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tekewin Posts: 383
21 days ago
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Hi, everyone.
I was thinking about trying to reach Salvador Canyon next month, but I am concerned about whether I can make the drive to get close enough. I haven't driven that road in the last 5 years.
I read a recent post here about how the creek has covered the road in certain places.
Has anyone been past the crossings to the junction with Sheep Canyon road?
Any info would be helpful. I'd hate to plan a big trip and get turned back before getting close.
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2632
21 days ago
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You should be able to call the VC and get current conditions I would think. Of course an actual eye witness that has been there recently would be good also.
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Brian Posts: 249
20 days ago
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I've been there recently. The road is fine up until 3rd crossing, but the gate is closed there and probably will remain so for the next several years. The section between the gate and boulder alley is where the creek has taken over the road. The park would need to come up with a new route for the road in order to open it and I haven't heard any definitive word about whether they plan to do that.
So basically it's hike-only past the 3rd crossing (or bike, horse, etc)
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tekewin Posts: 383
20 days ago
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Brian wrote:
I've been there recently. The road is fine up until 3rd crossing, but the gate is closed there and probably will remain so for the next several years. The section between the gate and boulder alley is where the creek has taken over the road. The park would need to come up with a new route for the road in order to open it and I haven't heard any definitive word about whether they plan to do that.
So basically it's hike-only past the 3rd crossing (or bike, horse, etc)
Much appreciated. Helpful...and disappointing, haha.
I know this a longshot, but is the Lower Willows Trail passable, or is that just a trail and not a road?
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Brian Posts: 249
20 days ago
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tekewin wrote:
Brian wrote:
I've been there recently. The road is fine up until 3rd crossing, but the gate is closed there and probably will remain so for the next several years. The section between the gate and boulder alley is where the creek has taken over the road. The park would need to come up with a new route for the road in order to open it and I haven't heard any definitive word about whether they plan to do that.
So basically it's hike-only past the 3rd crossing (or bike, horse, etc)
Much appreciated. Helpful...and disappointing, haha.
I know this a longshot, but is the Lower Willows Trail passable, or is that just a trail and not a road?
The closed gate is before lower willows. And in any case, Rocko and I tried to go through lower willows a couple years ago and even the foot path was badly overgrown.
I did a backpacking trip to Cougar Canyon about a month ago and the mileage wasn't too bad (about 4 miles from the gate) but it's hard to walk in the soft sand (no vehicles have been going through, so nothing to compact it).
Depending on where you're trying to go, you might be able to go down from the road that goes to Combs Peak?
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Brian Posts: 249
20 days ago
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Also I think the upper road (from the town of Anza to Bailey's Cabin) is open. But last time I drove that it was in very rough shape.
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tekewin Posts: 383
20 days ago
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Brian wrote:
Also I think the upper road (from the town of Anza to Bailey's Cabin) is open. But last time I drove that it was in very rough shape.
Thanks. I'll check out the upper roads. Not sure I have the skill to drive it.
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Buford Posts: 467
5 days ago
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I believe the Lower Willows trail is still closed. They closed it a couple years ago. It was usually a muddy mess anyway.
Middle Willows has a hiking/horse trail through it. Also muddy and overgrown. The equestrians used to keep it open. Last time I was there a couple years ago it was not well kept.
In the last 10 years there have been times boulder alley was 2wd accessible for trucks and SUVs or AWD Subaru accessible. Other times I hit the skidplates on my vehicle pretty good.
If the road opens again, I bet it will be easily accessible to most stock AWD/4x4 vehicles. Then over time degrade again as it always has until they grade it again. If you can get over boulder alley, there is nothing else past that that is difficult going into Alder unless there are drastic changes. If it has rained recently, there are a couple mud pits. If it is forecast to rain heavily, I wouldn't want my vehicle on the wrong side of 1st crossing. There may not be a road left when the rain stops.
Turkey Track from Anza got graded some time ago, I think to get fire crews back there. Since then it has gotten worse again. I don't know the current status.
