Trail Conditions Skunk Cabbage Meadow Area

[timotay]

I was hoping to do an over nighter next month and was wondering if anyone knew of the trail conditions in the Skunk Cabbage area. I was hoping to go to Laws Camp but dont know if its accessible from the fires, and if there might be water in Willow Creek? Maybe suggest a good alternate route. I have done Marion Mtn to the summit and Tahquitz Peak, and Devils Slide to Round Valley and back. What else should I try..
Thanks in advance..

[Wildhorse]

Considering the trail and area closures in the burned areas, one possibility is to hike up the Devil's Slide, turn north on the PCT and camp west of the trail within about a half mile from Saddle Junction. From there you could hike to Wellman's Divide or San Jacinto Peak and then back to your camp.

[jfr]

If you don't mind driving your car uphill on a long dirt road then I'd recommend Starting from the Fuller Ridge Trailhead on the PCT, and spending the night at Little Round Valley. The Fuller Ridge Trail is probably one of the prettiest trails on the mountain, with views north and east and west. Little Round Valley has no water flowing (the last I'd heard), but there IS water about a half mile below the camp, where the outflow from "Bed Springs" crosses the trail. Note also that you have to get your permit to camp from the STATE park to camp in Little Round Valley, not from the NFS.

State Park Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=636
State Park Permit: http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/636/files/dpr409.pdf

Caltopo Map of the hike I did last August: http://caltopo.com/m/4H0B

Once you've set up camp in LRV, you've got lots of opportunities for hiking. Either up the main trail to San Jacinto Peak, or go cross-country and bag one or more of the nearby trail-less peaks.

Standard Disclaimer:
Make sure to have a map, compass, gps, 10 essentials, spot device, PLB, satellite phone, helicopter escort, extraction team, etc etc blah blah blah

[timotay]

I like the Fuller Ridge idea. Thanks a lot.

[Hikin_Jim]

I was hoping to do an over nighter next month and was wondering if anyone knew of the trail conditions in the Skunk Cabbage area. I was hoping to go to Laws Camp but dont know if its accessible from the fires, and if there might be water in Willow Creek? Maybe suggest a good alternate route. I have done Marion Mtn to the summit and Tahquitz Peak, and Devils Slide to Round Valley and back. What else should I try...

Laws Camp and Willow Creek are still under fire closure. One wonders if the fire closures are really still necessary, but they are in place.

Jfr's idea of Fuller Ridge sounds like a good one.

HJ