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Features:
The Cerro Vista Ridgeline Trail is in the Applegate area and
passes through a variety of terrain and vegetation: Canyon rim vistas,
natural meadows, oak forests, and Manzanita groves.
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Special Note:
Nearly all of this trail is on private land.
Property owners in the area have long been supportive of non-motorized
trail use. Always respect the owners' peace and quiet. Do not circumvent
fences, gates or posted warnings. Stay on the well-worn trails.
Use of this trail is a priviledge, NOT a right.
If you encounter anyone who claims you are trespassing or suggests you
should not use the trail, please do not start an argument about it. In
such case, or if you encounter OHV users, please report the incident at once to
the MVTA Trails Coordinator.
Recreational use of this trail, as with all
others listed on this website, is at the user's own risk. |
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This trail is no longer a full loop.
Failure to respect private property by some users has
resulted in closure of a substantial section of this trail. The property owners
of the old wagon road that continues past the end of Boole Road and parallels
the creek, including the waterfall area, have withdrawn their permission for
recreational use due to vandalism and over-use by the public.
Trail Signage:
This trail loop was last cleared of brush and flagged with
marker ribbons in about 2005. The trail course may be difficult to follow in
places. Always be willing and prepared to retrace your steps.
Availability:
Most of the trail is usable year round, but sections along the
southern end can become boggy during the November-April wet season. If you find
that this trail description is not what you are finding "on the ground," please
email the MVTA Trails Coordinator as
soon as possible!
Mountain Bikers Note:
Please use special caution on single track sections with blind
corners to avoid spooking horses you may encounter.
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Map revision
available shortly |
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Difficulty:
The trail covers about 2.5 miles, out and back. Please note
that due to fuel load reduction efforts, the trail course may be difficult to
follow in some areas. The route is generally easy to hike or ride, with some
moderate, but short grades. The footing is good and mostly free of rocks. The
course crosses a section of paved road, but there is very little vehicle
traffic to contend with.
Cautions:
 This trail traverses "Cougar
Habitat." Cougar sightings are rare; use good sense: Do not walk or
ride this trail alone. Keep small children and pets close at hand.
Poison Oak grows
along parts of this trail and may hang out into the trail in places.
Drinking Water must be carried with you. Trailside
water is not safe for human consumption, no
matter how clean it looks. Drink it only in an emergency and consult a doctor
afterwards.
Directions to Trailhead Parking:
You can use the parking area on Cerro Vista Road as your
trailhead. As with the rest of the trail, your use is a priviledge -- not a
right. "Leave no trace."
Take the I-80 Applegate exit and follow the overpass road East
to where it T's into Applegate Road. Go left; the road passes through a narrow
tunnel under the railroad. Take an immediate right onto Boole Road after the
tunnel. Boole Road is narrow and has poor shoulders, so drive with care.
Continue on Boole Road for about 1.8 miles to where the
pavement forks. Take Cerro Vista Road to your left; (Boole Road continues to
the right.
Less than a quarter mile up the hill from where Cerro Vista
Road branches off from Boole Road, as the road curves to the right, there is a
graded area to your left. There is room for several cars or a couple of horse
trailers on the flat area. From here, you pick up the trail on the opposite
side of Cerro Vista Road and head south on the trail.
Trail Course Description
- From the Cerro Vista parking area, start by crossing
the paved road. Then proceed uphill alongside the road. The trail used to pass
through a grove of Manzanita that was cleared for fire safety reasons. Along
this section there are wonderful views across the North Fork canyon. After a
few hundred yards, you need to cross the road again and pick up the trail on
the other side.
- The trail is now a single track that leaves and approachs the
paved road a couple of times. It then follows a an old wagon route uphill and
away from the roadway.
- The trail levels somewhat and enters a wooded area. At a fork
in the trail, you can turn left onto the
Boole Training Hill. After a hundred yards or so, this route will take
you steeply down into the canyon to join the Upper
Clementine trail. By taking the Training Hill trail you will add about
three miles to your route and several hundred feet of elevation change.
- By going right at the fork, the trail will peak and descend
in a section of manzanita and then cross a series of small natural meadows.
There are a three side trails along this section that connect to a parallel
trail located downhill to your right. These can be taken to provide some
variety. The parallel trail joins with the one you are on at the southernmost
end.
- After the meadow areas, the trail now heads sharply down for
a short distance, the only fairly steep slope you will encounter, along a wagon
road through more oaks and Manzanita. This section of trail T's into another.
Go right to continue. (The road that continues left dead ends after a short
distance, but there is a nice view to the south from there, if you like to
explore.)
- The right-hand trail proceeds downhill for about 100 yards to
where it crosses a boggy open area. From there it winds uphill across a wooded
slope. (You can also follow the drainage above the bog as a shortcut back to
the last meadow that you crossed.)
- After a meandering climb, the trail will enter a small
clearing on top of a ridge of land. The trail continues as a wagon road on the
western (opposite) edge of the clearing. This is the parallel trail mentioned
earlier. (There is also a spur trail that heads left/south from the clearing
and goes about 300 yards to a dead end.)
- Follow the wagon road as it meanders downhill, taking you
back northward. It may be brushy in places, but should be passible. There are
three side trails, mentioned earlier, that are in this section and that turn
uphill to your right. Each one will bring you back to one of the meadows and to
the trail you were previously following southbound. From there you can retrace
your steps to the trailhead.
- You can also head to the left at the third side trail, which
will lead out to Cerro Vista Road. You can then turn right and walk back to the
trailhead along the roadside, a distance of about 1/2 mile.
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