Big Cone Spruce Trail - Los Padres National Forest
Trail Distance 3.20 Miles

Submitted Trail Reports

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 04-24-2024 - by Capt. Wilderness

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	04-24-2024
Surveyor Name:	Capt. Wilderness
Trail description:	We took a day hike out of Manzana Narrows Campground attempting to reach Big Cone Spruce Camp. After leaving the “main” trail above Manzana Narrows, the trail to BCSC rapidly deteriorated. It became progressively overgrown with poison oak, some spiky shrub, and brush in general. There was an occasional stone  carin, to lead us, but after what would have been the sixth creek crossing we came upon a thicket of trees, rocks, and more poison oak. We turned back at this point. Hats off to hiker in another report from this month that made it all the way to Big Cone Spruce Camp.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Hard to follow

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 04-10-2024 - by Daniel O'Shea

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	04-10-2024
Surveyor Name:	Daniel O'Shea
Trail description:	This trail was a bit of a doozy! Many crossings over some high flow portions of the Manzana Creek and hard to follow trail on those crossings. What didn't make things easier was the fallen trees on many portions of the trail causing you to climb, duck, scramble over them. Then the poison oak is really out and about so make sure you cover up your body! Truly worth it though for Big Cone Spruce Trail as it was a lovely campsite. Started from Manzana Narrows and then went up to McKinley so it was STEEP!
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Hard to follow
Condition details:	Trail Hard to follow, lots of fallen trees, poison oak is out!
Images:	Snow headed up to the top!

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 03-17-2024 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	03-17-2024
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Trail description:	Significant brush for most of the trail. Trail is faintly visible most of the time but occasionally disappears at key junctures or water crossings.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 03-02-2024 - by Mike Mcgurk

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	03-02-2024
Surveyor Name:	Mike Mcgurk
Trail description:	The trail was easy to follow. However, it was a major bushwack and crawling on hands an knees. some crossings are filled with flood debris
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Hard to follow
Condition details:	Brush and downed trees

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 05-20-2023 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	05-20-2023
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Trail description:	From manzana narrows to big cone spruce camp the trail is very faint to almost non-existent. Tons of poison oak. Only walked a few feet on the trail before turning back to the narrows. Needs serious work
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Hard to follow
Condition details:	Poison oak galore

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 11-27-2021 - by Diane Soini

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	11-27-2021
Surveyor Name:	Diane Soini
Trail description:	Since Sunset Valley Road is closed until next March or April, one of the only ways into the Manzana is through Big Cone Spruce trail and the road from Cachuma Saddle. It would be a good work trip to brush this trail. In the horseshoe section it is pretty brushy and stabby and hard to follow. In general it's sort of faint and hard to follow at times. There was flowing water in the creek in several places and it was also dry in several places.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Brushy, fallen trees

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 04-30-2021 - by Ted Merrill

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	04-30-2021
Surveyor Name:	Ted Merrill
Trail description:	We descended this trail. The upper part was beautifully cleared of chapparal... thank you volunteers! However, keep in mind that this mile of trail is an excessively steep with little shade in the middle of the day. The remainder of the trail is gently sloped with a fair amount of shade. On this section of the trail there were a large number of down trees that had to be surmounted, some quite large.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Lower part has many down trees, upper part clear

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 08-22-2020 - by Kevin Varga

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	08-22-2020
Surveyor Name:	Kevin Varga
Trail description:	There is one area with a few downed trees, but it isn't too hard to get past. The creek is flowing well all the way up to Big Cone Spruce Camp, but the poison oak is badly encroaching on the trail over head high.Â
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Mostly easy to follow, lots of poison oak

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 02-23-2020 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	02-23-2020
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Trail description:	Approximately 40 downed trees across the trail between the Manzana and Big Cone Spruce Camp.  Don't believe us, take a look for yourself: https://photos.app.goo.gl/bN7mQ8CbTb6cx1Dw5 The good news is that the LPFA will be putting the Trail Crew on BCS in May 2020 with the aspirations of clearing all 40 or so downed trees!  Wish us luck and we'll share where we're at when completed. Other than the downed trees, the trail is followable, lots of water in the creek as usual and the camp remains a beautiful shaded San Rafael paradise.........
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Hard to follow

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 05-04-2019 - by Diane Soini

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	05-04-2019
Surveyor Name:	Diane Soini
Trail description:	I hiked the trail from the Manzana to McKinley Road, the whole Big Cone Spruce trail. Not far from the beginning there is a honey bee hive in a log on the trail that has been marked with tape. You cannot avoid it and must step on the log to get over it. In the vicinity of the horseshoe curve in the creek there has been a catastrophe of large oak trees fallen on the trail. These trees require you to take off your pack to crawl under. Will require a cross-cut saw. There's a long stretch of unavoidable poison oak beyond. Other than that, the trail is a little faint and brushy. The upper camp is in good shape with a faint trail to find it. I didn't see the lower camp anymore. It's just a pile of deadfall. The upper trail to McKinley Road is a little brushy but in better shape than the lower trail.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	The trail is fading into the mists of time

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 04-28-2018 - by Tony G.

