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Slough Creek or Pebble Creek Trails

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 1:57 pm
by napid79
I've narrowed my backpacking trips with my 9 year-old son to either Slough Creek or Pebble Creek. Both seem to offer scenic camping locations, fishing, and opportunity for wildlife. Any opinions on which trail would be better? I'm thinking we will also take a day to head up to Bliss Pass, so that may factor in what some of you have to say about which route in. Thanks.

Re: Slough Creek or Pebble Creek Trails

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 4:35 pm
by RikWriter
I've only ever hiked on Slough Creek but I can tell you it was absolutely beautiful. Didn't see any wildlife though.

Re: Slough Creek or Pebble Creek Trails

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 12:52 pm
by Max
I've also only hiked Slough, but I found most of the trail pretty monotonous. After you get through the wooded section in the first mile or so, it opens up into meadows surrounding the creek... and just continues like that. It did a good eight miles out, and the scenery barely changed. The trail you're on is literally a wagon road, since a ranch outside the park boundary uses it for access.

It is a popular fishing spot, and since that's on your agenda it shouldn't be discounted, but in terms of pure hiking I didn't think there was much variety once you hit the open spaces. And like Rick, I barely saw any wildlife.

Max

Re: Slough Creek or Pebble Creek Trails

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 7:42 am
by utdan123
I figured I would jump in. I have never hiked Slough Creek but have hiked Pebble Creek twice. I really like Pebble Creek and have always thought it would be a great place to backpack. The two times I have done Pebble Creek I saw two other people. The thing with Pebble Creek if you are doing the whole length it is a shuttle where from what I know Slough Creek is an out and back. I didn't see any wildlife on the Pebble Creek hike but saw plenty of signs of wildlife.

Re: Slough Creek or Pebble Creek Trails

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 11:41 am
by napid79
This is super helpful, folks. Thanks. I found a video on YouTube of a guy who videoed the hikes and the monotony of Slough Creek definitely stood out. Pebble Creek seems like a great option. I'm thinking we would take a day to head up Bliss Pass as well. We're gonna be in the park for a week, so we can get some fishing in at others times and other places.

As for the shuttle, since it is going to be just me and my nine-year old son I won't be able to leave a car at the other end of the trail. Is there a lot of traffic in that neck of the park so that we could hitch hike or grab a ride from a park staffer? Or would it be better to do it as in out and back?

Re: Slough Creek or Pebble Creek Trails

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 11:44 am
by Max
utdan123 wrote:
Mon Jan 28, 2019 7:42 am
I figured I would jump in. I have never hiked Slough Creek but have hiked Pebble Creek twice. I really like Pebble Creek and have always thought it would be a great place to backpack. The two times I have done Pebble Creek I saw two other people. The thing with Pebble Creek if you are doing the whole length it is a shuttle where from what I know Slough Creek is an out and back. I didn't see any wildlife on the Pebble Creek hike but saw plenty of signs of wildlife.
I picked up a hiker a couple years ago who was part of a group that did the trail, and shuttled him back to his car. They started at the Warm Creek lot near the NE gate, and hiked up and over to emerge down at the PC trailhead. Not sure if this is the same thing you did, Dan. They actually saw otters sliding in the snow during the hike, which must've been pretty cool.

Regarding the most recent question about the shuttle from Napid: there are a fair number of people driving up to the NE and back, though it's not super crowded. Hopefully you could find someone to shuttle you back. Otherwise, you may want to plan ahead and see if you can find anyone beforehand who's willing to meet you at a pre-scheduled time.

Max