Date Hiked: March 25, 2023
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
From memorial park to the Saddle below JSP the trail is a bit muddy and the main creek might be difficult to cross for some, the trail would rate as "clear" if not for the mud. I ran into snow at the saddle at elevation 4000ft, if you are heading to the summit expect snow.
Beyond the saddle the trail is passable to about 1/2 mile pas Roosevelt creek, beyond that point Impassable seems accurate.
All minor creeks are running, finding water is not an issue. The first image taken from the JSP saddle shows the trail and the divide separating Roosevelt creek and the drainage to its northeast. The second image shows JSP peak, taken from near the trailhead.
Santa Lucia Trail
Re: Santa Lucia Trail
Date Hiked: December 18, 2022
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Beautiful trail! We ran this from the Santa Lucia Memorial Park Campground up to the first saddle/trail intersection. Kind of brushy the entire time, but rarely got to the level of bushwhacking. Some patches of snow even this low down which was cool. Honestly pretty decent trail conditions for the Ventana.
NOTE: the main road to the trailhead can sometimes be closed on the San Antonio River crossings due to high water flow, so just be aware of that and have a backup approach or trail if that is the case.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Beautiful trail! We ran this from the Santa Lucia Memorial Park Campground up to the first saddle/trail intersection. Kind of brushy the entire time, but rarely got to the level of bushwhacking. Some patches of snow even this low down which was cool. Honestly pretty decent trail conditions for the Ventana.
NOTE: the main road to the trailhead can sometimes be closed on the San Antonio River crossings due to high water flow, so just be aware of that and have a backup approach or trail if that is the case.
Re: Santa Lucia Trail
Date Hiked: December 8, 2022
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
I walked this trail from the connector to about a mile past “bluff camp”. I camped at bluff camp, water is plentiful in the creek. The view from the camp is spacious an views from the bluff are sublime.
Between the bluff camp and the arrowo seco rd is overall “passable” though there is much clear and maybe a little “difficult. Proceding south from bluff camp is difficult, I had a hard time following the “trail”, footbed is very intermittent. I used my phone as a gps (loaded the fox file from bigsurtrailmap). The “guide me” option kept me going the right direction, brush is often interlocking above the “trail”. I hope to return to advance to “ant camp” and beyond some day.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
I walked this trail from the connector to about a mile past “bluff camp”. I camped at bluff camp, water is plentiful in the creek. The view from the camp is spacious an views from the bluff are sublime.
Between the bluff camp and the arrowo seco rd is overall “passable” though there is much clear and maybe a little “difficult. Proceding south from bluff camp is difficult, I had a hard time following the “trail”, footbed is very intermittent. I used my phone as a gps (loaded the fox file from bigsurtrailmap). The “guide me” option kept me going the right direction, brush is often interlocking above the “trail”. I hope to return to advance to “ant camp” and beyond some day.
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Brian M McCutcheon
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2016 9:20 pm
Re: Santa Lucia Trail
Date Hiked: October 22, 2022
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
THIS REPORT COVERS THE SECTION FROM THE TRAILHEAD AT ARROYO SECO CAMPGROUND TO THE JUNCTION WITH THE CONNECTOR TRAIL TO INDIANS ROAD.
On this day, the hike was very difficult. When I did this hike with my dog Dash in the other direction in February several years ago, I would have called it passable (but missed posting a trail report). With Dash far beyond his prime, I was accompanied this time by Cooper, the next dog up.
From the trailhead at the campground, the trail was clear all the way past the abandoned building along the Cawatre Road, and all the way into the Santa Lucia gorge. We made very good time. As we worked our way south, upstream, part way up the canyon wall, we encountered a seemingly unending series of small slides. Most were one or two steps across and none were very difficult to cross. Several could be stepped over completely. Several times, a small scattering of dirt and small rocks scampered down the slope below us when Cooper or I stepped on a slide. For a person like myself, with a minor fear of heights, it was never more than a bit unsettling. While this slowed us some, we were still making good time. I was even beginning to consider proceeding past the connector junction to check out the slide that is listed as blocking access to Last Chance. … and then we got down to the dry creek bed, which I knew was coming but not like this.
