Easy to Moderate Backpack trip

[Ucichemta]

Hi
I am new to this board, but it seemed to have the best information I could find. I am going to take my girlfriend on her first backpacking trip on either the 23/24 or 30/31 of October and I was hoping to get recommendations of some easy to moderate overnight trips. Thanks for your help.

[neverwashasbeen]

Start easy, take tram to Round Valley, set up camp and do side trips from there.

[Norris]

Start easy, take tram to Round Valley, set up camp and do side trips from there.

You mean tram to Long Valley, short hike to Round Valley... I agree, its a very short hike back to Long Valley where there are real bathrooms and other services if needed. Hike to Round Valley is not at all strenuous.

[halhiker]

A key thing in taking your GF on a backpacking trip is being warm. It may be a bit cool at the end of October so keep that in mind. You may want to go a little lower than the Tram and go to a place where you can build a fire.

A few options are Cedar Spring, Horsethief Creek (Cactus Spring) or the PCT to Live Oak Spring. All those places have water and fires should be OK.

[Petho]

Hello Hal,
I googled however I could not find any good information on Cedar Spring, Horsethief Creek (Cactus Spring) or the PCT to Live Oak Spring.

Is there a definitive site where I can find more information on these BackPacks? Trailhead information and such so that I can find Topo maps and permitting information?

Thanks!
Oscar

[Hikin_Jim]

Hi, Hal,

I'm going to be a sort of a semi-bachelor for November and December, so I might be able to do some late fall early December BP'ing. I'd be interested in knowing about those trails too. I've not heard of them. Do you have a good link or can you recommend a book? Are those in the SJ's? Haven't ever heard of them and haven't got the first clue.

HJ

[Hikin_Jim]

Hey, Hal,

Did you ever get a chance to think about this?

HJ

[halhiker]

This hike is about 7 miles each way with the first six miles being relatively flat. The last mile drops down into a canyon and has some elevation gain on the way out. Water is available from a pipe. I've never known it to be dry.

A is the starting place
B is Live Oak Spring
C is for a more ambitious hike. This is an old rockhouse that was built by the Wellman family to run cattle. I hear part of it burned in the Pinyon Fire but I haven't been there since. It's a cool area with some Indian rock art and cupules nearby. Water here is iffy. There's water but the quality requires filtration.

http://goo.gl/ANg7

[halhiker]

From the parking area off Hwy 74, Horsethief Creek is 2.5 miles and Cactus Spring is 4 miles. Cactus Spring was a major gathering place for the Cahuilla Indians and little exploration will still turn up pottery sherds and other artifacts.

The "spring" is little more than a mudhole overgrown with grass so you definitely need a filter here. There's a lot to explore around here and you can climb Sheep Mountain or even Martinez Mountain if you are very ambitious. Horsethief Creek is a very nice little spot that usually has water, if not at the creek crossing then usually upstream. It is definitely a desert hike so conditions will be dry.

A is the trailhead
B is Horsethief Creek
C is Cactus Spring

This hike is in John Robinson's San Bernardino Mountain Trails.

http://goo.gl/asCW

[halhiker]

This hike is the shortest of the three hikes I mentioned. Most people do it as a day hike but it's a nice campsite in the trees and has a good water source. It is also the highest of the hikes I recommended so it may be cold at night. You can have a fire here but bring a warm sleeping bag.

A is the trailhead on Morris Ranch Road
B is Cedar Spring.
There are some Indian grinding mortars in the area so it's obvious the Indians used the spring. You have to hunt around to find them.

http://goo.gl/cKZe

This hike is listed in John Robinson's San Bernardino Mtn. Trails.