Date Hiked: May 23, 2026
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Hiked from intersection of NCRT down to Cooks springs trail. While trail is passable, it is at times bordering on "difficult", I lost the trail a couple of times and there is a lot of pushing through the brush.
Carrizo Trail
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Josh J
Re: Carrizo Trail
Date Hiked: May 16, 2026
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
The last post from evan s is accurate. It appears the ACE Crew only made it to the first "summit"/ break from the strenuous uphill. After this the trail condition began to deteriorate. From this first downhill section to the cook connector, the trail had slight overgrowth and a few ticks. After the cook connector the trail became extremely overgrown with head high ceanothus and some sections difficult to determine where the trail leads. There is still one deadfall that requires some crawling, but everything else is do-able if you're willing to put your head down and power through. Many ticks through this section. Stayed one night at Carrizo Springs Camp, water was flowing nice and clear, easy to fill filter bag.
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
The last post from evan s is accurate. It appears the ACE Crew only made it to the first "summit"/ break from the strenuous uphill. After this the trail condition began to deteriorate. From this first downhill section to the cook connector, the trail had slight overgrowth and a few ticks. After the cook connector the trail became extremely overgrown with head high ceanothus and some sections difficult to determine where the trail leads. There is still one deadfall that requires some crawling, but everything else is do-able if you're willing to put your head down and power through. Many ticks through this section. Stayed one night at Carrizo Springs Camp, water was flowing nice and clear, easy to fill filter bag.
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evan s
Re: Carrizo Trail
Date Hiked: May 3, 2026
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Met an 10-15 person ACE crew on the way down working on Carrizo. Since the trail is wilderness freeway until Carrizo Springs they were working out of the camp going towards the connector. They also said they had just finished the Arroyo Seco trail. Based on the quality of their work, that means 6ft wide wilderness freeway all the way up. As for my experience, I found a good amount of ticks starting past Carrizo Springs until the intersection with the NCRT with the most concentration around Agua Dulce creek drainage and in the brushy section between the two forest patches. I did not pick up any ticks where the trail had already been worked on. The tread has become notably better in the sugar pine forest although the same downed logs still exist as well as a couple new brush skeletons causing people to erode the outslope of the trail. As the ACE crew asked me about any crosscut jobs further up on the trail I'm assuming these deadfalls and downed logs will be cleared. Past the connector, the initial brush tunnel has improved a bit since I was last here as no crawling is required. Once you get into the brush "maze" where usetrails bypass deadfalls on the original carrizo tread it is a little difficult to follow and there's one deadfall to crawl under. Other than that it is passable from ncrt to about halfway through the brush maze as its mainly waist high ceanothus with no brush skeletons at all and the trail is pretty easy to follow.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Met an 10-15 person ACE crew on the way down working on Carrizo. Since the trail is wilderness freeway until Carrizo Springs they were working out of the camp going towards the connector. They also said they had just finished the Arroyo Seco trail. Based on the quality of their work, that means 6ft wide wilderness freeway all the way up. As for my experience, I found a good amount of ticks starting past Carrizo Springs until the intersection with the NCRT with the most concentration around Agua Dulce creek drainage and in the brushy section between the two forest patches. I did not pick up any ticks where the trail had already been worked on. The tread has become notably better in the sugar pine forest although the same downed logs still exist as well as a couple new brush skeletons causing people to erode the outslope of the trail. As the ACE crew asked me about any crosscut jobs further up on the trail I'm assuming these deadfalls and downed logs will be cleared. Past the connector, the initial brush tunnel has improved a bit since I was last here as no crawling is required. Once you get into the brush "maze" where usetrails bypass deadfalls on the original carrizo tread it is a little difficult to follow and there's one deadfall to crawl under. Other than that it is passable from ncrt to about halfway through the brush maze as its mainly waist high ceanothus with no brush skeletons at all and the trail is pretty easy to follow.
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chillis
Re: Carrizo Trail
Date Hiked: April 18, 2026
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
I ran up Carrizo Trail in route to Cone Peak. Everything outlined in @qmccalla's post on March 24,2026 is still accurate.
Trailhead to Carrizo Camp is a Wilderness Freeway. Water was still flowing from Carrizo Spring at a good rate.
Carrizo camp to Cook Carrizo Connector is Clear to Passable. Minimal tread in areas but totally navigable. Some encroaching P.O. and brush. Water still flowing in saddle at ~0.9 miles west of Carrizo camp at 3,830 feet. The stands of sugar pine, cedar, and Coulter pine forest are beautiful on the north slope of the trail. Additionally, the trail is in good condition in the forested areas.
