Ventana Wilderness Forums

Date Hiked: April 18, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

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

Description:
Today volunteer Rangers patrolled from Highway 1 to the South Coast Ridge Road assessing trail conditions, talking to users, checking camps and repairing trail as needed. They removed the major snag above Spruce Camp that was forcing people off the trail in an unsafe manner. Water is available at Spruce and Estrella camps.

Trail conditions are as follows:

Highway 1 to Spruce Creek Jct. - Clear, minor encroaching brush. A short section of trail has fallen away between second and third canyon crossing. This section of trail is easily crossed.
Spruce Creek Jct. to Estrella Camp - Passable, there is a 4-foot tree across the trail just above Spruce Camp. Most of the vegetation has been removed and a use trail has been established on the high side of the tree. A second tree has come down shortly past the 4-foot tree and is easily crossed. The rest of the trail is in fair shape with encroaching brush and poison oak. The slide just past Spruce Camp continues to hold up well.
Estrella Camp. to SCRR - Passable, with encroaching brush and some minor slides.
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Date Hiked: March 24, 2021
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

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

Description:
The Monterey Ranger District Forest has partially reopened, VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers continue to prepare opening other parts of the closed forest and are continuing their regular patrols. Today volunteer Rangers patrolled from Highway 1 to the Spruce Creek Jct. They removed two trees and inspected previous work done prior to the winter storms.

Trail conditions are as follows:

Trailhead to Spruce Creek Jct. - Clear, minor encroaching brush. Short section of trail has fallen away between second and third canyon crossing. See Photo.
Spruce Creek Jct. to Estrella Camp - Passable, clear down to Spruce Camp. Two trees to navigate between Spruce and Estrella Camps. Encroaching brush and off camber tread.
Estrella Camp to Coast Ridge Road - Passable, minor slides and encroaching brush.

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DISCLAIMER: This report is for informational purposes only. Trail conditions may change at any time. The Ventana Wilderness Alliance assumes no liability for the use of this information.
The Los Padres National Forest Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf/

Date Hiked: February 16, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

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

Forest/Trail Status: PARTIALLY OPEN, Los Padres Monterey Ranger District is partially open per Forest Order 05-07-51-21-02
Current Fire Restrictions: Campfires and Stoves are permitted in the backcountry with a valid Campfire/Stove Permit.

Description:

The Monterey Ranger District Forest has partially reopened, VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers continue to prepare opening other parts of the closed forest and are continuing their regular patrols. This weekend volunteer Rangers and Ranger Trainees patrolled from Highway 1 to Estrella Camp. They cleaned Spruce and Estrella Camps. Removed inappropriate fire rings and trash. They put out an unattended fire left by carless campers. They talked to over 100 individuals, removed 6 trees that had fallen across the trail since the last storm. Water is available at both camps.

Trail conditions are as follows:

Highway 1 to Spruce Creek Jct. - Passable, the trail is for the most part clear, but there are still some downed trees to negotiate.

Spruce Creek Jct. to Spruce Camp - Passable. There is one 4 foot diameter tree across the trail just before the camp.

Spruce Camp to Estrella Camp - Passable. The trail is clear, but there are a few trees that one needs to negotiate.

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DISCLAIMER: This report is for informational purposes only. Trail conditions may change at any time. The Ventana Wilderness Alliance assumes no liability for the use of this information.
The Los Padres National Forest Website can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf/
To learn more about the Volunteer VWA/USFS Ranger and Trail Crew Programs visit https://www.ventanawild.org/stewardship.

Date Hiked: February 14, 2021
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)

Smooth sailing all the way from the highway to the ridge road. Beautiful trail!

Date Hiked: December 24, 2020
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

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

Forest/Trail Status: CLOSED, Los Padres Monterey Ranger District is closed per Forest Order 05-07-51-20-22
Current Fire Restrictions: No Campfires, No Stoves in backcountry. Cold Camping Only.

Description:

With the Monterey Ranger District Forest still closed, VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers continue to prepare for its reopening. Today volunteer Rangers were rebuilding drains near the lower section of trail. This will help keep the trail drier after winter rains.

