Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Camp.
The latter lies just 3.4 miles from the trailhead but requires more than two
dozen river crossings, which, depending on the season, can be an arduous trek.
From Sulphur Springs, the trail crosses a year-round creek that originates from
the east slope of
Elephant Mountain.
Heading upstream, you'll cross five more times
before arriving in
Buckskin Flat Camp
(7.4 miles, 1580'), atop a grassy flat. There
is no table or cooking grate.
Past camp, you'll climb 0.3 mile to a small ridge, then return to the river's edge
for a gradual ascent. The trail launches into another series of river fords, crisscross-
ing through mats of blackberries, thimbleberries, and ubiquitous poison oak. Past the
tenth ford, the trail passes a significant canyon and tributary that stem from
Uncle
Sam Mountain,
the massive granite ridge towering more than 4750 feet overhead.
The twelfth crossing skirts a moss-covered granite wall—be aware that both the
USGS and USFS maps inaccurately label this the site of Hiding Canyon Camp, which
lies 0.2 mile farther upstream. Expect to get your feet wet in all but the driest months,
as the trail is often submerged by high water.
The spur to Hiding Canyon Camp (9.2 miles, 1740') is easy to miss. You'll reach
the turnoff just as the trail leaves the river's edge to climb the canyon. Just across the
river, you'll find two large sites with a table and cooking grate. The first site sits atop
a narrow terrace along the west bank, while the second, larger site is just a few feet
upstream near an enormous ponderosa pine.
If you're willing to hike upriver off trail for 0.4 mile, you'll pass through a nar-
row sandstone gorge and arrive at
Ventana Mesa Creek Falls,
which tumbles into a
swimming hole. Farther upriver, the canyon widens and turns south, entering a second
gorge at the confluence with
Ventana Mesa Creek.
A few feet farther upstream the
creek cascades into a deep granite-lined pool. If the water level is low enough in late
summer and fall, you can press on for 200 feet to a larger swimming hole and water-
fall within a mossy, fern-lined grotto.
The
Puerto Suelo Trail
(9.2 miles, 1740') begins atop a flat bench on the west
bank just downstream from Hiding Canyon Camp. Those bound for
Ventana Double
Cone
or
Bottchers Gap
will climb this trail to the
Ventana Trail junction.
In
drought years it's best to fill water bottles here.
You'll begin a steep climb west through a minor gully and across a small creek,
then wander through several other minor gullies, dry practically year-round. In half
a mile the trail begins a series of switchbacks, ascending a brushy slope to a minor
saddle. Continue past fragrant stands of bays and tanoaks and across small tributaries
to
Uncle Sam Creek.
The trail crosses and then recrosses the creek, which may be
your last opportunity for water between here and the summit.