Cook Carrizo Connector to North Ridge Trail is Difficult but not Impassable. Still able to follow the trail tread, one or two blow downs that need crawling under, lots of resinous plants that need to be pushed through. One rattlesnake did inform us that it was around, before we got eyes on it.
The short time I was on south bound on NCRT vegetation was a encroaching a little, nothing impeding forward progress. There are some loose exposed parts of the trail so watch your footing.
The scrambly social trail up to the north ridge to Cone Peak was in great condition for what its worth. The faint trail can be easily followed and vegetation is not impeding.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
I ran up Carrizo Trail in route to Cone Peak. Everything outlined in @qmccalla's post on March 24,2026 is still accurate.
Trailhead to Carrizo Camp is a Wilderness Freeway. Water was still flowing from Carrizo Spring at a good rate.
Carrizo camp to Cook Carrizo Connector is Clear to Passable. Minimal tread in areas but totally navigable. Some encroaching P.O. and brush. Water still flowing in saddle at ~0.9 miles west of Carrizo camp at 3,830 feet. The stands of sugar pine, cedar, and Coulter pine forest are beautiful on the north slope of the trail. Additionally, the trail is in good condition in the forested areas.
Cook Carrizo Connector to North Ridge Trail is Difficult but not Impassable. Still able to follow the trail tread, one or two blow downs that need crawling under, lots of resinous plants that need to be pushed through. One rattlesnake did inform us that it was around, before we got eyes on it.
The short time I was on south bound on NCRT vegetation was a encroaching a little, nothing impeding forward progress. There are some loose exposed parts of the trail so watch your footing.
The scrambly social trail up to the north ridge to Cone Peak was in great condition for what its worth. The faint trail can be easily followed and vegetation is not impeding.
Re: Carrizo Trail
Date Hiked: March 22, 2026
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
From Trailhead to Carrizo Camp
Wilderness Freeway. Clear and no trail obstructions. It is a difficult and exposed trail but the trail was in good condition. Water was flowing from Carrizo spring and great quality.
Carrizo Camp to Cook-Carrizo Connector
Passable. A few downed trees on the climb out of Carrizo Camp. Then faint tread but still manageable to get through. The occasional downed tree and overhanging brush. Trail still in solid condition but definitely less maintained from before.
Cook-Carrizo Connector/North Ridge Trail loop
Difficult to Impassible. The Carrizo trail to the ridge is completely overgrown with brush and deadfall. Trail may still exist but you cant see it. You are swimming through brush. The North Ridge Trail is nice for a little bit heading north but then becomes impassible. You have to crawl on you hands and knees at sections. Cook-Carrizo connector is covered with brush and downfall. Trail finding skills needed and patience.
Overall
The trail gets worse as you hike up to the coast. However! You get beautiful views throughout. Great views of the San Antonio River valley and of the mountains. Seeing the coast was great if you can get there. The sugar pine forest on the back side of the ridge is spectacular and feels so out of place. 80% of the trail is in good condition but you will remember the 20% that isn't.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
From Trailhead to Carrizo Camp
Wilderness Freeway. Clear and no trail obstructions. It is a difficult and exposed trail but the trail was in good condition. Water was flowing from Carrizo spring and great quality.
Carrizo Camp to Cook-Carrizo Connector
Passable. A few downed trees on the climb out of Carrizo Camp. Then faint tread but still manageable to get through. The occasional downed tree and overhanging brush. Trail still in solid condition but definitely less maintained from before.
Cook-Carrizo Connector/North Ridge Trail loop
Difficult to Impassible. The Carrizo trail to the ridge is completely overgrown with brush and deadfall. Trail may still exist but you cant see it. You are swimming through brush. The North Ridge Trail is nice for a little bit heading north but then becomes impassible. You have to crawl on you hands and knees at sections. Cook-Carrizo connector is covered with brush and downfall. Trail finding skills needed and patience.
Overall
The trail gets worse as you hike up to the coast. However! You get beautiful views throughout. Great views of the San Antonio River valley and of the mountains. Seeing the coast was great if you can get there. The sugar pine forest on the back side of the ridge is spectacular and feels so out of place. 80% of the trail is in good condition but you will remember the 20% that isn't.
