Cherry Creek Campground South Los Padres National Forest

Camp Type: Car Campground - No Reservations, first-come, first-serve walk-in campground
Topo Map Link: Cuddy Valley
Elevation: 5200 feet
Wilderness Area: Non Wilderness Area
County: Kern County
Ranger District: Mt. Pinos Ranger District
Longitude: -119.0385488
Latitude: 34.85358958
Length of Stay: 14 Days
Reservations: Car Campground - No Reservations, Walk In

Recent Water Reports:

Date	Surveyor	Water Report
08-02-2021	Oh Three	Flowing
03-07-2021	Oh Three	Flowing

Photo By: Oh Three - Website Link

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Description:

Located above Cuddy Valley near Frazier Park in the Mt. Pinos Area, this is a car camp located at the end of Chery Creek Road (20W20) which should only be used by four wheel drive capable vehicles.

Recent Uploads:

Photo By: Oh Three - Website Link

Survey Photos:

Oh Three - 03-07-2021
Cherry Creek CG Sign
Oh Three - 03-07-2021
Cherry Creek CG Water Trough
Oh Three - 03-07-2021
OHV Tow Truck (Cherry Creek Trail)
Oh Three - 08-02-2021
Cherry Creek CG 080121
Oh Three - 08-02-2021
Cherry Creek Bear Prints 080121

Submitted Camp Reports

Cherry Creek Campground Survey - 08-02-2021 - by Oh Three

Link:	Cherry Creek Campground
Date:	08-02-2021
Surveyor Name:	Oh Three
Camp Description:	As Christopher Lord observed, on his recent adventure in Pleito Creek, the drainage just west of Salt and Cherry Creeks, if you're hiking Los Padres in the summer, you are wishing there were fewer people at the higher cooler elevations, especially those few sites that still have water. Well, Cherry Creek is one of those few sites. The trail ranges from 6,400' to 4,200'. The CG is 5,400'. It has water. The water trough is still flowing like the tap at home. And no people. On my last trip two groups of motorcycle yahoos passed me, this trip - nobody. .I did share the OHV guerrilla trail north of Cherry Creek CG down towards the junction with the Salt Creek road with a bear who was just ahead of me. I saw constant bear foot prints, fresh bear poop, but no bear, which is fine by me in a narrow steep ravine. For the Scout leaders amongst us, if you want a teachable moment for your boys to learn the difference between V's and U's pointing downhill on a topo map, this hike is for you! The eponymous cherries are down in the flats near the junction with the Salt Creek road. Remember, all three of these trails, Pleito, Salt, and Cherry Creeks are REVERSE profile trails. You're not coasting downhill to your car at the end of day 2, you're climbing steeply back uphill.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Water Trough is still awesome
Weather Conditions:	58 at night, 85 daytime. Very nice for August.
Images:	Cherry Creek CG 080121 Cherry Creek Bear Prints 080121

Cherry Creek Campground Survey - 03-07-2021 - by Oh Three

Link:	Cherry Creek Campground
Date:	03-07-2021
Surveyor Name:	Oh Three
Camp Description:	Forest Service Road 9N22 is on Cuddy Valley Road 11.0 miles from I-5 Frazier Park exit. Hike a little over 1 mile and 500 feet elevation up to the Tecuya Ridge Road sign. 6,200 elevation. Turn right (east), ignore all the gypsy roads, and hike to Cherry Creek Trailhead. Yes, I saw a OHV tow truck way back in the wilderness. $$$. Cherry Creek Trail is a STEEP descent into is a north drainage leading ultimately into Wind Wolves Preserve. Cherry Creek Trail is 20W14 and OHV Trail 113. I buy OHV trail maps (CTUC, etc) because OHV trails make great winter hikes when motorbikes are nominally banned. Cherry Creek CG has two sites each with picnic table and metal firepit. The east site is up on a slope like the roof of a house, so maybe not too usable. Water was flowing nicely from the hose into the trough. Hopefully water will continue after the snow has melted. The map says the road stops at the CG, but motorbikes have carved a very nice use trail downstream (north) to Salt Creek Road, which allows an awesome loop, going down Cherry Creek and coming up Salt Creek Road back to Tecuya Ridge. Tecuya Ridge is 6,200, Cherry Creek CG is 5,400, and the intersection with Salt Creek is 4280, so there is some elevation to negotiate.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Water Trough is Flowing Nicely
Weather Conditions:	Clouds and brisk day, freezing at night
Images:	Cherry Creek CG Sign Cherry Creek CG Water Trough OHV Tow Truck (Cherry Creek Trail)