Date Hiked: September 14, 2019
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)
From Salmon Creek trailhead to the Forest Service ridge road: trail was in great condition with several day hikers up to Spruce Creek. Had access to flowing water up until Estrella campground. Temporarily lost the trail at the campground (several side trails leading to various bathroom spots), but the correct one was marked with a pink flag hanging on a branch. The trail was otherwise easy to follow and well-cleared all the way to the road. Some poison oak on the sides of the trail. Later ran into Forest Service workers who were performing trail maintenance down from the ridge road to Estrella.
Salmon Creek Trail
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seagoat1724
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Sun May 26, 2019 3:39 pm
Re: Salmon Creek Trail
Date Hiked: December 7, 2018
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)
Between Salmon Creek Trailhead and Spruce Creek Trail Junction:
Trail is well hiked and maintained. Multiple day hikers seen on this portion.
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)
Between Salmon Creek Trailhead and Spruce Creek Trail Junction:
Trail is well hiked and maintained. Multiple day hikers seen on this portion.
Re: Salmon Creek Trail
Date Hiked: September 7, 2019
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers patrolled the Salmon Creek Trail today from Hwy 1 to Spruce Camp. The trail is clear with some encroaching brush. The hanging tree after the second canyon crossing has fallen making the trail a bit safer. You can easily walk under the tree. Spruce Camp was very clean.
As always do your part to keep things nice.
Have a valid Campfire/Stove Permit.
No fires are allowed at this time.
Pack out all your trash
Be courteous to others.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers patrolled the Salmon Creek Trail today from Hwy 1 to Spruce Camp. The trail is clear with some encroaching brush. The hanging tree after the second canyon crossing has fallen making the trail a bit safer. You can easily walk under the tree. Spruce Camp was very clean.
As always do your part to keep things nice.
Have a valid Campfire/Stove Permit.
No fires are allowed at this time.
Pack out all your trash
Be courteous to others.
- Attachments
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- Spruce Camp, Picnic table has been moved to the other side of Salmon Creek.
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- The fallen limb still above the trail
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Rick
Re: Salmon Creek Trail
Date Hiked: July 2, 2019
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Hiked today from Salmon Crk at Hwy 1 to Spruce Creek Camp, Estrella Camp and on to the Forest service ridge road ending up at Lion Den Camp. Plenty of water at Lion Den spring [Ed. note- Lion Den is on the Cruikshank Trail] and the trail was in great condition for the entire way. The upper portion of the trail was easily passable due to a recent brush clearing.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Hiked today from Salmon Crk at Hwy 1 to Spruce Creek Camp, Estrella Camp and on to the Forest service ridge road ending up at Lion Den Camp. Plenty of water at Lion Den spring [Ed. note- Lion Den is on the Cruikshank Trail] and the trail was in great condition for the entire way. The upper portion of the trail was easily passable due to a recent brush clearing.
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Nic Stover
Re: Salmon Creek Trail
Date Hiked: June 22, 2019
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)
Last time I hiked this trail was in May of 2016 and I can say it was not a pleasant experience. The trail was severely overgrown and had Poison Oak everywhere. This time was a different story. Extremely great shape both on trail and in the campgrounds.
It was comical to see the "overnighters" that were backpacking into Spruce Camp with guitars, coolers, full pillows, and bottled water. I did not stay in either Spruce or Estrella but based on the people I talked to and the evidence on the ground of these campgrounds I would say they are HIGHLY used and I would think can be more of a party scene than tranquil nature. Spruce Creek, Salmon Creek were both flowing well and even some of the smaller feeders had water.
There were a-lot of people on the trail. I hiked top down which was nice. I did see the tree hanging that was mentioned below. I also had to duck in one spot with my pack. Oh, the humanity. Can you imagine that I had to duck in one spot ;) In all seriousness thank the trail crew whenever you see them and think about volunteering if you can to keep trails up.
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)
Last time I hiked this trail was in May of 2016 and I can say it was not a pleasant experience. The trail was severely overgrown and had Poison Oak everywhere. This time was a different story. Extremely great shape both on trail and in the campgrounds.
It was comical to see the "overnighters" that were backpacking into Spruce Camp with guitars, coolers, full pillows, and bottled water. I did not stay in either Spruce or Estrella but based on the people I talked to and the evidence on the ground of these campgrounds I would say they are HIGHLY used and I would think can be more of a party scene than tranquil nature. Spruce Creek, Salmon Creek were both flowing well and even some of the smaller feeders had water.
There were a-lot of people on the trail. I hiked top down which was nice. I did see the tree hanging that was mentioned below. I also had to duck in one spot with my pack. Oh, the humanity. Can you imagine that I had to duck in one spot ;) In all seriousness thank the trail crew whenever you see them and think about volunteering if you can to keep trails up.
