Sunday, February 28, 2016

Berryessa Snow Mountain

Mendocino County
Trip Type: Day Hike
Elevation: 3100 - 7000 ft
Distance: 14 miles
Surface: Dirt
Vegetation: Forest (about to burst into flames any moment)

Trip from summer 2015

Berryessa Snow Mountain was recently named a national monument.  As soon as we heard, we decided to take a hike there at the first opportunity.  I'm afraid with national monument status it's only a matter of time before they ban dogs.  As of winter 2016, they still haven't gotten around to it, though, so you may still be in luck if you want to check this area out.




Getting There:

Getting to this hike is an adventure in its self.  Take Hwy 5 to Maxwell, then find your way to Stonyford then take Fout Springs Road west to Deafy Glade (> 1hrs) or continue on to Summit Springs (> 2hrs).  The higher trailhead would cut about half the distance and climb off the hike.

There are two possible trailheads for this hike.  We started from Deafy Glade at a little over 3,000 elevation on Fout Springs Rd.  For a shorter hike, one could start at Summit Spring, though that requires several more miles on a road that seemed to be deteriorating with every mile.  With a high clearance vehicle it would probably be fine, but we decided our prius had had enough fun and it was our turn.  Either way you'll need to put in at least an hour on narrow winding roads that are mostly used by off road vehicle enthusiasts on the way to their many trailheads and routes in the dusty hills below Snow Mountain.  Don't let the dry barren landscape deter you, the hike its self is over mostly much greener terrain.

To Deafy Glade




 To Summit Springs







The Route:


http://caltopo.com/m/0R41





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