Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail

The statement, “what a great day for a walk,” became even more meaningful on March 18, 2008, as construction on an additional 3.4 miles of Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail was completed and the segment was opened for use. This means the segment west of the Campo Seco Staging Area is now 5.4 miles one way!   The trail meanders from the Vista Dos Lagos view point, across BLM land, and then down into the majestic canyon between Pardee Dam and Camanche Reservoir.  Dramatic river views, cultural points of interest, and unique landscapes highlight this section of the trail.  A one mile segment between Penn Mine and Oregon Gulch remains to be completed before the MCCT on Camanche Watershed will link to the MCCT on Pardee Watershed. There are 2 possible routes. One would be to continue on EBMUD lands along the edge of Camanche Reservoir. The challenge with this route is the distance between the high water mark and the property boundary is only 30 feet and the cross slope is 80% in some areas. Trail construction through this area would be slow and tedious at best.  Cost estimates range near $150-200,000 which includes a 25’ trail bridge. Another possibility would be to use existing roads through the rehabilitated Penn Mine properties. Trail completion through this area would be more straight forward and fast since 100% of the route would use existing roads. Unfortunately, this route is also problematic. There is no known current owner of the former New Penn Mines properties. The lack of ownership of these parcels creates significant problems. Once this one mile segment is completed, trail users would be able go from the Camanche South Shore Staging Area to the Campo Seco Staging Area and there would be 23 miles of continuous MCCT!

On April 26th, as part of California Trails Day rangers will lead a hike along the new stretch of trail.  This is a great chance to see a new spot, learn about the natural history of the area, and admire all the work completed by the combined efforts of EBMUD Rangers and the Mokelumne Trailbuster volunteers. Happy Trails, Steve