Cruickshank Trail - East

Overall: This trail is best used as a connector. Although pleasant enough, it is not worthy of a trip in and of itself. Getting there: The trailhead is located on South Coast Ridge Road about 0.1 miles north of Salmon Creek Trail. You can get here by car via South Coast Ridge Road (4x4 dirt road) or by hiking up Salmon Creek Trail. Directions: From the ridgeline, start downhill through low scrub brush. At 0.5 miles, continue past Lion Den Camp and begin a 0.5 mile climb through a burned, rocky moonscape. At 1.0 mile there is an intersection with a use-trail to Silver Peak. Stay right, continue downhill, and follow signs that simply say "trail". Miles 1-3 descend through a never ending brush tunnel with low clearance. At mile 3, there is a treacherous landslide obscuring the trail then a creek crossing. From miles 3-4, the trail opens up into a pleasant oak grove. The Cruickshank Trail - East terminates at a 4-way intersection. Continue right for Villa Creek Trail, straight leads to SR1 via Cruickshank Trail - West, left leads to Salmon Falls via Buckeye Trail.