Date Hiked: May 14, 2023
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
This is an update of the report below. After hiking it yesterday on the way to VDC, I'd rate the entire Turner Creek trail clear-passable. There are just a few downed trees that are easily hopped over. I don't remember any significant brush. The final section up to Skinner Ridge is clear and looks great. Poison oak is everywhere, but avoidable.
Turner Creek Trail
Re: Turner Creek Trail
Date Hiked: March 26, 2023
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
My son and I attempted a hike to VDC from The Hoist on 3/26, but the going was so slow that we ended up turning around well short (the base of Uncle Sam Mountain)
Wonderfully, the Turner Creek Trail was clear-passable up to Apple Tree Camp, with just a few trees to hop over (I think they've been there a while). Be sure to take the (clear) "Turner Creek Use Trail" depicted on Jack Glendening's map to avoid a potentially impassable section). There is some flooding and one ford that requires walking on a log if you wish to stay dry, but that will eventually resolve itself.
From Apple Tree Camp up to Skinner Ridge, it was hellish in the morning, but passable on our return! The final 0.1 mile up to the ridge involved crawling and thrashing and the like; I even briefly considered plowing through a poison oak field before I came to my senses (no leaves, but it would have been a poor choice). Amazingly, when we came back at the end of the day, the trail had been cleared, with a huge pile of clippings littering the trail floor. There was a party of a few tents at Apple Tree Camp early in the morning, so they may have been responsible. If so, thank you!
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
My son and I attempted a hike to VDC from The Hoist on 3/26, but the going was so slow that we ended up turning around well short (the base of Uncle Sam Mountain)
Wonderfully, the Turner Creek Trail was clear-passable up to Apple Tree Camp, with just a few trees to hop over (I think they've been there a while). Be sure to take the (clear) "Turner Creek Use Trail" depicted on Jack Glendening's map to avoid a potentially impassable section). There is some flooding and one ford that requires walking on a log if you wish to stay dry, but that will eventually resolve itself.
From Apple Tree Camp up to Skinner Ridge, it was hellish in the morning, but passable on our return! The final 0.1 mile up to the ridge involved crawling and thrashing and the like; I even briefly considered plowing through a poison oak field before I came to my senses (no leaves, but it would have been a poor choice). Amazingly, when we came back at the end of the day, the trail had been cleared, with a huge pile of clippings littering the trail floor. There was a party of a few tents at Apple Tree Camp early in the morning, so they may have been responsible. If so, thank you!
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Guest
Re: Turner Creek Trail
Date Hiked: June 19, 2022
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Hiked from Turner Creek to VDC from 6/19-6/20.
Trail from Turner Creek to Skinner Ridge very clear
Skinner Ridge to Pat Spring mostly clear, getting a little brushy.
Pat Spring has plenty of water, and camp sites are clear.
Trail from Pat Spring to VDC mostly passable. Had to do a little bush whacking, but made it through.
No water past Pat Spring, as usual.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Hiked from Turner Creek to VDC from 6/19-6/20.
Trail from Turner Creek to Skinner Ridge very clear
Skinner Ridge to Pat Spring mostly clear, getting a little brushy.
Pat Spring has plenty of water, and camp sites are clear.
Trail from Pat Spring to VDC mostly passable. Had to do a little bush whacking, but made it through.
No water past Pat Spring, as usual.
Re: Turner Creek Trail
Date Hiked: June 9, 2022
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
The trail is in good shape, no crawling under trees.
Several logs to step over, many ticks. Poison oak can be avoided if you are very observant. I saw only one stinging nettle encroaching on the trail.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
The trail is in good shape, no crawling under trees.
Several logs to step over, many ticks. Poison oak can be avoided if you are very observant. I saw only one stinging nettle encroaching on the trail.
Re: Turner Creek Trail
Date Hiked: April 3, 2022
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Clear and in good shape except for at least a dozen step over logs of varying sizes. The brush has been cut back and even the blackberry vines are not in the tread.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Clear and in good shape except for at least a dozen step over logs of varying sizes. The brush has been cut back and even the blackberry vines are not in the tread.
