Bailey Trail recon via Slide Mountain

 

Historic Bailey Homestead as seen from afar (center disturbed area beyond the ridge)

As far east as one can venture into the Los Padres (Sespe Wilderness) on the border with the Angeles National Forest is the seldom used Bailey Trail 18W02. According to former maps along this path approximately here N34° 38.912' W118° 48.200'  was the historic Bailey homestead site. Since the closure of Hardluck Campground this area has been notoriously hard to access and as such the trail gets almost zero use and has fallen into complete disarray. Historically 18W02 ran southeast from the junction with Buck Creek Trail past the homestead, down Beartrap Canyon and terminated at Lake Pyramid. I'm guessing actually at the time perhaps Piru Creek before the lake was installed. Another prominent feature at this terminus was what Lopez described as Bridgeport Flats #4. "A high terrace on the west side of Beartrap Canyon Creek where it flows into Piru Creek. 16 bedrock mortars" I feel comfortable disclosing this as I'm certain the feature now lies forever hidden under the lake. Perhaps time to dust off the old scuba gear.  Bailey has been on my mind for several years, why it has taken me this long to begin recon I don't know, but better late than never.

Frenchman's Flat

Slide Mountain Trail 18W04

I don't have an FS gate key and I despise the road walk to Hardluck, so much in fact I vowed not to do it anymore. I've done it on a bike and on foot, it's a pain in the ass. So with that said I decided to give it a go from Frenchman's Flat. Spoiler alert we did not quite make it to the old homestead nor the terminus of 18W02 At Pyramid. We were very close but no cigar. No matter though we gathered excellent intel for the second attempt and there will indeed be one. Perhaps I can beg a kind sole who has access to drop me at Hardluck. 

Jeff and I rode the 1.75 miles along the paved road from Frenchman's Flat (2095') to the Slide Mountain gate then proceeded to push our bikes the next 3.75 miles up to the Slide Mountain Lookout (4631'). After a brief visit we locked our bikes and set off afoot down the northwest ridge dropping approximately 1700 feet in elevation into Beartrap Canyon. The switchbacks leading down that once was is no longer. Forget about even attempting to try following that old trail. While we pushed through brush the entire time down the ridge it wasn't terrible. Being non old growth and mostly Chamise it's actually quite forgivable. 

 Looking back toward Slide Mountain

Surprising small flow in Beartrap Canyon

As you can see from the map above the old cut in red that once connected with the Bailey Trail took you about 0.3 of a mile downstream from where we dropped in after which gaining the western bank and bringing you right back,  just much higher up. We made the mistake of trying to follow this. In hindsight we should of just tried to climb it from there and push on toward the homestead but it looked steep and impenetrable. So with that we continued on downstream. All things considered we were moving along pretty good at first but just under a half mile to the lake progress came to a grinding halt. The canyon is chock-full of deadfall and poison oak. You know that couple hundred feet in an hour kind of pace. We didn't have the daylight for that. The realization quickly set in that we were not getting to the homestead nor the waters edge. Neither one of us had any interest in riding back down Slide Mountain in the dark. After acknowledging defeat we sat for a bite to eat adjacent the god awful black tubing that runs from the spring toward the lake. Yet another Beartrap littered with this shit. 

So close but yet so far.

And that's about where our day ended - N34° 38.872' W118° 47.301'

Pot Grow - N34° 38.816' W118° 47.319'

The Climb out.

Total mileage was around 15 but felt like twice that. My legs were torched from what was essentially climbing Slide Mountain two times in a day. For a novice mountain biker I will say that ride down was thrilling and totally worth dragging the bikes to the top. 

