Gidney Ridge Hike

This is a great hike! And you can do a shortened version -- kind of make an extension on to the Forbush Flats hike, by doing the last part of the hike description in reverse. But...

You Will Get Lost!

There, now you have been warned. I have NEVER done this hike without getting a little bit lost. If you don't like getting lost, then don't go on the hike. You will be very far from help, probably out of range of a phone call to 911, and besides, you don't want the forest service to find out about this trail anyway. Not only will you be in a deep canyon that might make a call difficult, you will be in a deep canyon which means the only way out is up. Straight up. If you think you are a little out of shape, or if you have bad knees or whatever, don't go. And for Christ's sake don't go if you don't plan to bring at the VERY least 2 liters of water--make that a gallon if it's hot. At the LEAST!

This may be only a 7 mile hike, but it has brought the best of the best to their knees. I've never done this hike without being really sore for a couple of days later.

OK, now that you have been warned...

Forbush Flat and Gidney Ridge Updates

Update trail conditions

Posted: July 15, 2011, 11:37 pm
by: TheBeeman

Forbush is one of the closest campsites for a quick overnight trip. My hiking friend, Rik, and I often jet over there to test backpacking gear and cure severe cases of NDD = Nature Deficit Disorder.

To drive from downtown SB to Cold Springs Saddle and then hike down to Forbush takes about 75 minutes.

The Bulkley Spring continues to flow, a record in our books.

The trail is in excellent condition. Someone has brushed the trail to within 1/2 mile of the camp. A good amount of water flows through the camp in the Gidney Creek. There are two shovels and a McCleod to help keep the camp and fire pits clean. The tables need a bit of repair to cure a case of dry rot.

I have posted a video of a recent trip to the camp here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXBdo8Vfcuo

Get outdoors and hike to Forbush for an overnight backcountry experience!

Posted: April 13, 2011, 12:16 am
by: rileySB

Did the short 2 mile hike down to Forbush Flats from E Camino Cielo. Trail is in excellent condition, looks as if there was trail clearing within the last few months as there is a lot of cut debris off the sides of the trail. Followed the well maintained trail as it weaved its way down to Gidney Creek. The campsite is in excellent condition (apparently there are two as there was another small group camping there) and there is some water in the creek. On the way down, it is deceivingly loud but at the bottom there is running water, just not a lot. Lots of wildflowers in bloom along the way and it appears the old apple trees are blooming as well. Found a few ticks on my clothes (one also bit me) and a few on the dog so wear repellent. Was originally planning to drive down to the end of ECC but the gate is closed at the Divide Peak trail head Apparently the SY River is still full! Great views of the backcountry including the full Gibralter complete with runoff over the dam and Jameson lake in the distance. Temperature was mild in the 60s but in the shade it feels much cooler.

Posted: March 20, 2011, 2:37 pm
by: palisades

Hiked up San Ysidro to Cielo then down to Forbush on Saint Patrick's Day just for a solo one nighter. Weather was beautiful, not too hot, and no ticks. The meadow was crisp and clean, looks like they cleared some oak up by the first camp-makes for good firewood. Someone left a huge water jug at the first camp, it's so big it'll probably be there for a while. Saw a rattler as I was heading down to Forbush, and then later saw a different snake swiming in a small gorge closer to the camp. Wild flowers were blooming, very special.

Posted: November 9, 2010, 1:56 pm
by: goodlander

Did a little overnight on friday and saturday (5th and 6th), leaving at around 6:30pm. While it was getting dark, I noticed that the sections just past Bulkley Spring that were pretty overgrown a few weeks back were cleared out a bit.

Other than that, not much to report trail condition-wise, other than lots and lots of ticks out right now. I didn't notice them on the way down since it was getting too dark to see the little specks on the grass. I ended up having to pick one out of me at 5:30am the following morning after feeling a sore spot on my side. I was picking them off me left and right on the way out.

It was a beautiful morning with the clouds pouring/swirling over the ridge. Great little getaway for the night.

