[b]Date Hiked:[/b] May 22, 2022
[b]General Condition:[/b] Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

For Cone Peak Road to the Fire Lookout on the summit:

More or less the same as it has been since October. Some sections are brushy or eroded, but the first section is a bit easier to follow as more people are summiting again. Overall pretty good (although there is one head high poison oak branch about halfway from the road to summit). And the view at the top is to die for!

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] December 30, 2021
[b]General Condition:[/b] Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

This report is for both North Coast Ridge Road and the Cone Peak trail itself.

My prior report said North Coast Ridge Road was impassable, but being out there in the daylight this time, I was able to see that it's not too hard to hike up the hillside and around the giant washout. The road itself is totally gone for maybe 30-40 feet, but you can get around it on foot or carrying a bike.

Cone Peak trail itself is in good condition - a little brushy at a few points, but definitely passable and a nice hike.

Here's a photo of the washout on North Coast Ridge Road, about 2.5mi north of Nacimiento-Fergusson: https://photos.app.goo.gl/24bU6XFtpjgyLWBDA

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] December 28, 2021
[b]General Condition:[/b] Impassable (completely overgrown or tread obliterated)

NOTE: This report is for North Coast Ridge Road, NOT the actual Cone Peak trail, but I didn't see a trail report section for North Coast Ridge Road.

There is a massive washout that took out the entire road roughly 2.5mi north of Nacimiento-Fergusson road. It is an impassable chasm. The road is entirely gone, the hillside to the left is nearly vertical, and to the right of the road way the washout chasm continues down into the ravine. There is also a 90% washout right before the total washout, but that one can be walked around carefully.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] December 10, 2021
[b]General Condition:[/b] Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Hiked this trail from Cone Peak Road to the Cone summit. The trail is steep and rugged, and one or two spots with a bit of brush, but clear and well defined otherwise. Worth all the effort at the top..

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] November 11, 2021
[b]General Condition:[/b] Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)

CONE PEAK TRAIL (INCLUDING CONE PEAK SUMMIT TRAIL)
11/11/2021 Trail Conditions - trip report

This trail segment is quickly being taken over by the growth of vegetation. Trail conditions are yellow for sure.

I suspect that this area has received less visitation with closures due to the pandemic (2020), fires (2021), and Nacimiento-Fergusson Road being closed to cars (2021).

Poison Oak, manzanita, Chamise, and various other Chaparral plants are growing over the trail system.

Growth is most common in segments of the trail the burned most recently.

There are also several segments of the trail that have been taken out by small landslides. Take extra care when crossing these areas.

Consider bringing a had saw and garden clippers to help clear the smaller brush from the trail. If everyone does a little bit of work the trail will continue to exist for human use.

Link to the film of talk through: https://youtu.be/rZGdPfKtZhw

Link to photos of the trail from the trip: https://photos.app.goo.gl/xRJ9bpGmFdaZwZmd8

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

Last report is very accurate. After the third switchback up from the road, it is easy to lose the trail in the dust / ash / yerba santa, all of which are all over the place. After you round the ridge, it becomes brushy but not hard to follow. Summit trail junction to the peak is good to go!

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] September 26, 2021
[b]General Condition:[/b] Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Took a group through the lollipop this weekend. Tread is passable up to Cone Peak. There is encroaching brush growing in the middle of the tread and it will likely be difficult come spring.

There are a few sections near the start where tread is hard to pick up due to the burn scar. Lot of ash and loose ground is obscuring the tread with new growth sprouting through. Be careful and back track if you think you lose the trail.

Once on the higher sections the trail becomes much more evident and is clear to the summit.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] July 19, 2020
[b]General Condition:[/b] Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

This trail could almost be considered a wilderness highway but there are a few places where the brush is encroaching on the trail and a couple of places where the downhill side of the trail has given away a tiny bit--not enough to be an issue but something to look out for especially of hiking down from the peak after sunset. Great views from the peak!

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] July 12, 2020
[b]General Condition:[/b] Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Trail was clear and easy to follow, with some poison oak (but mostly avoidable, and much less than on Kirk Creek and Vicente Flat Trails). Amazing views from the summit.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] July 9, 2020
[b]General Condition:[/b] Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

[attachment=0]IMG_2233.jpeg[/attachment][b]Date Hiked:[/b] July 9, 2020
[b]General Condition:[/b] Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

I encountered some brush and a deadfall that could be removed with a saw. I like this trail for the generally gentle slope up until the last quarter mile or so and of course the view is spectacular.