Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fresh signs of mountain lion are commonly found along the Cruikshank Trail.
Trip Description
From the signed
Cruikshank Trailhead
on
Highway 1,
you'll quickly climb steep
switchbacks through dense coastal scrub. Pause often to catch your breath and take in
the dramatic coastal views. After a strenuous 600-foot ascent in less than a mile, the
grade eases.
Continue along the south wall of deep, V-shaped
Villa Creek
canyon through
shallow redwood-lined gullies. You'll cross a small creek fringed with redwood sor-
rel, starflowers, and ferns, then a minute later pass a few eucalyptus trees, probably
planted here by early homesteaders. Two miles from the trailhead, you'll cross logs
over a small creek and enter
Lower Cruikshank Camp
(see
TRIP 70 Cruikshank &
Silver Camps
, for details). Just past camp lies the signed
Buckeye Trail junction
(2.2
miles, 1440').
At the junction, turn left onto the northbound
Buckeye Trail.
Past an open mead-
ow that marks the
Cruikshank homestead,
you'll make a steep 450-foot descent in
half a mile to
Villa Creek
(2.7 miles, 1070'), amid a narrow band of redwoods.
At the southern limit of their range, these redwoods are only able to find adequate
moisture for survival along such small creeks. Drier conditions prevent the trees from
obtaining the colossal size more commonly associated with old-growth stands farther
north. Other than a few small patches of redwood sorrel, sword ferns, and seasonal
wildflowers, the forest floor here is also comparatively bare.
Crossing to the north bank, you'll briefly follow the year-round creek down-
stream to a trail junction and seasonal side drainage. From this junction, the left fork
descends to
Villa Creek Camp
(2.8 miles, 1050'), which offers a table, a fire ring,
and room for up to three small tents.
The Buckeye Trail continues north along the right fork. If you're bound for
Alder
Creek Camp
, refer to TRIP
68 Alder Creek Camp to Villa Creek Camp
and follow
that trail description in reverse.