The dry creek bed was very problematic. While no water was flowing, the vegetation quickly became thicker as we worked our way upstream. For maybe a quarter mile, we were helped by the occasional cairn, but eventually found that they just weren’t enough to stay on trail. (It wasn’t like this when I hiked it downstream several Februarys ago.) I don’t know whether we lost the trail or whether there really was no discernible trail in this stretch. We were in between steep canyon walls. As we worked our way back and forth around thick high vegetation, we were unable to find where the trail rose up out of the canyon. Little wonder really as it was difficult to consistently follow the canyon wall as we weaved our way through the vegetation. I resorted to [trying to] follow the trail on the Gaia app after opening the GPS route that I’d downloaded earlier from Big Sur Trailmap. When the creek split, we proceeded up a very narrow, and even more overgrown, canyon. We came across a small pool of water and then discovered a small but steady trickle, and then small flow of water, complete with a swimming turtle. But it eventually became apparent that we were going parallel to the trail, which was still 0.18 miles to our right; meaning it was up above the canyon wall. We clearly were past the point where the trail climbed out of the canyon, so we returned back downstream below the split in the creek where we continued the search. (Studying the map the next day, I found we had actually branched onto the South Fork of the Santa Lucia creek, headed toward Last Chance camp. But our work getting through the vegetation had only got us maybe 15% of the way there. Any attempt to get to the camp that way would be quite unpleasant, and very well may encounter an impassable stretch anyhow.) Back downstream from the split, we worked back and forth, continually returning to the canyon wall, but we still weren’t finding the trail. I began to ask myself how much longer we could search until we would need to retrace our steps back downstream to get out before dark. Then came the glorious moment, spotting a ribbon on a tree with a vague trail starting up the side of the canyon wall behind it. An hour later, we rested along Indians Road before returning back to the car shortly before sunset.
A very tough trail this time, and well worth it.
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
THIS REPORT COVERS THE SECTION FROM THE TRAILHEAD AT ARROYO SECO CAMPGROUND TO THE JUNCTION WITH THE CONNECTOR TRAIL TO INDIANS ROAD.
On this day, the hike was very difficult. When I did this hike with my dog Dash in the other direction in February several years ago, I would have called it passable (but missed posting a trail report). With Dash far beyond his prime, I was accompanied this time by Cooper, the next dog up.
From the trailhead at the campground, the trail was clear all the way past the abandoned building along the Cawatre Road, and all the way into the Santa Lucia gorge. We made very good time. As we worked our way south, upstream, part way up the canyon wall, we encountered a seemingly unending series of small slides. Most were one or two steps across and none were very difficult to cross. Several could be stepped over completely. Several times, a small scattering of dirt and small rocks scampered down the slope below us when Cooper or I stepped on a slide. For a person like myself, with a minor fear of heights, it was never more than a bit unsettling. While this slowed us some, we were still making good time. I was even beginning to consider proceeding past the connector junction to check out the slide that is listed as blocking access to Last Chance. … and then we got down to the dry creek bed, which I knew was coming but not like this.
The dry creek bed was very problematic. While no water was flowing, the vegetation quickly became thicker as we worked our way upstream. For maybe a quarter mile, we were helped by the occasional cairn, but eventually found that they just weren’t enough to stay on trail. (It wasn’t like this when I hiked it downstream several Februarys ago.) I don’t know whether we lost the trail or whether there really was no discernible trail in this stretch. We were in between steep canyon walls. As we worked our way back and forth around thick high vegetation, we were unable to find where the trail rose up out of the canyon. Little wonder really as it was difficult to consistently follow the canyon wall as we weaved our way through the vegetation. I resorted to [trying to] follow the trail on the Gaia app after opening the GPS route that I’d downloaded earlier from Big Sur Trailmap. When the creek split, we proceeded up a very narrow, and even more overgrown, canyon. We came across a small pool of water and then discovered a small but steady trickle, and then small flow of water, complete with a swimming turtle. But it eventually became apparent that we were going parallel to the trail, which was still 0.18 miles to our right; meaning it was up above the canyon wall. We clearly were past the point where the trail climbed out of the canyon, so we returned back downstream below the split in the creek where we continued the search. (Studying the map the next day, I found we had actually branched onto the South Fork of the Santa Lucia creek, headed toward Last Chance camp. But our work getting through the vegetation had only got us maybe 15% of the way there. Any attempt to get to the camp that way would be quite unpleasant, and very well may encounter an impassable stretch anyhow.) Back downstream from the split, we worked back and forth, continually returning to the canyon wall, but we still weren’t finding the trail. I began to ask myself how much longer we could search until we would need to retrace our steps back downstream to get out before dark. Then came the glorious moment, spotting a ribbon on a tree with a vague trail starting up the side of the canyon wall behind it. An hour later, we rested along Indians Road before returning back to the car shortly before sunset.
