Date Hiked: August 22, 2026
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Hiked from Highway 1 to Lion's Den.

From the highway to Spruce Creek, trail is in great condition, just one deadfall.
Between Spruce Creek and Estrella there are ~5 deadfalls of varying sizes, cleaned up and pretty easy to pass. Tread is fine. Plenty of water at Estrella, which is currently the last on-trail water source before Lion's Den.

There is a largeish deadfall about three quarters of a mile past Estrella, with a workable path around. The trail continuing to Coast Ridge Road is great aside from some steep dropoffs - the brush clearing Doug did a month ago is much appreciated! I would go as far as to say this later section is bordering on wilderness freeway, though I don't recall the tread condition in full detail.

Lion's Den is in excellent condition, I did not have an issue locating the appropriate path to it coming off Salmon Creek -> Coast Ridge -> Cruikshank. There is a consistent flow of water, roughly a liter a minute, easy to fill up. Lots of flies: 90% face flies, a few biters, and I didn't notice a mosquito presence. Also didn't encounter any ticks on the trail. Great views of the firefighting planes heading towards the Timber Fire.

Date Hiked: July 3, 2026
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Trail Report – Upper Salmon Creek Trail (Estrella Camp to Coastal Ridge Road)

This report covers the less‑maintained upper portions of the Salmon Creek Trail, from the upper falls and Estrella Camp up to the Coastal Ridge Road.

Over two days, I focused on brushing the less‑traveled upper section of this remarkable canyon. With the ridge road recently regraded, access to the top of the trail and on toward Lion’s Den and beyond is currently accessible. The wilderness is clearly reclaiming the corridor, but recent work has once again made the upper trail a defined path rather than a full push‑through. Particular care was given to poison oak infestations and regrowth at pinch points along the tread.

The upper and lower sets of switchbacks are in very good shape. However, hikers should use caution in a few narrow sections where the tread runs close to severe drop‑offs. There is only one significant blowdown, with both over- and under-options currently workable. Water is flowing well at Estrella Camp, at the upper falls, and at one dripping drainage above the camp. The "root steps" are very steep down to the falls, but possible with one climb over. On this July 4th weekend, there were over twenty cars parked along Highway 1 at Salmon Creek Falls, and about fourteen campers at Estrella, plus a few day hikers on the trail.

I was also interested in locating the old Calizona Mine site and the hydraulic nozzle reported to be upriver from the falls (mentioned in the “Trail Guide to Los Padres”). After a bit of upstream exploration, I had to turn back without success. It seems more promising to approach via the Estrella drainage and look downstream. Just upstream from camp was the location of the old mining community, with four structures reportedly up a northern drainage; faint paths appear to climb toward a flatter area. I did locate one foundation of a miner’s cabin just off the trail, near where it drops down to the main riverside camping area.

An additional note relates to a recent lost‑hiker incident mentioned on BigSurKate’s site with an entry June 27, 2026, at 11:26 am:" I encountered a hiker coming down Willow Creek who had started at Salmon Creek intending to follow a loop described in a guidebook. The upper trail was so overgrown that he lost the route near dusk; I was able to get him back to his car at Salmon Creek, and he then faced a three‑hour drive home to Santa Barbara."

Currently, the upper signs at the top of Salmon Creek Trail and at the Lion’s Den/Silver Peak junction are missing. Without these signs, hikers attempting the loop can have trouble choosing the correct entry point. It is hard to miss the trail going up Salmon Creek itself, but very easy to miss the upper entry point or Lion’s Den turn‑off without clear signage. In that situation, it is likely a person would simply follow Coastal Ridge Road to the Los Burros Road intersection and then drop down toward Highway 1 via the Willow Creek drainage. If he indeed descended Willow Creek via Kinder Mine Road (the proposed Condor Trail route), then finding his way past the miner’s cabin and down that route would have been quite an adventure. He had one night in Silver Peak sleeping in the rough.

All of this underscores the need to replace the missing upper-trail signs at Salmon Creek and Lions Den/Silver Peak to better support safe navigation and preserve loop options and safe passage.

