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Upper Cruickshank Camp North Los Padres National Forest

  • Camp Type: Wilderness Trail Camp
  • Topo Map Link: Villa Creek
  • Elevation: 1450 feet
  • Wilderness Area: Silver Peak
  • County: Monterey County
  • Ranger District: Monterey Ranger District
  • Longitude: -121.3841023
  • Latitude: 35.85677778
  • Water Sources: An unpiped spring is located about 100ft down the Buckeye Trail toward Villa Creek Camp. It has year-round water but is reduced to a trickle in the driest months.
  • Length of Stay: 14 Days
  • Reservations: Wilderness Trail Camp

Recent Water Reports:

Date Surveyor Water Report
11-02-2023JustinFlowing
09-24-2023Laura Clay Flowing
06-04-2023Richard GoedekenFlowing
11-25-2022Addison JerlowFlowing
12-03-2021Jared PulleyFlowing
10-09-2021Dan TischlerTrickle
07-26-2021Wesley van den EikhofTrickle
04-30-2021Tim KFlowing
04-27-2019Everett AmburnFlowing
11-15-2017Anonymous SurveyorTrickle
Photo: Addison Jerlow
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Survey This Camp

Description:

This small trail camp is located at the junction of the Buckeye and Cruikshank Trails in the Silver Peak Wilderness. The camp contains a picnic table and fire pit, with room for one or two tents. Dayhikers will often pass through camp as it is only a little over two miles down the Cruikshank Trail to its trailhead on Highway 1. Overflow sites with more privacy are available in the meadow south of camp before the junction of the Upper Cruikshank and Buckeye Trails.

Survey Photos:


  • Jared Pulley - 12-03-2021

Submitted Camp Reports

Upper Cruickshank Camp Survey - 11-02-2023 - by Justin
Link: Upper Cruickshank Camp
Date: 11-02-2023
Surveyor Name:Justin
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Upper Cruickshank Camp Survey - 09-24-2023 - by Laura Clay
Link: Upper Cruickshank Camp
Date: 09-24-2023
Surveyor Name:Laura Clay
Camp Description:Picnic table is wobbly, but good flat site fitting one tent maybe 2
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:50 ft towards villa creek, flowing off of tree
Weather Conditions:
Upper Cruickshank Camp Survey - 06-04-2023 - by Richard Goedeken
Link: Upper Cruickshank Camp
Date: 06-04-2023
Surveyor Name:Richard Goedeken
Camp Description:We managed to squeeze 5 tents in this site. It is relatively flat and conveniently located. Several days hikers and backpackers came though during the 1.5 days we stayed here. The Cruickshank trail from Hwy-1 to the lower camp was heavily overgrown and required plowing through head-high vegetation in several areas. Sections of the trail are narrow and perched on the edge of a steep drop-off, with vegetation from the adjacent hillside pushing hikers towards the edge, so you need to fight the plants and the off-camber trail to stay on the narrow dirt bed. There is poison oak growing in many areas along the Cruickshank trail. We saw numerous ticks on our clothing during the trip, and one person in our group of 7 did get bitten by a tick.
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Water was clear and flowing quickly in small waterflow over tree roots, but I did get lots of silt in my water filter.
Weather Conditions:Mild and cool, low 46, high 65. Misty in morning, clear in afternoon.
Upper Cruickshank Camp Survey - 11-25-2022 - by Addison Jerlow
Link: Upper Cruickshank Camp
Date: 11-25-2022
Surveyor Name:Addison Jerlow
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Small but fillable trickle in spring on Buckeye Trail just beyond camp
Weather Conditions:low 70s, high 40s
Upper Cruickshank Camp Survey - 12-03-2021 - by Jared Pulley
Link: Upper Cruickshank Camp
Date: 12-03-2021
Surveyor Name:Jared Pulley
Camp Description:Camp in good condition; water source is north on Buckeye Trail towards Villa Creek, close by.
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Decent Flow
Weather Conditions:Partly Cloudy, 50s
Images:

Upper Cruickshank Camp Survey - 10-09-2021 - by Dan Tischler
Link: Upper Cruickshank Camp
Date: 10-09-2021
Surveyor Name:Dan Tischler
Camp Description:
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:Healthy trickle flowing next to camp, and plenty of water in Villa creek.
Weather Conditions:
Upper Cruickshank Camp Survey - 07-26-2021 - by Wesley van den Eikhof
Link: Upper Cruickshank Camp
Date: 07-26-2021
Surveyor Name:Wesley van den Eikhof
Camp Description:Small site. If you have a large group, head up the path and set up in the large meadow. NO FIRES
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:Small trickle out of the bottom of a large tree. Delicious.
Weather Conditions:Cloudy, high 70s
Upper Cruickshank Camp Survey - 04-30-2021 - by Tim K
Link: Upper Cruickshank Camp
Date: 04-30-2021
Surveyor Name:Tim K
Camp Description:There's room for one tent, two if you are traveling in a small group and know each other; one table present. Great fire pit with logs nearby to sit around. Great site! (BRING BUG SPRAY!)
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:There is a small creek with a trickle a stone's throw from the camp, which take a while to gather, but just down the hill at Villa Creek there is a TON of deep, flowing water.
Weather Conditions:Mild, cooler overnight temperatures.
Upper Cruickshank Camp Survey - 04-27-2019 - by Everett Amburn
Link: Upper Cruickshank Camp
Date: 04-27-2019
Surveyor Name:Everett Amburn
Camp Description:The camp is a bit overgrown and only had room for one tent, perhaps two, but that would be pushing it. Had a good fire ring. Also, there was a water source down the trail to Villa Creek camp, but I can see it drying up in the summer. Someone may have to go down to Lower Cruickshank Camp for water.
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Small
Weather Conditions:Sunny, cloudy, 40-60 degrees
Upper Cruickshank Camp Survey - 11-15-2017 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Upper Cruickshank Camp
Date: 11-15-2017
Surveyor Name:Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:I did not see a water source, there likely is one as these camps were normally built near water. The camp is a fine camp. There is an old wrecked corral with barb wire, cleaning that use would be a good thing.
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:I did not see a water source, I had to click on a button, so clicked on trickle.
Weather Conditions:

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Last Updated: Tuesday, November 29, 2022

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