The Hike:
The hike starts at the parking area, and the trail is
through the posts to the right. The trail parallels highway 20 for a bit,
then turns sharply to the left, back up the canyon. Since this is also the trailhead
for the cache creek ridge trail, make sure
you take the westernmost trail, and not the fire road. It will climb until
it intersects with an old fire road. You follow this old fire road all
the way to Cache Creek. The hike is very open, and the views are fabulous.
As you look down the trail, you are looking toward the Wilson valley area.
This area is the heart of the Cache Creek wilderness study area. Along
the way, there are several oak groves at which to stop, relax, and have a snack.
Cache creek is impassable during high water, so the creek marks the end of this
trail. If the water is low enough, you can get to the Wilson Valley and continue on the Redbud Trail. Distance: 5 miles, one way, from the Highway 20 trailhead to Cache Creek.
Total elevation gain of 1425. If you are doing this as a backpack trip, it is
another 6.2 miles to the Redbud trailhead parking area from Cache Creek. |