Manzana Schoolhouse and Dabney Cabin

Manzana Schoolhouse is an old schoolhouse last used around 1901 when there was a community of religious people living in the area. They once farmed along the Sisquoc River but several years of drought caused them to sell their land to the US Forest Service. The schoolhouse has been abandoned since then and ruins of their old homesteads can be found along the Sisquoc River. Dabney Cabin is an old hunting lodge from near the turn of the century and is a county historical landmark. The Manzana Schoolhouse makes a nice backpacking destination. There is a primitive campground there with picnic tables and a privy.

The trail is strenuous only because it is long and involves many river crossings that will get your feet wet. But the trail itself is quite level.

You hike in the San Rafael Wilderness area where the terrain is remote and wild. The vegetation is sparse, but in the creekbed it is riparian and relatively lush and cool. In spring there are many wildflowers.

It is 14 miles round trip to Dabney Cabin.

It is 17 miles round trip to the schoolhouse.

You will need an Adventure Pass to park at the trailhead.

Manzana Narrows/Whiteledge Updates

Update trail conditions

Posted: January 1, 2012, 8:47 pm
by: bako_bob

My 13 year old son and I have made a few backpack trips with our boy scout troop (Troop 188) and decided we wanted to try going it alone. I researched hikes for Christmas vacation and, thanks to this website, found the Manzana Schoolhouse Trail. Having had foot surgery in May, I also looked for something relatively easy. We went in from the trailhead on Wednesday 12/28 and hiked to Coldwater where we set up base camp. On Thursday we day-hiked toward the schoolhouse but got just past the junction, short of Dabney's Cabin. We didn't bring our water shoes on the day hike, so we were stopped by a creek crossing we couldn't do by rock-hopping. Ate lunch, and returned to Coldwater for the second night. Hiked out on Friday. The trail seemed to be in very good condition. Saw a lot of bear tracks and skat on the trail. Except for one day hiker coming out as we went in, and two groups coming in on Friday as we got near the trailhead, we didn't see another soul the whole trip! It was very peaceful and I'm sure we'll be back.

Posted: November 6, 2011, 4:11 pm
by: morros_man

USFS ranger confirmed, after inspecting the carcass, that the deer had been shot. He said he will ask Fish & Game to monitor this area next year.

Posted: November 3, 2011, 9:03 am
by: morros_man

Having just looked at Steve's pictures of his hike thru BCS a couple of weeks ago, I think I may have only come across the lower BCS campsite. He paints a cheerier BCS picture. And I realize that one man's "overused site" is another person's "perfectly homey." Fish Camp is overused, obviously, and so may be the unnamed (horse?) camp east of there and also Manzana Camp. My criteria for overuse are hammered bare earth; small bits of trash; overflowing fire rings; extensive use trails in and out of the site. But in that regard, the Narrows is an exception. It's big enough to take a lot of traffic without undue wear. Still, the banks down to the creek are looking skinned from all the traffic. The people who make it as far as the Narrows probably have a better wilderness ethic than those who settle for Fish.

Posted: November 2, 2011, 11:46 pm
by: morros_man

Today I'm back from 3 days and nights (Oct. 30 to Nov. 2) in the Manzana drainage. Had rather unexpected heat, and one nite some violent sundowner winds. I saw no one until the way out today. Deep blue sky and the strongly angled light of fall really brings out the beauty of this rugged country.

Plus the early rain we had a few weeks back has kicked things toward spring in the upper reaches of Manzana canyon. Yesterday from my base at the Narrows I did a morning hike up and back to Big Cone Spruce. These are actually big-cone Douglas fir trees, and appear in small stands during the last mile, their bark blackened by the Zaca fire but the trees showing no damage whatsoever. Everything else, but for the sycamores, is pretty much starting over. Nice little whitethorn ceanothus popping back up. As for the early wildflowers, I saw a checkerbloom and a blue witch in flower. Let's see if they can last until the real rains. The trail is understandably a bit rough getting in and out of the crossings, but as someone mentioned, fine work laying stones and ducks was done in the recent past by a CCC crew. The vegetation is coming back fast, however, and presses in for most of the way, and will need touching up soon. Poison oak is not bad.

Big Cone Spruce itself was a bit of a disappointment to me. The campsite isn't used enough, a strange thing to say considering the overuse that plagues the main Manzana sites. We need a troop of Eagle Scouts to
gather the firewood, get rid of the saplings screening the swimming hole, etc., and give the place a more homey feeling. BCS felt a little lost and sad to me. Maybe I'm partial to places with views. A big randy buck was patrolling the grassy clearings near the camp site; he wasn't spooked by another solo male.

So by noon I was back at the Narrows. The best part of the trip was to hike in the great soaring amphitheater between Manzana and Whiteledge, which must at some point been a playground of the gods. Alcove Falls, though I didn't go up, I could see was dry.

After lunch (Tuesday) I decided to shove off. I stopped at the unnamed and overused spot near the creek about two miles east of Fish Camp, right before you go up on the escarpment. (The place looks like it's favored by horse parties. This morning I picked up some badly buried toilet paper.) In the warm afternoon I had a nice dunking in the creek. Since night comes early and the cold comes later, I sipped whiskey in the dark, until a bashful moon arose through the sycamores and called me to bed.