Re: Carrizo Trail
Date Hiked: October 3, 2025
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Trail condition generally clear. Lower Carrizo is wilderness freeway up to Carrizo Spring, and the trail beyond to the Carrizo-Cook Connector is well-maintained and clear. Thank you trail crews! The connector trail is thin but easily followed; some flagging provides additional backup. The lollipop-shaped use trails (old road cuts) between the North Coast Ridge Trail and Cook Spring Camp are readily traversed but the “base” of the lollipop “handle” where it joins the NCRT is somewhat obscured by deadfall. The trail sign to Cook Spring is present at that location as an aid.
Water flow in this late season, prior to appreciable rain, was surprisingly good at Carrizo Spring – a steady tinkle with a full basin below, audible as one approached from a few steps away. In contrast, Cook Spring was barely a trickle, perhaps more a seep. Filling a bottle took multiple dips into a leaf-filled puddle.
Continuing SW from the Carrizo-Cook Connector, the Carrizo Trail was clear to its junction with the southernmost portion of the NCRT where it heads towards Cone Peak Road. I left the NCRT where it diverges from the use trail that climbs the rocky spine to Cone Peak. The spine route was serviceable to the summit and mostly easy to follow, with gorgeous views through lovely stands of Santa Lucia Fir. There is some flagging that clarifies its trajectory in a subset of the cliffy spots.
Returning back towards Cook Spring, I took the NCRT north, instead of retracing along the Carrizo Trail to the Carrizo-Cook Connector. The NCRT between its junction with the Carrizo Trail and north to the sign for Cook Spring Camp was the least-maintained of the trail sections I walked. That section is passable but approaching a “difficult” rating. I was carrying a full-sized though lightly loaded pack, and one stretch required crawling for about 50’. With another season of brush growth, a half mile of the NCRT could mostly disappear. The Carrizo-Cook Connector would provide a reasonable alternate route, but it would be a shame to lose even a short portion of the NCRT. Along the NCRT route, the junction with the Gamboa Trail is signed and one can see traces of tread on the opposite side of the canyon, but it is quite overgrown and probably still warrants the “impassable” rating shown on bigsurtrailmap.net (thank you, Jack Glendening, for this excellent resource).
One point that has probably been noted previously is that Carrizo Spring is markedly misplaced on my old USGS quadrangle map; its actual location is a third of a mile further west, shown correctly on bigsurtrailmap.net.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Trail condition generally clear. Lower Carrizo is wilderness freeway up to Carrizo Spring, and the trail beyond to the Carrizo-Cook Connector is well-maintained and clear. Thank you trail crews! The connector trail is thin but easily followed; some flagging provides additional backup. The lollipop-shaped use trails (old road cuts) between the North Coast Ridge Trail and Cook Spring Camp are readily traversed but the “base” of the lollipop “handle” where it joins the NCRT is somewhat obscured by deadfall. The trail sign to Cook Spring is present at that location as an aid.
Water flow in this late season, prior to appreciable rain, was surprisingly good at Carrizo Spring – a steady tinkle with a full basin below, audible as one approached from a few steps away. In contrast, Cook Spring was barely a trickle, perhaps more a seep. Filling a bottle took multiple dips into a leaf-filled puddle.
Continuing SW from the Carrizo-Cook Connector, the Carrizo Trail was clear to its junction with the southernmost portion of the NCRT where it heads towards Cone Peak Road. I left the NCRT where it diverges from the use trail that climbs the rocky spine to Cone Peak. The spine route was serviceable to the summit and mostly easy to follow, with gorgeous views through lovely stands of Santa Lucia Fir. There is some flagging that clarifies its trajectory in a subset of the cliffy spots.
Returning back towards Cook Spring, I took the NCRT north, instead of retracing along the Carrizo Trail to the Carrizo-Cook Connector. The NCRT between its junction with the Carrizo Trail and north to the sign for Cook Spring Camp was the least-maintained of the trail sections I walked. That section is passable but approaching a “difficult” rating. I was carrying a full-sized though lightly loaded pack, and one stretch required crawling for about 50’. With another season of brush growth, a half mile of the NCRT could mostly disappear. The Carrizo-Cook Connector would provide a reasonable alternate route, but it would be a shame to lose even a short portion of the NCRT. Along the NCRT route, the junction with the Gamboa Trail is signed and one can see traces of tread on the opposite side of the canyon, but it is quite overgrown and probably still warrants the “impassable” rating shown on bigsurtrailmap.net (thank you, Jack Glendening, for this excellent resource).
One point that has probably been noted previously is that Carrizo Spring is markedly misplaced on my old USGS quadrangle map; its actual location is a third of a mile further west, shown correctly on bigsurtrailmap.net.
