Palmer Mill Road to Palmer Mill Fire Break +
Posted: December 17th, 2019, 2:10 am
12/16/19 Hiked up Palmer Mill Road Via Angels Rest Overflow Parking Lot (no bathrooms and paved parking for 10+ cars) First car in the lot when I arrived well before sunrise and both lots were almost full when I left at 11:30am. to Dark Larch Ghost Town Trail ( less than a half mile in on the trail I lost the path and decided to turn around and try it via another approach on a different day. The ground was frozen and trail was lost due to the fire break.) Decided to check out the fire break on Palmer Mill Rd ( maybe more than double creek crossings with lots of logs to maneuver over if you decide to continue hiking past the fire break. Not sure how many miles long the fire break is.) On the way out I checked out 1600 trail which has a huge gate and is on the uphill side of the creek. (LOTS OF POISON OAK in this general area!!!) There are a lot of blowdowns on trail 1600, but the less than mile I hiked on trail I could always see a path, definitely worth a try as it connects to Dark Larch Ghost Town Trail and will take you to Devils, Angels and beyond. Some boggy areas on 1600 as well after a good rain. Back on Palmer Mill Road there is a house across the bridge and before the road closure gates with a roaming skittish German Sheppard, didn't see the pup early in the am but did see the pup later in the am. Came across a large carcass on the side of Palmer Mill across from the slide area. In the same area of the house and a bit past the closure gates I saw a shortcut trail going to trail 1600 but did not check it out fully (looked for it early in the am, but could not see anything.). There are no trail or road signs for this area so make sure you have some form of navigation to guide you. Palmer Mill Road is fairly steep for the first 3 miles or so then starts to get a more gradual up to it. Wanted to try and find Palmer Mill Site, but might have to check that out from a different trail/road as well. Beautiful area.
1.75 miles in on Palmer Mill Road you see the first road closure barricade and gate. A short distance up and to the left you will see a small footpath uphill (I'm assuming to trail 1600).
3.81 miles in you will come across a clearing with dry grass and a vague trail leading into the fire break ( I believe this is one of the entrances to the Dark Larch Ghost Town Trail).
4.5 miles or a little less you will come to Bridal Veil Creek Crossing and the fire break, it is also barricaded before creek with boulders. Sorry some of the photos are sideways, can't figure out how to have them the right way as on my phone they are the right way up. 9.36 miles total with close to 2000ft elevation gain.
1.75 miles in on Palmer Mill Road you see the first road closure barricade and gate. A short distance up and to the left you will see a small footpath uphill (I'm assuming to trail 1600).
3.81 miles in you will come across a clearing with dry grass and a vague trail leading into the fire break ( I believe this is one of the entrances to the Dark Larch Ghost Town Trail).
4.5 miles or a little less you will come to Bridal Veil Creek Crossing and the fire break, it is also barricaded before creek with boulders. Sorry some of the photos are sideways, can't figure out how to have them the right way as on my phone they are the right way up. 9.36 miles total with close to 2000ft elevation gain.