Slide Mountain

Slide Mountain Fire Lookout Tower

Looming above Pyramid Lake and the Piru Creek drainage sits Slide Mountain and it's infamous Fire Lookout Tower. The Tower was Built in 1969 as part of the Pyramid Reservoir Project. The 365 foot metal tower was positioned atop the mountain by helicopter and served the needs of the USFS for around a decade before being closed in the early 80's. Many of the Fire lookouts in the Angeles and Los Padres have been lost over the years to closures, budget cuts and natural disasters. Too see one still standing and in such pristine condition is a real treat. In 2003  It was was restored by ANFFLA   ( Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association ). Currently they are still looking for Volunteer Hikers to man the station. If your interested in applying and taking the course check out their website for further details. https://www.anffla.org/training/ 

Hikers Wanted

The Trailhead for Slide Mountain starts at Frenchman's flat the main gateway to access Piru creek and the closed road leading toward Pyramid dam. From the 5 Freeway heading north exit Templin Hwy, turn left to go under the bridge and make an immediate right onto old hwy 5. Continue along this road until it dead ends at the Frenchman's Flat camping area and the Locked white Gate. Park here (see picture below) along the road in the designated parking spaces and make sure you display your adventure pass, as the rangers often roll by and check. Parking is plentiful and restrooms are located just west of the parking area.

Frenchman's Flat Parking area

Trailhead Restrooms

The first 1.7 miles is along the paved Road. Frenchman's Flat was and still is a popular fishing and camping area. (Trout are no longer stocked here by DFG but the wild population is still semi okay). I believe up until sometime in the 80's you could drive past the white gate, however that is no longer an option. I'm not a huge fan of hiking asphalt so when here fishing or hiking I normally bring my bike and or scooter for anything along the paved section.

Opted for my scooter along the paved road

 Pass through the gate and follow the paved road along  Piru Creek toward the Dam. Fishing is allowed here with a valid California Fishing license. The season runs all year with a 5 trout limit, HOWEVER from Pyramid Dam downstream about 300 yards below the Lake to the bridge is closed all year to fishing. From the same bridge down to the falls (about a 1/2 mile above the old highway 99 bridge) Is a wild trout fishery and only artificial lures and barbless hooks may be used. There is a zero take limit. Below this point and all the way south to Lake Piru along the creek has no special regulations with a normal 5 trout limit.

As I mentioned above approximately 1.7 miles look to your left for another white locked gate leading west up the mountain this will be your route up to Slide Mtn(18w04). Here if you rode a bike you should probably lock it up to the gate post. I hid my scooter in the bushes nearby.

Leave payment and head up dirt track here

From here the path starts out a wide jeep trail and eventually narrows down to a single track. This section is well maintained and very easy to follow. It's about 3 and half (all uphill) miles to the top. With a fair amount of switchbacks. When traversing the west side of the mountain sections you will get some morning shade. Along the way up you will get some very nice views of Lake Pyramid, Cobblestone Mountain and a whole host of other surrounding mountain Peaks. At the top the views are even better. You get the an incredible perspective of the whole area with a commanding look down into the Piru Creek drainage all the way to lake Piru. 

Slide Mtn Fire Lookout

 Summit Register

Emergency Water Box

The tower is in great shape and you can climb the stairs to the top and take look around. The door to get inside is locked however the tower is wrapped in clear glass windows that give you a great view inside. There is a pit toilet outside, Summit register, water tank and even an emergency box filled with water bottles should you need some. Be careful reaching into the box as a big black widow spider lives inside guarding the water. I think next year I will take the class and return back for a night or 2 of volunteering. 

A look at the kitchen

The bed and desk

 Pit Toilet and Water Tank

Pyramid Lake and Chumash Island

My favorite site was the view of Pyramid Lake and Chumash Island. (I wonder why it got that name). I get the sense that they found a lot of Chumash artifacts or other evidence here before they filled in the lake with water. Never to be seen again what was once below. 

Looking South Down onto the Piru Creek Drainage

View of Cobblestone Mountain

The temps were blazing today by 10am it was already in the mid 90's. My original plan was to hit Slide Mtn and then descend back down to do some fishing in Piru Creek. I need to test out my new Tenkara USA Rod before my trip in a few weeks back into the golden Trout Wilderness. This time come hell or high water I'm catching me that damn elusive Golden Trout.

Rhodo Tenkara Rod and Flies

Due to the high temps I couldn't fish very long, I had my dog with me and I did not want her out in those conditions. Oh well still another great day in the Angeles National Forest. My total mileage for the day out and back was 10.9 with about 2400 feet of elevation gain. 

Download GPS Track (GPS Units)

Download KMZ file (Google Earth)