Soda Springs Trail

jbl · Post by **jbl** » Tue Sep 16, 2025 1:55 pm

Date Hiked: July 27, 2025
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

I was SHOCKED to see how clear this trail was for most of its length. My first ever Silver Peak Wilderness hike was on this trail way back in the very early '00s and it was in bad shape then and has been in various states ever since, but the current status is this:

The first 0.3 miles is Wilderness Freeway++ as someone (perhaps a fire crew?) has widened it to about 8' across.

Then you get to a 200' or so section where whoever had been doing the trail clearing from the Highway had stopped, and it is a tall narrow brush tunnel that you can walk through with minimal brush contact (there was one low branch with several side branches at face level, but I cut that all away), but there is a little PO in there so be careful. I don't know if this section is what the previous poster is talking about in their report of it being "barely passable in a few locations," but trust me, by Ventana and Silver Peak standards this section falls between Passable and Clear.

The remaining 500' or so of trail is the shorter hip-high brush and is clear with very little or now brush encroachment, definitely "Clear".

dmountjoy · Post by **dmountjoy** » Mon May 19, 2025 12:18 pm

Date Hiked: May 15, 2025
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Soda Springs Trail is barely passable in a few locations without rubbing against poison oak. Total width between walls of thick vegetation is only about 2 feet. We did some hacking of encroaching blackberries and poison oak tendrils. No deadfall or tread issues but be prepared to trim or push aside new growth of poison oak at a few locations.

VWA_Ranger · Post by **VWA_Ranger** » Sun Feb 19, 2023 2:41 pm

Date Hiked: February 14, 2023
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

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

Description:

VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger Patrolled this trail from Highway 1 to the Buckeye Junction.

We are happy to report the trail is fair condition with no trees down across the trail after the winter storms.
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tbliss · Post by **tbliss** » Sat Feb 05, 2022 11:20 pm

Date Hiked: February 5, 2022
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Soda Springs Trail from its junction at Buckeye Trail to highway 1 was beautiful today. Trail is in very good shape. Water crossings no problem, shoes on.

gfelsman · Post by **gfelsman** » Thu Feb 20, 2020 7:11 pm

Date Hiked: February 20, 2020
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

A VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger patrolled the trail today. The trail is clear with encroaching brush. One bay tree fell across the trail about half way to Buckeye Trail It has been cleared enough that a minor duck will get you past. Tread is in fair condition.

gfelsman · Post by **gfelsman** » Sat Dec 14, 2019 1:53 pm

Date Hiked: December 12, 2019
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Recent report indicates this short 1/2 mile of trail is clear to the Buckeye Trail Junction. Recent rains have brought out plenty of ticks. So beware.

gfelsman · Post by **gfelsman** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 6:54 pm

Date Hiked: March 31, 2019
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Darlene and I had a chance to Patrol this trail all the way to Buckeye Camp. The trail is basically clear all the way to camp. There is one large oak about 1/3 mile past the Soda Springs Jct. That is easy to duck under.

gfelsman · Post by **gfelsman** » Thu Oct 18, 2018 3:37 pm

Date Hiked: October 18, 2018
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Darlene and I had a chance to patrol this trail today. We can say the trail is clear with minor encroaching brush. Tread is in fair condition with some recent minor work to make footing better. A short section but nice change from coming out of the Salmon Creek Station.

K Vandevere · Post by **K Vandevere** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 8:10 am

Date Hiked: April 6, 2016
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)

This trail is short, but sweet. A nice oak grove and even a nice ceanothus "grove" provide shade. Beautiful view to the south, complete with wildflowers, at the top.

No encroaching poison oak. No deadfalls. No brush. No missing tread. No hassles from flies or ticks (on this day, anyway).

jbl · Post by **jbl** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 5:46 pm

Date Hiked: February 13, 2016
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)

Walked up this last weekend on the way to Buckeye Camp, it is Wilderness Freeway, no brush encroachment or downed trees or branches. The view from the Soda Springs Trail/Buckeye Trail junction over towards Salmon Creek and the Mount Mars western ridge was beautiful, all is very green:

: Looking at the Very Green Western Ridge of Mount Mars