Unfortunately I would not expect realistic road conditions from the visitor center employees. They either don't know, or give way too cautious recommendations, for good reason.
edited by Buford on 3/3/2025
edited by Buford on 3/3/2025
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Links to my photos: ABDSP photos, Bighorn sheep photos, ABDSP time lapse video, Wildlife photos (mainly birds)
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tekewin Posts: 383
5 days ago
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Buford wrote:
Turkey Track from Anza got graded some time ago, I think to get fire crews back there. Since then it has gotten worse again. I don't know the current status.
Unfortunately I would not expect realistic road conditions from the visitor center employees. They either don't know, or give way too cautious recommendations, for good reason.
edited by Buford on 3/3/2025
edited by Buford on 3/3/2025
Thanks for the info, Buford. I have a buddy who wants to go up Salvador Canyon. I think we are going to try to mountain bike from the gate at 3rd crossing, about 4.7 miles from the entrance to Salvador. Depends on the weather, too.
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Buford Posts: 467
5 days ago
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tekewin wrote:
Buford wrote:
Turkey Track from Anza got graded some time ago, I think to get fire crews back there. Since then it has gotten worse again. I don't know the current status.
Unfortunately I would not expect realistic road conditions from the visitor center employees. They either don't know, or give way too cautious recommendations, for good reason.
edited by Buford on 3/3/2025
edited by Buford on 3/3/2025
Thanks for the info, Buford. I have a buddy who wants to go up Salvador Canyon. I think we are going to try to mountain bike from the gate at 3rd crossing, about 4.7 miles from the entrance to Salvador. Depends on the weather, too.
I know people that have done that when their vehicle was not ready for the bypass road. Only issue is biking in soft sand is a slog.
I made a mistake above, the road from the top of Boulder alley to Salvador is fine. I mixed up Alder and Salvador.
The road to Alder is down the Turkey Track.
Be careful of grow sites if you go up the canyons.
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Links to my photos: ABDSP photos, Bighorn sheep photos, ABDSP time lapse video, Wildlife photos (mainly birds)
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Rocko1 Posts: 615
2 days ago
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Buford wrote:
tekewin wrote:
Buford wrote:
Turkey Track from Anza got graded some time ago, I think to get fire crews back there. Since then it has gotten worse again. I don't know the current status.
Unfortunately I would not expect realistic road conditions from the visitor center employees. They either don't know, or give way too cautious recommendations, for good reason.
edited by Buford on 3/3/2025
edited by Buford on 3/3/2025
Thanks for the info, Buford. I have a buddy who wants to go up Salvador Canyon. I think we are going to try to mountain bike from the gate at 3rd crossing, about 4.7 miles from the entrance to Salvador. Depends on the weather, too.
I know people that have done that when their vehicle was not ready for the bypass road. Only issue is biking in soft sand is a slog.
I made a mistake above, the road from the top of Boulder alley to Salvador is fine. I mixed up Alder and Salvador.
The road to Alder is down the Turkey Track.
Be careful of grow sites if you go up the canyons.
Are there confirmed grow sites up Alder or Salvador canyons? Seems like access would be horrible for an operation.
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Brian Posts: 249
2 days ago
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The Lindsay book mentions there was a major grow site discovery in Alder around the year 2000. Depending on where it was, it's possible that access may have been from the top (Lost Valley Road, which goes to a PCT/Combs Peak trailhead and eventually to the boyscout camp).
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Buford Posts: 467
1 days ago
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Anywhere in the San Diego backcountry with reliable water is a potential grow site.
I found one in a drainage near Collins a couple years ago. “Why are there pots, irrigation hose, garden tools, oh…”
Not a huge grow site, but the gear was there. I don’t remember if it was on the Sheep Canyon or Salvador Canyon side.
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Links to my photos: ABDSP photos, Bighorn sheep photos, ABDSP time lapse video, Wildlife photos (mainly birds)
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tekewin Posts: 383
1 days ago
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Buford wrote:
Anywhere in the San Diego backcountry with reliable water is a potential grow site.
I found one in a drainage near Collins a couple years ago. “Why are there pots, irrigation hose, garden tools, oh…”
Not a huge grow site, but the gear was there. I don’t remember if it was on the Sheep Canyon or Salvador Canyon side.
I found a coil of black tubing on the Sheep Canyon side of Collins about 5 years ago. I thought it was rather remote for growing. Especially now that you can't drive past 3rd crossing. Seems like there are more accessible areas for bad guys to grow.
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