Pauley Creek

Pauley Creek starts at a three-way intersection with Butcher Ranch at a wide intersection that is a good place to take a break. It crosses a wide bridge over the creek, then enters a forested path full of embedded rock features. It has tight turns winding through the trees, with a few bigger hairpin turns. The trail is full of large embedded boulder faces, loose rock sections, rocky ravine crossings, and moderate root and rock ledges. It’s tight and twisty, making it slow going and technical over all the rocks. There is a rock feature every couple of hundred feet or so. There is another bridge crossing near the north end, followed by a steep climb full of embedded and loose rock that is one of the hardest and steepest spots of the trail. This trail doesn’t have the severe exposure that is prevalent on the First, Second and Third Divide trails, making it a better option for anyone not comfortable with heights, even though it still very technical from the many rocks. This trail is closed 1/1 – 3/31.