A very tough trail this time, and well worth it.
Santa Lucia Trail
Date Hiked: February 19, 2022
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)
THIS REPORT COVERS THE SECTION FROM SANTA LUCIA MEMORIAL PARK TRAILHEAD TO THE SADDLE AT THE TURNOFF FOR THE SPUR TRAIL TO JUNIPERO SERRA PEAK
"What a difference a fire and flood makes"
The fire has really cleared a lot of brush and trees from along this trail!
Section: Trailhead to entry into canyon below saddle/spur trail junction:
This relatively flat but steady uphill section is very open and relatively easy to follow; there are a few minor washouts at some of the creekbed crossings, and just before the tractor a HUGE wash (maybe 100' feet across) now cuts perpendicularly across the trail, there was some marginal and confusing green flagging there but I put in some orange flagging which gets you directly across between where the trail enters the wash on both sides; after the tractor a little more brush and trees are around but the trail remains easy to follow
Section: canyon entry up to saddle/spur trail junction: there is some up and down on this section of trail as you cross and recross a few streams, water was flowing nicely at the traditional water spot (and that water tastes GOOD!! and this is quite a nice spot on the way down if you are running low on water as a few of us were), a lot burned in here but there is still some brush and trees (and shade!) but the trail remains easy to follow. Once you hit the steep hillside and the switchbacks up to the saddle you experience the difference from before the fire: most of the brush that you had to squeeze between and around as you negotiated these switchbacks is now gone along this entire ascent, and the saddle is almost entirely denuded (so no more tucking into that nice brush-shaded pocket to the left as you hit the saddle to escape the sun and wind, you are completely exposed up there).
[SEE CONTINUED REPORT IN MY REPORT ON THE SUMMIT SPUR TRAIL]
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)
THIS REPORT COVERS THE SECTION FROM SANTA LUCIA MEMORIAL PARK TRAILHEAD TO THE SADDLE AT THE TURNOFF FOR THE SPUR TRAIL TO JUNIPERO SERRA PEAK
"What a difference a fire and flood makes"
The fire has really cleared a lot of brush and trees from along this trail!
Section: Trailhead to entry into canyon below saddle/spur trail junction:
This relatively flat but steady uphill section is very open and relatively easy to follow; there are a few minor washouts at some of the creekbed crossings, and just before the tractor a HUGE wash (maybe 100' feet across) now cuts perpendicularly across the trail, there was some marginal and confusing green flagging there but I put in some orange flagging which gets you directly across between where the trail enters the wash on both sides; after the tractor a little more brush and trees are around but the trail remains easy to follow
Section: canyon entry up to saddle/spur trail junction: there is some up and down on this section of trail as you cross and recross a few streams, water was flowing nicely at the traditional water spot (and that water tastes GOOD!! and this is quite a nice spot on the way down if you are running low on water as a few of us were), a lot burned in here but there is still some brush and trees (and shade!) but the trail remains easy to follow. Once you hit the steep hillside and the switchbacks up to the saddle you experience the difference from before the fire: most of the brush that you had to squeeze between and around as you negotiated these switchbacks is now gone along this entire ascent, and the saddle is almost entirely denuded (so no more tucking into that nice brush-shaded pocket to the left as you hit the saddle to escape the sun and wind, you are completely exposed up there).
[SEE CONTINUED REPORT IN MY REPORT ON THE SUMMIT SPUR TRAIL]
Re: Santa Lucia Trail
Date Hiked: December 31, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
[For southern trailhead]
Hiked to about 5400' on New Years Eve. Trail is still pretty easy to follow, thank you to whoever flagged it (green flagging tape). Snow on trail started around 4600' and we went around some flagged sections that required bushwacking through spikey live oak where the snow had loaded branches. Snow on the ground was already compacted, but not too icy except for an exceptionally wind-blown spot. Didn't make it to the traverse to the summit, turned around to get down before sunset and to get out of the wind.
Trails through the meadows were wet, though some parts dried out substantially throughout the day.
