Alder Creek - 20W11

About this campground

Alder Creek Trail (20W11) WILDERNESS   Length: 7.5 Difficulty: moderate trailhead to Cow Spring, difficult to Shady Camp turnoff Take Highway 126 to Fillmore.  Turn north on A Street/Goodenough Road and drive 14.1 miles to Dough Flat.  This is a narrow, rough road that is traveled by large oil trucks.  Be very cautious in route to trailhead.  From here, you enter the Sespe Wilderness.  Hike 2.5 miles north to the Bucksnort Junction.   Continue west one mile to reach Cow Spring Camp.  Water is usually only available here during winter and spring.  Continue 3.2 miles down to Alder Creek Camp. The trail below Dripping Springs becomes narrow and sections of the tread have been destroyed from winter flooding.  There are two campsites separated by the creek crossing.  Continue west along the  creek .8 miles to reach the junction with Trail #9. __________________________________________________  ** Trail conditions** • Alder Creek Camp to Shady: trail is sporadic and navigating required. • Cow Springs to McDonald Trail turnoff, 2.7 Route is narrow and trail drops significantly. 1/4 mile west of this junction, the trail drops into the "river bed". The tread was washed out in the flooding following the 2006 Day Fire. It is easier to stay in the river bed to Alder Creek Camp. This section is approximately 1/2 mile. • Dough Flat to Cow Springs, 3.4 miles; route is easy to find. Some dense brushy areas. Stock should not go beyond this point.