Re: Salmon Creek Trail
Date Hiked: May 17, 2019
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Today VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers Patrolled the trail from Highway 1 to Spruce Camp and back. The trail is clear with encroaching brush. We installed a new sign at Spruce Camp and marked one of two trees hanging over the trail with orange tape. When entering this section you should not stop. The overhead tree could come down at anytime. It is located after the second canyon crossing when heading in. There is a second tree closer to Spruce Creek Junction, but is much more secure for now.
See Photos Below:
As always be prepared and help keep things nice. Be sure to have valid campfire/backpacking stove permit if staying overnight. Still lots of flowers out.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Today VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers Patrolled the trail from Highway 1 to Spruce Camp and back. The trail is clear with encroaching brush. We installed a new sign at Spruce Camp and marked one of two trees hanging over the trail with orange tape. When entering this section you should not stop. The overhead tree could come down at anytime. It is located after the second canyon crossing when heading in. There is a second tree closer to Spruce Creek Junction, but is much more secure for now.
See Photos Below:
As always be prepared and help keep things nice. Be sure to have valid campfire/backpacking stove permit if staying overnight. Still lots of flowers out.
- Attachments
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- Tree after second canyon crossing.
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- Tree just before Spruce Creek Jct.
Re: Salmon Creek Trail
Date Hiked: May 12, 2019
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
VWA volunteers and staff worked on this trail over the weekend. I'll rate the entire trail as "clear" but there is a place where you have to crawl under fallen branches about 1/4 mile from the top. The trail is clear for backpackers and in the best shape I've seen in 11 years hiking it.
Estrella Camp and Spruce Creek Camp get too many thoughtless and disrespectful visitors building rogue fire rings, burning trash, leaving trash, and not putting out fires.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
VWA volunteers and staff worked on this trail over the weekend. I'll rate the entire trail as "clear" but there is a place where you have to crawl under fallen branches about 1/4 mile from the top. The trail is clear for backpackers and in the best shape I've seen in 11 years hiking it.
Estrella Camp and Spruce Creek Camp get too many thoughtless and disrespectful visitors building rogue fire rings, burning trash, leaving trash, and not putting out fires.
Re: Salmon Creek Trail
Date Hiked: April 27, 2019
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
VWA/USFS Rangers Patrolled from Highway 1 to Spruce Camp and back. The weather was perfect. Lots of flowers and no bug. We ran into 69 people on this day trip. The trail itself is clear all the way to Spruce Camp. We cleaned up a couple of fire rings and opened up the Spruce Creek Crossing.
Be safe and enjoy yourself out there.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
VWA/USFS Rangers Patrolled from Highway 1 to Spruce Camp and back. The weather was perfect. Lots of flowers and no bug. We ran into 69 people on this day trip. The trail itself is clear all the way to Spruce Camp. We cleaned up a couple of fire rings and opened up the Spruce Creek Crossing.
Be safe and enjoy yourself out there.
- Attachments
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- Cleared Spruce Creek Crossing
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- Spruce Camp
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K Vandevere
- Posts: 294
- Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:50 pm
Re: Salmon Creek Trail
Date Hiked: April 16, 2019
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)
Highway 1 to San Carpoforo Trail Junction
This portion of the Salmon Creek Trail is fully unobstructed and heavily used.
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)
Highway 1 to San Carpoforo Trail Junction
This portion of the Salmon Creek Trail is fully unobstructed and heavily used.
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ammodramus
Re: Salmon Creek Trail
Date Hiked: March 16, 2019
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Hiked the Salmon Creek Trail as part of the Buckeye-Salmon-Creek-Cruickshank loop this weekend. Salmon Creek Trail was entirely clear until Estrella Camp but became very brushy (but passable) heading uphill from Estrella Camp to the top, connecting to Cruickshank Trail towards Lion Den Camp.
Water was abundant until Estrella Camp but only a few small streams immediately above that. No water (that I remember) the last 2 miles or so. Streams were flowing but crossable owing to the lack of rain the last 7+ days.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Hiked the Salmon Creek Trail as part of the Buckeye-Salmon-Creek-Cruickshank loop this weekend. Salmon Creek Trail was entirely clear until Estrella Camp but became very brushy (but passable) heading uphill from Estrella Camp to the top, connecting to Cruickshank Trail towards Lion Den Camp.
Water was abundant until Estrella Camp but only a few small streams immediately above that. No water (that I remember) the last 2 miles or so. Streams were flowing but crossable owing to the lack of rain the last 7+ days.