Re: Carrizo Trail
Date Hiked: August 9, 2025
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
The lower half of the trail is in very good shape, with occasional brush encroachment, up to Carrizo camp. After the camp, encroachment is steady. After the Carrizo Trail Ridge Panorama spot there is significant brush encroachment and fading tread.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
The lower half of the trail is in very good shape, with occasional brush encroachment, up to Carrizo camp. After the camp, encroachment is steady. After the Carrizo Trail Ridge Panorama spot there is significant brush encroachment and fading tread.
Re: Carrizo Trail
Date Hiked: March 9, 2025
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
The entire length of this trail is clear with exception of some light brush in sections and a few logs over the trail including: one coulter pine within the first half mile, one just before Carrizo Camp, and few in the Sugar Pine section before the Cook-Carrizo connector. These logs don't merit an overall downgrade but there are some deadfalls. Also beware that ticks are out in the "brush bowl" before and after crossing Agua Dulce Creek (which has some flow) - this is a very common spot for ticks.
Many thanks to ErikH and others for working on this trail, particularly on the last section between the Cook Carrizo Connector and the NCRT. This last section has taken a new alignment in a ~1/4 mile section that is below the original/historic alignment that was in use pre-Dolan fire. The new trail is loopy as it traverses deadfall and thick brush re-growth taking the path of least resistance around these obstacles. Ultimately it would be best in my opinion to restore the original tread through this section that is much more straight and efficient.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
The entire length of this trail is clear with exception of some light brush in sections and a few logs over the trail including: one coulter pine within the first half mile, one just before Carrizo Camp, and few in the Sugar Pine section before the Cook-Carrizo connector. These logs don't merit an overall downgrade but there are some deadfalls. Also beware that ticks are out in the "brush bowl" before and after crossing Agua Dulce Creek (which has some flow) - this is a very common spot for ticks.
Many thanks to ErikH and others for working on this trail, particularly on the last section between the Cook Carrizo Connector and the NCRT. This last section has taken a new alignment in a ~1/4 mile section that is below the original/historic alignment that was in use pre-Dolan fire. The new trail is loopy as it traverses deadfall and thick brush re-growth taking the path of least resistance around these obstacles. Ultimately it would be best in my opinion to restore the original tread through this section that is much more straight and efficient.
Re: Carrizo Trail
Date Hiked: March 1, 2025
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Hiked trail past the Cook Connector up to the ridge saddle that overlooks the ocean prior to joining NCRT. Did additional trail-work from there back to Cook Connector and that section is now in great shape. The junction at Cook Connector has a brand new sign and trail has been recently re-flagged.
After recent rain water is flowing well at Carrizo Camp and there is light flow at the little creek at the low spot in boulder field.
There is some overgrowth just above Carrizo camp that could use some work. In addition, after passing the boulder field and crossing saddle that puts you a north side of slope there are a few sections which the trail is faint and requires a little bit of sidehilling to pass. Lastly, as noted, the trail has a few downed tress to go over/under/around but can easily navigate even with a backpack.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Hiked trail past the Cook Connector up to the ridge saddle that overlooks the ocean prior to joining NCRT. Did additional trail-work from there back to Cook Connector and that section is now in great shape. The junction at Cook Connector has a brand new sign and trail has been recently re-flagged.
After recent rain water is flowing well at Carrizo Camp and there is light flow at the little creek at the low spot in boulder field.
There is some overgrowth just above Carrizo camp that could use some work. In addition, after passing the boulder field and crossing saddle that puts you a north side of slope there are a few sections which the trail is faint and requires a little bit of sidehilling to pass. Lastly, as noted, the trail has a few downed tress to go over/under/around but can easily navigate even with a backpack.
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NGeddes
Re: Carrizo Trail
Date Hiked: February 16, 2025
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Thanks to recent clearing efforts Carrizo Trail is in good shape, follow the flagging tape/cairns in the boulder field. Majority of the rest of the trail is easily navigable with only a couple downed trees to go over/under.
The only slightly difficult to navigate spot is just before the junction with the NCRT, out in the open there's a rocky outcrop and the trail is relatively hard to follow. We got turned around and had to backtrack slightly.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Thanks to recent clearing efforts Carrizo Trail is in good shape, follow the flagging tape/cairns in the boulder field. Majority of the rest of the trail is easily navigable with only a couple downed trees to go over/under.
The only slightly difficult to navigate spot is just before the junction with the NCRT, out in the open there's a rocky outcrop and the trail is relatively hard to follow. We got turned around and had to backtrack slightly.
