Tootling Around...: Squaw Valley Creek Trail

Day three, we hiked an 8 mile loop that starts by crossing over a small footbridge by the Cabin Creek Trailhead to the PCT footbridge that crosses Squaw Valley Creek.

The directions for the hike states not to cross the PCT footbridge. After exploring the bridge and pretty gorge, we head up to where the PCT splits to the right.

We hike the loop counterclockwise. After hiking along the PCT for about a mile, we arrive at the junction of trails called the "Octopus". We head down the inviting fire road listening to numerous birds singing to each other. We were happy to be walking under the canopy of fir, pine, cedar, black oak, and dogwood trees since it was very hot, 90s.

We hear the Bear Trap Creek to the right, which is located way below the fire road at the start of our descent. As we descend, we notice many springs and seasonal creeks feeding into Bear Trap Creek. Once the road levels out, we cross a vehicle bridge. In the pool by the bridge are numerous Umbrella plants or Indian Rhubarb.

This region of Northern California is so much greener and healthier looking than Central California. We stop to put on the extensions of our pant legs since the next section of the loop will take us through sections where poison oak grows profusely along sections of the trail. Mainly the first mile from the junction of the fire road and the Squaw Valley Creek Trail, aka Cabin Creek Trail, has the densely patches of poison oak. We were happy we were hiking this in the spring and not late summer when the poison oak would be covering the trail.

The Squaw Valley Trail follows the Squaw Valley Creek until it connects to the PCT. As we got closer to the PCT, about half way into the hike along the Squaw Valley Creek, the trail improves. We stop at an opening along the trail to look at a falls, rest, and eat a snack.

So many flowering plants line the rocky gorge in this area. After a relaxing rest, we continue the gentle climb back to the trailhead. We only came across three folks that walked from the trailhead to the PCT bridge and back. Later that evening, we saw them at Fowlers Camp. They had explored numerous places by car that day.