Posted: September 21, 2010, 2:02 pm
by: Cross Tie Walker

Dropped into Forbush from Cold Spring Saddle yesterday (Monday, 9/20/10) afternoon. Bulkley Spring is bone-dry, but still a cool and well-shaded spot to let the mutt cool off a bit. Past the spring there are a few spots on the trail that are a bit grown-in, but nothing serious. The pears at Forbush camp are coming in, and there's just enough water in Gidney Creek across from the lower camp to pull water.

Some clowns had broken off some branches from the madrone just off from the upper camp for firewood, but otherwise both sites were in pretty good shape.

Some pics at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/umotamba/sets/72157624881437581/

[img]
Low-hanging Fruit[/img]

Posted: July 7, 2010, 10:41 am
by: santiar

Trail is in good condition, easy to follow. It's a bit overgrown in several spots so I'd advise wearing pants (and maybe long sleeves). There is enough water in the creek by the campsite to refill bottles with filters. Watch your step for the poison oak near the creek though. Nice hike if you want to change it up and go downhill first, then uphill to finish. I felt like I was cheating driving all the way up Gibralter road though.

Posted: March 15, 2010, 2:47 pm
by: carp_nb

Hiked down to Forbush Flats on Saturday morning as part of a longer loop hike. The trail is in excellent condition. There's a few scattered patches of wildflowers along the trail right now. The campsites looked to be tidy and well-maintained at the moment and there's plenty of water in Gidney Creek.

Good times.

Posted: January 17, 2010, 9:26 pm
by: TheBeeman

Joined by Rik, a fellow Volunteer Wilderness Ranger (VWR), I wanted to get a quick trip to Forbush before the punch of the first major rainstorm.

Forbush Camp has been one of my favorite overnight destinations for many years, and a special place in my life: I proposed to my wife at the Forbush Meadow 32 years ago.

It is an ideal location for a quick 24 hour weekend trip to practice “ecotherapy” and get away from the trials and tribulations of modern civilization. It is also a great place to test gear. Figure about an hour to travel from the main Santa Barbara Post Office to arrive at the camp.

The trail is in good condition. I cleared a number of the waterbars with a USFS shovel that I left at the camp to replace the one that had walked off.

Rik and I stayed Saturday night at the lower campsite; this campsite always offers a nice view of the meadow. The lower fire pit was in shambles so I dug out the ashes, reorganized the ring of rocks and reset the stove. We celebrated with a nice fire.

Both tables need repair; that will be a future project.

On the way out the following day, we checked the Bulkley Spring and hope that it is rejuvenated with the upcoming rains. We arrived back in SB just as the first few rain drops began to fall.

Pictures of previous Forbush trips:

http://picasaweb.google.com/beemancron/24HourForbushHikes#

Happy Trails.

Posted: April 28, 2009, 8:23 pm
by: morganmullin

My girlfriend, our three dogs, my father's dog, and I hiked into Forbush over Spring Break. The road up was clear(ignore closed signs on side of road) and much of the burnt vegetation has grown back. The trail was in excellent shape. No water in trough at 1/4 mile marker or on any crossings on trail. The campsite had recently been "groomed" we assume by Sierra Club or CCS. GREAT JOB! THANK YOU! Water was flowing lightly but was murky, and some shallow pools to filter from. On the way in my hottie rolled her ankle. It changed color and blew up like a softball. I was worried by her pain and the look that it was broken. To make long story short I ended up getting SB Search & Rescue to come in and chopper her out. I wanted to share that part so I can share important info for others about Forbush.
1. NO CELL COVERAGE AT ANYWHERE IN VALLEY OR ON TRAIL JUST AT CAR
2. SB Search & Rescue, SB Fire, SB Sheriffs, Ventura Fire are AWESOME!!!!
3. Large powerful helicopters(i.e. there "Big Ship" can land in meadow)
4. Walkie talkies work from campsites to road

Posted: March 6, 2009, 12:59 pm
by: natandmia2

My dog and I hiked the trail to Forbush Flat a couple of days ago. It was our first time down in this area and it was beautiful! The campsites are in an awesome location at the flats where everything is just gorgeous and green, with a nice steady flow in the stream. The trail was in great condition the whole way down but lots and lots of ticks! which I've learned never to underestimate in Santa Barbara. I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the campsites were kept and cant wait to go back and overnite it!