One tick found on dog, 5 on a human, 0 on other human. No bites.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
[For southern trailhead]
Hiked to about 5400' on New Years Eve. Trail is still pretty easy to follow, thank you to whoever flagged it (green flagging tape). Snow on trail started around 4600' and we went around some flagged sections that required bushwacking through spikey live oak where the snow had loaded branches. Snow on the ground was already compacted, but not too icy except for an exceptionally wind-blown spot. Didn't make it to the traverse to the summit, turned around to get down before sunset and to get out of the wind.
Trails through the meadows were wet, though some parts dried out substantially throughout the day.
One tick found on dog, 5 on a human, 0 on other human. No bites.
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SeanAK
Re: Santa Lucia Trail
Date Hiked: November 22, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
This is my first time to Ventana, so I'm not 100% sure about the rating, but I believe this trail is somewhere between passable and difficult between the tractor and switchbacks. The trail is faint in places and there are significant deadfalls blocking the trail along with a good amount of encroaching brush - not many signs of trail maintenance in this section. With that being said, it appears to be getting a fair amount of usage such that there are almost always use trails around the major deadfalls. In a couple of places, there isn't a way around the deadfall, but I found it trivial to hop over these deafalls and they were flagged. I only lost the trail once - at 36.13300, -121.43053 where the trail disappears in a sea of vetch. However, there was a burned post upstream from this. It was easy enough to walk up to the post and from there the trail was once again evident. In other places, I was briefly confused as to where the trail went, but with careful observation I felt that, other than the aforementioned place, I was never off the trail.
From the trailhead to the tractor, the trail was clear and easy to follow. Grasses were obscuring some of the trail, but it was always evident.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
This is my first time to Ventana, so I'm not 100% sure about the rating, but I believe this trail is somewhere between passable and difficult between the tractor and switchbacks. The trail is faint in places and there are significant deadfalls blocking the trail along with a good amount of encroaching brush - not many signs of trail maintenance in this section. With that being said, it appears to be getting a fair amount of usage such that there are almost always use trails around the major deadfalls. In a couple of places, there isn't a way around the deadfall, but I found it trivial to hop over these deafalls and they were flagged. I only lost the trail once - at 36.13300, -121.43053 where the trail disappears in a sea of vetch. However, there was a burned post upstream from this. It was easy enough to walk up to the post and from there the trail was once again evident. In other places, I was briefly confused as to where the trail went, but with careful observation I felt that, other than the aforementioned place, I was never off the trail.
From the trailhead to the tractor, the trail was clear and easy to follow. Grasses were obscuring some of the trail, but it was always evident.
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VWA_Ranger
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 4:41 pm
Re: Santa Lucia Trail
Date Hiked: May 14, 2021
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***
Description:
VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers and Trail Crew have been working on the Santa Lucia Trail with the permission of the USFS from the Indians Station. Today a Volunteer Ranger and Trail Crew Leader surveyed the trail from Indians to the top of Junipero Serra Peak. The entire trail burned severely and is now experiencing significant growth in just a few months. A GPS with the trail track loaded may be very helpful when navigating this trail.
Trail conditions are as follows:
Indians Trailhead to Adobe Jct. - Passable - All downed trees have been cleared to the Jct. But with the rampant growth a couple of sections of trail are now covered in grass or vetch. The trail starts out across the meadow to Kilburn Creek. The wood planks are still there to help you cross; one plank has burned. After crossing the creek you come to a fork. Take the fork that goes straight, not the one to the right. The trail crosses the meadow, then turns left before climbing a shallow ridge, finally descending to another meadow. The vetch has taken over the wet portion of the trail at this time. The trail continues straight ahead, then descends to reach Encinales Creek. Encinales Creek had a large debris flow this winter. It is approximately 100 yards wide. Look for some flags and the old jeep road on the other side. (See Photo). Once across the debris flow, the trail climbs to the old tractor. Continue 0.2 miles to the Adobe Jct. It has been flagged; the old sign marking this point has burned, with just a pile of rocks remaining to show the junction. The route to the right, leading to the Encinales Adobe, is no longer recognizable as a road.
