Not for beginners! Snakes and bears are prevalent in this area. No cell or radio service. Stunning views of the Sespe Condor Sanctuary in all directions, dramatic rock formations and patterning. Has become a real favorite!
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Alder Creek north from Dough Flat. Left at fork to Cow Springs camp. Very wild trail, Bear sign, rattle snakes, birds and lizards all over. Beautiful hike, not bad hills.
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Very exposed trail. Bring more water than you think you need. BEAUTIFUL. And I can’t wait to come back when the water is a little higher for swimming.
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Very exposed trail. Bring more water than you think you need. BEAUTIFUL. And I can’t wait to come back when the water is a little higher for swimming.
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The views are stunning! As we gain altitude, a blanket of clouds was seen from many of the hike points. Isolated trail, hardly any wildflowers, lots of mosquitos, shady with some fully exposed to the sun areas. Bring lots of water and bug repellent.
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Very exposed trail. Bring more water than you think you need. BEAUTIFUL. And I can’t wait to come back when the water is a little higher for swimming.
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This hike takes you through some fairly remote terrain and I didn’t see anyone for my hike. The section between Twin Forks and Haddock is especially beautiful. I encountered a rattlesnake on Piedra Blanca and spotted two bears about a 1/4 mile from camp so bring a Ursack for food protection. Heads up, the trail is faint in some places. Water wasn’t flowing but pooled in areas to easily filter.
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Nice place when the weather is right and the water is high. Tough when the temp is over 75.
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Comfortable weather for this exposed hike 3/24-25. Still a well-travelled path; we pitched camp at a site a little too close to the trail to avoid the noise of late comers and goers to the spring. A few nice campsite options along the way. If the water is high enough in hotter weather seems worth camping along Sespe creek just for swimming holes.
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Took this only as far as Willet Hot Spring. Difficult in the heat, lots of sand to hike through on the trail, best bet is to hike out in the morning hours and jump in the creek in various spots along the way at the day progresses. Beautiful area, Willet was clean and incredible.
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Great day! Was about 82 at the trailhead. Couldn’t get all the way to the trailhead campground. The road ends at the corral.
Saw a fox snag a quail and run off it with. Was pretty wild.
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McDonald is a nice view down into the condor wilderness and some gorgeous terrain! Also
I forgot to finish my track sorry about that >.<
Waypoint for register. Which was eaten up by mice so isn’t really intact
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Great hike and awesome camp grounds for thru hikers. The scramble description from hps doesn’t explain well enough how steel and difficult that is
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Add 2.5 miles or so to the hike because the access road may be closed getting to the trailhead. This hike is very difficult. I had to turn back about 6 miles in, as there was a very long narrow ledge with a steep drop I didn’t think my pup and I would be able to make. Just wasn’t worth the risk to me. It rained often and was chilly in March when I went through in the upper 40’s 😭.
I’ll be back and will take the other trail in instead.
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stars
