PCT Access via 6S10? (Tunnel Spring via Hialeah/Pimlico)

[dondelelcaro]

Does anyone know if it's possible to access the PCT via 6S10 instead of jumping on at the bull canyon trailhead? (There was some indication in a post a few years ago that there may be gates blocking it, even though it looks to be NFS land.)

I'm planning on doing a loop hike down live oak canyon, and back up Oak Canyon with a stop at Rock House, and wanted to make sure I knew how I was going to get access.

http://goo.gl/14ibC

[hvydrt]

I was at point A on your map a few months ago on my way from Butterfly Peak to the PCT. The gate there was open or missing. It didn't look like you could drive to that point, it had knee high grass on it. I think the furthest you could drive (if there are no locked gates) would be Gold Shot Mine. I know you can access the PCT via S609, starting from Table Mountain Road. It would be about 4 miles with 1700 gain to get to the saddle where the PCT and 4EO3 meet. I think its about 6 miles/ 1500 gain from the Bull Canyon TH.

[Cy Kaicener]

Here is a link to get a little information - maybe - Google search


http://www.pcta.org

[halhiker]

I haven't been up there in years but the last time I was you could drive all the way to the Tunnel Spring Trail.

I'd call the Idyllwild Ranger Station and find out what the current status is. A landowner at the beginning of the road has posted all kinds of signs discouraging entrance but those were there when I went and I was told to ignore them by a local Sierra Club leader. Anyone can put up a sign saying whatever they want.

Let us know how it goes. I'd love to go back to the rock house and follow the old trail over toward Bald Mountain. I'd love to see if there's a way to get from there to Bullseye Flat.

[dondelelcaro]

Thanks everyone for the replies; I think I'm going to just go up the PCT, but I'll check out what the road and Rockhouse loop situation is while I'm at it. [I'll have some friends who aren't bushwackers with me, and the satellite pictures of the Rockhouse loop looks a little daunting.]

[guest]

Sounds like a fun loop, like Hal, it's been years since I've been around there, went from Palm Cyn up Live Oak to the springs, on to PCT and out, I believe by Gold Shot Mine, (can't find it on the map though). If I remember, we could see the Rock House, but it looked fairly daunting to reach it, with the time we had to complete the hike.
You can bet they'll be lots of bushwackin, kinda like the picture in your avatar, since few go up around there.
I do remember Live Oak Spring being very cool, very big Oaks, if they haven't been burned!

Let us know if you go up anywhere around there!

ss

[dondelelcaro]

We went up the RCT from Bull Run to Live Oaks Spring; the spring (a pipe, really) is flowing well and some very nice big trees are still there, even an apple tree, which we managed to grab an apple from!

The north part of the Live Oak springs trail from the little spur from the PCT was basically not there; a pretty serious bushwack is probably necessary to do the loop (but since the canyon is so nice, I'll try to do it some time in the future.)

[guest]

Hey Don,
Thanks for the info, how / where did you access the PCT, (is that what you used, you mentioned RCT?), from Bull Cyn Rd?
Would like to get back up there this winter spring, as you found out, few go there.

ss

[halhiker]

Hey Don,
Thanks for the info, how / where did you access the PCT, (is that what you used, you mentioned RCT?), from Bull Cyn Rd?
Would like to get back up there this winter spring, as you found out, few go there.

ss

I think he means the PCT and it's just west of Bull Canyon Road. BCR is locked because it's one the Santa Rosa Indian Reservation.

[halhiker]

Like I said, it's been years since I was down to the Rock House but the trail goes all the way down. It may be overgrown but it's always been passable. Getting down to it is not that hard actually. It's pretty passable. Don't know when I'll get a chance to get down there but I'll let everyone know in case anybody's interested.