Adobe Jct. to Summit Jct. - Difficult - At the junction turn left heading up the trail. Be sure to watch for signs of the trail. Lack of use, growth and debris may be obscuring the trail. A short distance beyond the jct. is the first of three trees across the trail to the Summit Jct. The trail crosses two small stream beds before getting steeper as it reaches Mountain Laurel Creek and a small meadow. The sign in the meadow has burned, with only the charred signpost remaining. Between the first tree down and Mountain Laurel Creek, there is a significant amount of debris and encroaching brush along the trail. Once past the meadow the trail reaches a series of switchbacks climbing 600 feet to the Summit Jct. At the start of the switchbacks, water may be found by climbing up to the right approximately 500 feet to a perennial stream. The handmade sign marking this "Last Water" has disappeared. The swithcback section of trail is off camber and has lots of small rocks on the trail. Once at the Junction see the Trail Report on the "Santa Lucia Trail Peak Trail".
Note: Beyond the Junipero Serra Summit Jct. to the Santa Lucia Creek end of the trail, there is no current trail information. However, this entire section burned in the Dolan Fire so expect to find a mix of completely burned areas and some very brushy areas.
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General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***
Description:
VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers and Trail Crew have been working on the Santa Lucia Trail with the permission of the USFS from the Indians Station. Today a Volunteer Ranger and Trail Crew Leader surveyed the trail from Indians to the top of Junipero Serra Peak. The entire trail burned severely and is now experiencing significant growth in just a few months. A GPS with the trail track loaded may be very helpful when navigating this trail.
Trail conditions are as follows:
Indians Trailhead to Adobe Jct. - Passable - All downed trees have been cleared to the Jct. But with the rampant growth a couple of sections of trail are now covered in grass or vetch. The trail starts out across the meadow to Kilburn Creek. The wood planks are still there to help you cross; one plank has burned. After crossing the creek you come to a fork. Take the fork that goes straight, not the one to the right. The trail crosses the meadow, then turns left before climbing a shallow ridge, finally descending to another meadow. The vetch has taken over the wet portion of the trail at this time. The trail continues straight ahead, then descends to reach Encinales Creek. Encinales Creek had a large debris flow this winter. It is approximately 100 yards wide. Look for some flags and the old jeep road on the other side. (See Photo). Once across the debris flow, the trail climbs to the old tractor. Continue 0.2 miles to the Adobe Jct. It has been flagged; the old sign marking this point has burned, with just a pile of rocks remaining to show the junction. The route to the right, leading to the Encinales Adobe, is no longer recognizable as a road.
Adobe Jct. to Summit Jct. - Difficult - At the junction turn left heading up the trail. Be sure to watch for signs of the trail. Lack of use, growth and debris may be obscuring the trail. A short distance beyond the jct. is the first of three trees across the trail to the Summit Jct. The trail crosses two small stream beds before getting steeper as it reaches Mountain Laurel Creek and a small meadow. The sign in the meadow has burned, with only the charred signpost remaining. Between the first tree down and Mountain Laurel Creek, there is a significant amount of debris and encroaching brush along the trail. Once past the meadow the trail reaches a series of switchbacks climbing 600 feet to the Summit Jct. At the start of the switchbacks, water may be found by climbing up to the right approximately 500 feet to a perennial stream. The handmade sign marking this "Last Water" has disappeared. The swithcback section of trail is off camber and has lots of small rocks on the trail. Once at the Junction see the Trail Report on the "Santa Lucia Trail Peak Trail".
Note: Beyond the Junipero Serra Summit Jct. to the Santa Lucia Creek end of the trail, there is no current trail information. However, this entire section burned in the Dolan Fire so expect to find a mix of completely burned areas and some very brushy areas.
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- Attachments
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- The burnt trailhead.
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- Encinales Creek Debris Flow.
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- Downed Tree just past Adobe Jct.
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- Trail sample heading towards Mountain Laurel Creek.
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- Sample of what the switchbacks on the wall look like.
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- Junipero Serra Summit Junction.
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VWA_Ranger
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 4:41 pm
Re: Santa Lucia Trail
Date Hiked: April 18, 2021
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***
Description:
The Monterey Ranger District Forest has not reopened the Dolan Fire area, however VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers have been allowed access to survey and work on burned areas of the forest. Today volunteer Rangers patrolled from the trailhead to the debris flow just before the tractor. They swamped and removed four sets of trees along the trail. The trail remains clear for the first 2.5 miles. The debris flow crossing and trail junction just after the tractor have been flagged. There is not a good report all the way to the summit.
Trail conditions are as follows:
The Santa Lucia Trail Indians side remains closed to the general public at this time. Only authorized personnel with the approval of the USFS are allowed to access this trail corridor.