Trail conditions are as follows:

Highway 1 to Spruce Creek Jct. - Clear with no obstacles



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DISCLAIMER: This report is for informational purposes only. Trail conditions may change at any time. The Ventana Wilderness Alliance assumes no liability for the use of this information.
The Los Padres National Forest Website can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf/
To learn more about the Volunteer VWA/USFS Ranger and Trail Crew Programs visit https://www.ventanawild.org/stewardship.

Date Hiked: December 3, 2020
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

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

Forest/Trail Status: CLOSED, Los Padres Monterey Ranger District is closed per Forest Order 05-07-51-20-22
Current Fire Restrictions: No Campfires, No Stoves in backcountry. Cold Camping Only.

Description:

With the Monterey Ranger District Forest still closed, VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers continue to prepare for its reopening. Today volunteer Rangers patrolled from Highway 1 to Spruce Camp. They cleaned Spruce Camp and removed a snag just past the top of the switchback entering the canyon. Water is available at Spruce Camp. The Creek is easily crossable at this time.

Trail conditions are as follows:

Highway 1 to Spruce Creek Jct. - Clear with no obstacles

Spruce Creek Jct. to Spruce Camp - Clear with encroaching brush.

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DISCLAIMER: This report is for informational purposes only. Trail conditions may change at any time. The Ventana Wilderness Alliance assumes no liability for the use of this information.
The Los Padres National Forest Website can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf/
To learn more about the Volunteer VWA/USFS Ranger and Trail Crew Programs visit https://www.ventanawild.org/stewardship.

Date Hiked: November 12, 2020
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

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

Forest/Trail Status: CLOSED, Los Padres Monterey Ranger District is closed per Forest Order 05-07-51-20-22
Current Fire Restrictions: No Campfires, No Stoves in backcountry. Cold Camping Only.

Description:

With the Monterey Ranger District Forest still closed, VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers continue to prepare for its reopening. Today volunteer Rangers worked around the Salmon Creek Falls area cleaning up trash, removing graffiti from the trailhead sign and upgrading a sign helping people find the Falls. They talked to many individuals who were glad to see them out on the trail keeping an eye on things.
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DISCLAIMER: This report is for informational purposes only. Trail conditions may change at any time. The Ventana Wilderness Alliance assumes no liability for the use of this information.
The Los Padres National Forest Website can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf/
To learn more about the Volunteer VWA/USFS Ranger and Trail Crew Programs visit https://www.ventanawild.org/stewardship.

Date Hiked: October 12, 2020
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

With the Monterey District being closed. Volunteer VWA/USFS Rangers spent two days cleaning up around the Falls Area. We took out over 25lbs. of trash that had been needlessly tossed around the falls. Removed lots of graffiti and took out an old water pipe that used to service the Ranger Station.

We talked to several groups about the forest closure. They understood the reason and went on their travels.

On an earlier trip one VWA/USFS Ranger removed a huge bay tree that had fallen across the trail at the very beginning.

As always do your part to help keep things nice. Take out all your belongings and trash. Leave a place nicer than you found it.

Unfortunately, the MRD remains closed for now until the Dolan Fire is declared out. Hope it rains soon.

Have a great day.

Date Hiked: August 14, 2020
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Hiked HWY 1 to Lion's Den. Clear most of the way up - some poison oak but not as much as expected.
Lots of water at Spruce Creek and Estrella - not much more than a trickle at Lion's Den so fill up as much as you can before your final ascent.
Bugs were buzzing but no ticks - a few mosquitos but mostly flies.
There are some exposed areas so wear a hat and protect yourself.
Still can't get over how beautiful the hike was. The climb to Lion's Den is tough but definitely worth the views from the top.

Date Hiked: June 21, 2020
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Section: Hiked from Salmon Creek Trailhead on Highway 1 to Lion Den Campground

Great trail conditions. Lots of people leaving from camping overnight on Saturday. No one at Lion Den Campground.

Large water source (flowing river) at estrella camp.

Small, but flowing water source at Lion Den Campground. Good for refilling water and water needed for dinner.