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geoffvirtue
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 11:10 pm
Re: Turner Creek Trail
Date Hiked: February 6, 2022
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)
Bumped into John trail running back here on Sunday and another local out for a day hike helping to clear overgrowth. Was a beautiful weekend to summit VDC and the trail is in great shape.
[Clear] Long Ridge Road to Skinner Ridge Trail - This trail is in great shape thanks to the locals. We saw no one on Friday coming in but a few folks on Sunday. Lots of wild berry overgrowth that looks like it was recently cleared back. Trail is basically wilderness freeway except for two large stumps that you need to jump over.
If you get to turner creek camp and followed the tread into the deadfall, you took the wrong reroute. There's a reroute about 20 feet above this section that has clear/evident tread. Do not attempt to scramble through the deadfall that obstructs the old trail from Turner Creek.
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)
Bumped into John trail running back here on Sunday and another local out for a day hike helping to clear overgrowth. Was a beautiful weekend to summit VDC and the trail is in great shape.
[Clear] Long Ridge Road to Skinner Ridge Trail - This trail is in great shape thanks to the locals. We saw no one on Friday coming in but a few folks on Sunday. Lots of wild berry overgrowth that looks like it was recently cleared back. Trail is basically wilderness freeway except for two large stumps that you need to jump over.
If you get to turner creek camp and followed the tread into the deadfall, you took the wrong reroute. There's a reroute about 20 feet above this section that has clear/evident tread. Do not attempt to scramble through the deadfall that obstructs the old trail from Turner Creek.
Re: Turner Creek Trail
Date Hiked: January 8, 2022
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Trail is in great shape! I had to duck my head under a tree once or twice but this trail has received much needed clearing, much thanks to whoever did such a fine job on this trail
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Trail is in great shape! I had to duck my head under a tree once or twice but this trail has received much needed clearing, much thanks to whoever did such a fine job on this trail
Re: Turner Creek Trail
Date Hiked: October 27, 2021
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
I've finally managed to clear this trail from Long Ridge all the way to Apple Tree Camp. The trail is passable all the way to Skinner Ridge Saddle and beyond, but this portion is clear. Ever since the 2016 fire, it's astonishing how fast the growth comes in for this area. Lately, the blackberry, poison oak, ceanothus, and such has been choking the trail. I saw some very recent cuts as well, so someone else did some brushing, which is great. Team work! Botcher's Gap and Los Padres dam trailhead being closed indefinitely, The Northern Ventana Trail System has been in danger of being lost and overgrown, so volunteer work is crucial, and luckily work has been put in on a pretty regular basis to keep the trail open all the way to the top of Ventana Double Cone. I plan to keep going on my mission to clear the trail all the way to Pat Springs and further eventually. One day at a time.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
I've finally managed to clear this trail from Long Ridge all the way to Apple Tree Camp. The trail is passable all the way to Skinner Ridge Saddle and beyond, but this portion is clear. Ever since the 2016 fire, it's astonishing how fast the growth comes in for this area. Lately, the blackberry, poison oak, ceanothus, and such has been choking the trail. I saw some very recent cuts as well, so someone else did some brushing, which is great. Team work! Botcher's Gap and Los Padres dam trailhead being closed indefinitely, The Northern Ventana Trail System has been in danger of being lost and overgrown, so volunteer work is crucial, and luckily work has been put in on a pretty regular basis to keep the trail open all the way to the top of Ventana Double Cone. I plan to keep going on my mission to clear the trail all the way to Pat Springs and further eventually. One day at a time.
Re: Turner Creek Trail
Date Hiked: August 31, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
trail getting choked up, I cleared the trail about halfway to Apple Tree camp, plan to clear more when I can. Upper Turner Creek is nearly dry.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
trail getting choked up, I cleared the trail about halfway to Apple Tree camp, plan to clear more when I can. Upper Turner Creek is nearly dry.
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Jackson
Re: Turner Creek Trail
Date Hiked: August 14, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Berry vines and nettles encroaching on the trail
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Berry vines and nettles encroaching on the trail