Things may improve in the late spring when these leaves rot into the ground and the trail becomes clearer. In the meantime, I would approach this trail from the Skinner Ridge side with the utmost caution and alertness the the progress of the tread.
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Conditions reported by: Lindsay Jeffers
Survey date: 20-MAY-2006
General: CLEAR
Specific:

Accompanied by a resident of White Rock, I hiked the full length of this trail. It has had excellent recent work on the section between Whiterock and Ponciano Ridge. The section down to and along Pine Creek has a heavy load of poison oak, but the footbed is mostly level and the route is carefully flagged. Note that beyond Pine Creek, the trail leaves public land. The large patch of poison oak fifty yards below the junction of the VDC trail noted by the last poster remains.
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Conditions reported by: jdoelman
Survey date: 15-MAY-2004
General: PASSABLE
Specific:

Section: Double Cones Trail jct. to Pine Creek Camp

This trail is in fine shape, with the exception of one patch of poison oak near the beginning of the trail. There is an obvious use path proceeding up Ponciano Ridge, possibly used by hunters? The camp stove has been smashed by a fallen tree at the camp.
===========
Conditions reported by: Jake Goetz
Survey date: 9-OCT-2002
General: CLEAR
Specific:

The Pine Creek trail was surprisingly clear and well maintained. It must get a lot of use from folks coming up from the White Rock Gun Club. I only traveled down the trail 2 miles (to the intersection of what used to be the San Clemente Trail, now completely gone as far as I could tell). The trail traveled an old road down through open Madrone and Oak forest with several switch backs until it reaches the canyon bottom. It then travels along the creek passing several very nice spots to camp. The creek at this point was dry. The bottom of the canyon is predominately mature Tan Oak forest, relatively open. Pine Creek camp was a pleasant spot if you like canyon bottom campsites, and it did have water. If your seeking a little solitude, this may be the spot. The trail was well maintained, but didn't have the heavy traffic.

* USFS Trail # 2E01
* Parking: Bottchers gap ($5/day)
* Watershed: Pine Creek
* Junctions: Ventana Double Cone Trail
* Connects: Ventana Double Cone Trail with Pine Creek Camp
* Camps: None