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	04-28-2018
Surveyor Name:	Tony G.
Trail description:	Hiked from McKinley Road down, trail is passable but scrubby. Good flow in the creek at the camp. From the camp on down, poison oak is heavy, but the trail is ok with a dozen fallen trees, but all passable. The trail could use some clearing especially the poison oak. Only saw one other party heading up in shorts and short sleeves, must have been immune to the poison oak or so I would hope!.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 01-16-2018 - by Curt Cragg

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	01-16-2018
Surveyor Name:	Curt Cragg
Trail description:	Recently cleared most of the tree falls from Big Cone Spruce camps to Manzana trail.  Overall trail is now passable and in reasonably decent shape.  Brush work is still needed, but tread can easily be followed from Manzana trail.  Trail from BCS camps up to McKinley Fire Road has heavy brush in places and still needs work.  Also some tread erosion due to the steep sections and recent rain.  Camps are in good shape.  Picnic table at lower camp is broken and needs replacement.  Water is flowing nicely.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Images:	This large stump is still in place but can be climbed over fairly easily. It does have a honey bee hive in it.

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 03-07-2017 - by Jim Blakley

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	03-07-2017
Surveyor Name:	Jim Blakley
Trail description:	The trail along the creek is in reasonably good shape. Relatively easy to follow, but with brush beginning to encroach from sides. There are a couple of easily bypassed fallen trees. A short, perhaps quarter mile section on the downstream side of the big bend is quite brushy, with a number of fallen branches and trees. Above that, the trail is in quite good shape (thanks LPFA crew!). The climb up to the road is clear. The creek is flowing the entire way to the camp and the spring at the camp is flowing well.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Heavy brush and fallen trees for a short distance near the big bend, otherwise a few fallen a, aviodable trees and encroaching brush

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 11-22-2016 - by Curt Cragg

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	11-22-2016
Surveyor Name:	Curt Cragg
Trail description:	The Los Padres Forest Association Volunteer Wilderness Rangers spent two days clearing trees and some brush off of the Big Cone Spruce Trail.  Both the upper and lower camps were also cleaned up.  This trail is now passable from the Manzana Junction to the camps and up to McKinley Road.  There is still some brush clearing that needs to be done but all of the large fallen trees have been cleared as of 11/20/16. There was flowing water in the creek above the upper camp and just below the lower camp.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Good shape and easy to follow
Images:	Large Oak cleared from blocking trail 40-50 smaller trees cut and cleared Working with a crosscut saw Big Cone Trail Crew...Thanks Guys!

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 04-16-2016 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	04-16-2016
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Trail description:	"big cone spruce was indeed quite overgrown"
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Hard to follow

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 01-03-2016 - by Steve Cypher

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	01-03-2016
Surveyor Name:	Steve Cypher
Trail description:	Trail is currently tough to hike because of constantly over, under & through blown down trees. Most could be removed by a guy with a Silky saw and lots of time, but there are a few larger logs and one big tangle of an old oak just below camp. The steep trail up the hill is still in pretty good shape.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Numerous blown down trees
Images:	Lots of smaller trees across trail. One large oak across trail.

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 11-12-2015 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	11-12-2015
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Trail description:	FROM A RECENT HIKING PARTY WHO WENT FROM MANZANA NARROWS TO BIG CONE SPRUCE CAMP: The trail up to Big Cone Spruce needed trail maintenance.  We cleared the blowdowns we could, but there are still a few on that stretch.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 06-19-2015 - by Paul E

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	06-19-2015
Surveyor Name:	Paul E
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Lower trail is overgrown in places. Unavoidable poison oak. Fallen trees.

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 04-19-2015 - by Shriner

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	04-19-2015
Surveyor Name:	Shriner
Trail description:	Trail seemed obvious but needed some brushing. Turned around after having enough of the tick fest. Incomplete report
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Ticks and brush are await.

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 04-19-2015 - by Shriner

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	04-19-2015
Surveyor Name:	Shriner
Trail description:	Trail seemed obvious but needed some brushing. Turned around after having enough of the tick fest. Incomplete report
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Condition details:	Ticks and brush are await.

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 05-25-2014 - by Los Padres Forest Association

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	05-25-2014
Surveyor Name:	Los Padres Forest Association
Trail description:	- The trail to Big Cone Spruce from the Manzana Trail is seldom used and needed attention - We removed much deadfall and opened 3 areas that totally blocked the trail - There remains 3 trees 6" to 8" across the BCS trail, but it is hikable now to the campsite from Manzana Trail - Poison Oak is thick along the BCS trail.....some brushing still needed. Water: - The 1st mile up the trail to BCS has no water but water is flowing there after. - The camp at BCS is still a good warm weather destination. The upper campsite is preferable......no ants.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work

Big Cone Spruce Trail Survey - 03-29-2014 - by Mike

Link:	Big Cone Spruce Trail
Date:	03-29-2014
Surveyor Name:	Mike
Trail description:	This trail branches off the Manzana Trail about .5 mile past Manzana Narrows campground and follows the Manzana Creek though chapparal and a few spruce groves to Big Cone Spruce campground. The trail was not difficult to hike or follow to that point. There were a few creek crossings and some overgrowth but nothing that caused any problems. The campground has a picnic table and firepit and is very well shaded. It does not appear to be used very often - no sign of recent use and lots of firewood laying around. According to the map, the trail continues up to McKinley spring and the ridge, but we only went as far as the campground since we weren't up for a really steep climb.
Mode of transport:	Hike
Trail condition:	Needs some work
Images:

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