Date Hiked: February 21, 2026
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and/or well maintained)

I hike the trail up to Spruce Camp on a quiet early Saturday morning. The trail was in fantastic shape as always. I encountered a small blowdown which was blocking the trail approximately 1 mile up and required a sketchy off camper work around, which would be difficult if you had a full pack.
I spent about 30 to 40 minutes, clearing the branches and brush and repairing the tread work and was very pleased with the results.
The large tree down prior to Spruce Creek Trail, as mentioned in the prior post is still there, but has been cleaned up to make for a rather easy passage.

On the way back to the trailhead, I took the use trail to kozy kove meadow. This was my first time on the use trail, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it rather clear and easy to follow.

Date Hiked: February 1, 2026
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Hiked Salmon Creek Trail up and back on our brushing trip, my friend and I encountered a sizable deadfall before reaching the Spruce Creek Trail. It was too large for our equipment which was loppers and a small folding saw. We cut what we could but really it deserves a trip with a crew. You can get through more easily now after our work which opened up a bit more allowing passage without taking your pack off. This deadfall is smaller in diameter than the last work on Buckeye Trail a few weekends ago. But it probably deserves a cross cut saw and maybe 2-3 large log cuts and then once the smaller limbs are cut to clean up the tread. Forgive me it's been years since I used this site. I was urged to make this report here instead of contacting trail crew members directly.
[ED: these are great photos! When someone reports a "tree down" we don't know if it is an 8-inch tan oak with just a couple side branches, a 3-foot redwood, or a mess like this. If someone is able to go out there, this tells them what king of saw and how many people they need.]

Date Hiked: October 2, 2025
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Did the section from South Coast Ridge Road to Estrella Camp where we stopped the night. Then the next morning we went back up in order to do the loop to Dutra. So we then did the section from Spruce Creek Camp to Estrella Camp at the end of the that day. And then on the third day we went back down that way and out to the Buckeye / Salmon Creek trailhead.

Nice trail, with just one tricky spot where there was a landslide a while back so you have to be careful crossing it. This is in the section between Spruce Creek Camp to Estrella Camp.

Estrella Camp is in two sections, either side of the creek (lots of water but still easy to cross). One side is under the trees and has the pit latrine nearby. The other, smaller one, is more in the open. We chose the latter for the sunset but it was probably cooler at night than under the trees.

Date Hiked: September 25, 2025
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Ascended from Salmon Creek to South Coast Ridge Road, the trail was very easy to follow with no significant obstacles.

Date Hiked: March 29, 2025
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and/or well maintained)

We hiked the section to the Spruce Creek Trail junction, the trail is just beautiful, in pristine shape all the way!

Date Hiked: August 11, 2024
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Descended Salmon Creek trail from Lion's Den camp down to the trailhead. Descending from the ridge, the first section is passable but overgrown with lots of poison oak on all sides. Not many blockages and the trail clears up once you get below Estrella camp.

Water was abundant from Estrella on down. Not much water available above Estrella camp before you get to Lions' Den where there is a very small stream for now.

Date Hiked: August 10, 2024
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

I did some trail work, such as brush clipping from the Coastal Road to Estrella Camp. The tread is evident with a few pushed-down areas, but it is easy to follow. There were two blow-downs, one to go around and one to go under, and some low-hanging brush with marking tape. I'm sorry that I did not bring a saw to clear. I clipped the more thorny encroaching branches and any poison oak on the trail(minimal) NO ticks but some no-see-ums in the wet section. Water is running well at Estella camp, but it is dry and hot today on the noncoastal side; it's nice that this trail is mostly in the shade. Passed two backpacking groups of 3 doing the loop, and there was one campsite taken at Estrella Camp. An amazing water shed and canyon trail with the loop down Villa Creek.

Date Hiked: April 20, 2024
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and/or well maintained)

I hiked this trail from the trailhead to the Spruce Creek Trail turnoff and it is Wilderness Highway. Water flowing very strongly in Salmon Creek and both sides of the waterfall were running.