Trailhead to Tractor - Clear, only 1 downed oak remains just after the first ridge that is easy to navigate. The trail is rutted in many places. There is major debris flow just before the tractor. The trail across the debris flow has been flagged to the other side.
Tractor to Adobe Jct. - Clear with minor encroaching brush. Mostly Yerba Santa. Portions of the trail have been flagged to better mark the trail for users.
Adobe Jct. to 0.3 miles up trail - Clear with minor encroaching brush.
Rest of trail to summit - A recent report only mentions gnarly burnt brush past this point. No additional information is available at this time.
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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.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***
Description:
The Monterey Ranger District Forest has not reopened the Dolan Fire area, however VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers have been allowed access to survey and work on burned areas of the forest. Today volunteer Rangers patrolled from the trailhead to the debris flow just before the tractor. They swamped and removed four sets of trees along the trail. The trail remains clear for the first 2.5 miles. The debris flow crossing and trail junction just after the tractor have been flagged. There is not a good report all the way to the summit.
Trail conditions are as follows:
The Santa Lucia Trail Indians side remains closed to the general public at this time. Only authorized personnel with the approval of the USFS are allowed to access this trail corridor.
Trailhead to Tractor - Clear, only 1 downed oak remains just after the first ridge that is easy to navigate. The trail is rutted in many places. There is major debris flow just before the tractor. The trail across the debris flow has been flagged to the other side.
Tractor to Adobe Jct. - Clear with minor encroaching brush. Mostly Yerba Santa. Portions of the trail have been flagged to better mark the trail for users.
Adobe Jct. to 0.3 miles up trail - Clear with minor encroaching brush.
Rest of trail to summit - A recent report only mentions gnarly burnt brush past this point. No additional information is available at this time.
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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.
- Attachments
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- Trees across trail at debris flow. Just before the tractor.
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- Tree at debris flow cleared.
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- A tree block.
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- Cleared oak section.
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VWA_Ranger
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 4:41 pm
Re: Santa Lucia Trail
Date Hiked: April 10, 2021
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***
Description:
The Monterey Ranger District Forest has not reopened the Dolan Fire area, however VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers have been allowed access to survey and work on burned areas of the forest. Today volunteer Rangers patrolled from the trailhead to just over a mile in. On their journey, they swamped and removed 6 sets of trees along the trail. The trail remains clear for the first 1.5 miles. There is not a good report all the way to the summit.
Trail conditions are as follows:
The Santa Lucia Trail Indians side remains closed to the general public at this time. Only authorized personnel with the approval of the USFS are allowed to access this trail corridor.
Trailhead to Tractor - Clear, only 3 to 4 downed oaks remain across the trail to reach the tractor. All are easy to navigate. The trail is rutted in many places. There is major debris flow just before the tractor. The trail across the debris flow has been flagged to the other side.
Tractor to Adobe Jct. - Clear with minor encroaching brush. Mostly Yerba Santa. Portions of the trail have been flagged to better mark the trail for users.
Adobe Jct. to 0.3 miles up trail - Clear with minor encroaching brush.
Rest of trail to summit - A recent report only mentions gnarly burnt brush past this point. No additional information is available at this time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***
Description:
The Monterey Ranger District Forest has not reopened the Dolan Fire area, however VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers have been allowed access to survey and work on burned areas of the forest. Today volunteer Rangers patrolled from the trailhead to just over a mile in. On their journey, they swamped and removed 6 sets of trees along the trail. The trail remains clear for the first 1.5 miles. There is not a good report all the way to the summit.
Trail conditions are as follows:
The Santa Lucia Trail Indians side remains closed to the general public at this time. Only authorized personnel with the approval of the USFS are allowed to access this trail corridor.
Trailhead to Tractor - Clear, only 3 to 4 downed oaks remain across the trail to reach the tractor. All are easy to navigate. The trail is rutted in many places. There is major debris flow just before the tractor. The trail across the debris flow has been flagged to the other side.
Tractor to Adobe Jct. - Clear with minor encroaching brush. Mostly Yerba Santa. Portions of the trail have been flagged to better mark the trail for users.
Adobe Jct. to 0.3 miles up trail - Clear with minor encroaching brush.
Rest of trail to summit - A recent report only mentions gnarly burnt brush past this point. No additional information is available at this time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
- Attachments
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- Downed oak at trailhead.
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- Oak at trailhead after removal.
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- Large oak before removal.
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- Large oak has been removed.