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| Hiking | 11.00 Miles |
3,000 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.00 Miles | 7 Hrs 45 Mns | | 1.91 mph |
| 3,000 ft AEG | 2 Hrs Break | 15 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | I’ve had my eye on this hike for almost 2 years. Glad I finally did it, as it is a new favorite. Getting to the trailhead is nice and can be accomplished with any car. There are no restrooms nor water at the trailhead.
When I started out at 6:45 am, it was a comfortable 36°F. The trail heads up, sometimes steeply, sometimes gently on an ancient two-track in a serene forest of ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, juniper, and manzanita. The coyotes and squirrels were chattering away. I love this kind of forest, with its soft trail and smells, as it reminds me of Washington where I first started hiking. Within 15 minutes, I was at the top of the first pass, a climb of about 300’.
There are lots of interesting little flowers, including manzanita. The trail descends about 500’ from the first pass before leveling out, and then dropping again to the first crossing of Workman’s Creek. Just before crossing the creek, there is a tent site and fireplace right in the middle of the trail that others have mentioned. You can rock hop across the creek or use the footlog. I tried both and stayed dry.
Across the creek and up the hill a short distance, there are many good campsites that don’t put you in the trail or right on the creek. There were several bluejays there. Past these sites, the trail enters the wilderness, and you won’t see water again until you reach Workman’s Creek again at Hell’s Hole.
After about 2 ¼ hours hiking, I reached the Boyer Trail intersection. There are campsites here, and it is very flat, but you might have to move a lot of rocks. It would be muddy when wet. There are good views into the Hells Hole, which is the canyon of the Workman’s Creek. After about a half hour on the plateau, the trail begins its descent to Workman’s Creek. I counted 20 switchbacks altogether, although 3 or 4 were really short. It is about 1000’ descent on good trail.
Others have commented on the overgrowth of the trail. It is mostly scrub oak. I did not encounter anything nasty like catclaw. Some really nice person has done quite a bit of brushing on the trail here, so the oak only closes in about 3 places on the way down. If this was you, thank you so much! It is very do-able, even with a pack.
Once at the creek, there is a pretty little waterfall next to a clear pool, and a little ways downstream are several quite suitable campsites. This is my new favorite place.
The trip back up the hill isn’t too bad with a daypack but would be less pleasant with a full overnight kit. Still, it is less than an 6% grade for 1000’. Quite reasonable.
Past the crossing of Workman’s Creek on the way back, the climb up to the last pass before the trailhead got a little tedious. There I ran into the first person I had seen all day, coming in and moving fast with a daypack. We did not stop to talk.
When I arrived back at the parking lot, there were 4 vehicles parked there, which was a surprise, since I had only seen one person. Looking at the stickers on the cars, I’m guessing they were canyoneers, and were on there way down Salome Creek, Reynolds Creek, or Workman’s Creek and back up the way I came. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
See my pictures. A few flowers starting to bloom. |
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