Now for the weird part. Hiking to Fish Camp in late morning (today, Nov. 2), I heard gunfire. I yelled and heard "Clear" yelled back, signaling it was safe to come ahead. Two kids, 19 or 20 years old, were hurriedly putting on their packs, the firearms stowed away. They told me it was legal to shoot back here, and I didn't think it smart to argue with them. They took off, leaving their breakfast bits on the table and Bailey's Irish Cream glasses suspended in the brush (evidently their shooting targets). If I could have kept up with them, I would have taken their license plate number at Nira, but they went too fast.

About a mile west of Fish, there was a fresh deer carcass on the trail. An animal, probably a cougar, had gutted it completely, but there was no extraneous blood or marks on the deer. That, plus the fact of its being right on the trail, made me suspect that the two yahoos had shot it the night before, and that it had been scavenged. That's what I reported to the USFS ranger today, in any event. It made for a rude ending to to my trip. When you make a road into the wilderness, the road end is going to invite both good and bad.

Posted: October 19, 2011, 10:16 pm
by: kfox527

Over 3 days 10/16 - 10/18 my wife and I hiked a short loop on the edge of the San Rafael.
Nira -> Manzana Narrows -> McKinley Spring -> Cachuma Saddle.

We had warm but gorgeous weather with some flies but not too bad especially in the evenings. The trail up the Manzana is in great shape. From the narrows to Big Cone Spruce was a bit brushy, and had a lot of Poison Oak, but still in pretty good shape. From BCS to McKinley road was very clear but STEEP!! Reminiscent of the Jackson trail I was on last spring. The water tank(s) are full @ the camp with lots of bear scat on the road. The McKinley Road is in great shape but the lower water tank (With the Picnic table on the left side of the road about 3.5 miles up) was totally empty. Made for a dry last few miles.

All in all a wonderful trip. Only saw a few day hikers just off the road on Sunday. Other than that we had it all to ourselves!

-Kfox

Posted: September 18, 2011, 11:34 pm
by: marco787

Returned today from a 3 day hike,Nira Campground to Manzana Narrows. It was a beautiful hot weekend, clear skies. All the campsites up to Narrows were vacant, but there were 3 different groups camping at the Narrows. Conditions were dry, no fire allowed, LOTS OF FLIES! Besides the dry heat and the flies had a wonderful time. Once the sun goes down flies are gone and the stars are clear. Creek hopped from Manzana Narrows back down and found some fun little swimming holes. Lots of fish but too small to fish.

Posted: September 6, 2011, 12:07 pm
by: RyanTeehaa

A group of 9 backpacked to Manzana School House on Saturday, Sep 3rd. Temperature was in 90s around 11 am. There were plenty of water in Manzana Creek.

We got to the School house around 4:30 pm. Sisquoc River was mostly dry with a few shallow pools of water here and there. Water quality there wasn't as good as as Manzana Creek.

A wildfire broke out 3 miles west of the school house and the whole river basin was covered with ash and smoke. Fire appeared to be fully contained by Sunday.

We also attempted to hike up to Hurricane Deck through Potero Canyon Trail and got half way. Vegetation was sparse and temperature was in high 90s. After hiking for half and hour the German Shepheard (Apollo) decided it was too hot for him so we turn around and spend the rest of the day by the creek.

Overall, it was a very adventurous backpacking trip.

The group spent Saturday night in a canyon a few miles from the school house and Sunday night at Coldwater Campground and returned to the trail head on Monday.

Posted: August 4, 2011, 6:55 pm
by: shoefly4

Just returned from Manzana narrows camp. NOT the school camp.

Hard to believe in Aug, there is still so much water flowing. Having the camp all to myself (monday 8-1-11) it was a special treat. The duel waterfall and swimming hole made it a magical visit. 7 miles in from Nira with some up and down climbing back into the canyon. The further back you hike, the better it gets.

Once you past the manzana camp, its another 15-20 min hike back with more water crossing. All the crossings you can stay dry. Recently stayed at the manzana camp, but found the manzana narrows camp much better. Yes there is a toilet at the narrows. Big bonus.

Its a bit buggie this time of year but still worth the hike back. I departed at 5:30am (headlamp) and returned to Nira at 8. Back in the valley at 9.

happy trails

Posted: June 30, 2011, 6:19 pm
by: shoefly4

Just returned from a overnight stay at the manzana school camp. (6-30-2011)

Very flat hike to the school. Trail is easily followed but be forwarned of MANY water crossings. Posted sign from Nira says 10 miles... sign posted at school says 8. Felt like 8 to me. Returned this morning, leaving 5:45am and getting to Nira at 9. Wore my Water shoes the whole way rather then rock hopping. On my way in, I quit rock hoping when the dirt road starts. In my opinion, its easier to just walk through ALL the crossings... there are probably 30 or more crossings.

There is a large tree down crossing the road about 1 mile from the school. Im sure it will be clear for this weekend. Had the whole camp ground to myself last night. Still plenty of water, getting a bit buggie. I did scout the trail up to Hurricane deck from the school and found it almost impossible to find. Very overgrown and stickers everywhere !.

There is water the whole way there, and really not that difficult... just be prepared to hike at least 3-4 hours to get back there. Well worth the effort.

Happy trails

Posted: June 30, 2011, 6:17 pm
by: shoefly4

Just returned from a overnight stay at the manzana school camp. (6-30-2011)

Very flat hike to the school. Trail is easily followed but be forwarned of MANY water crossings. Posted sign from Nira says 10 miles... sign posted at school says 8. Felt like 8 to me. Returned this morning, leaving 5:45am and getting to Nira at 9. Wore my Water shoes the whole way rather then rock hopping. On my way in, I quit rock hoping when the dirt road starts. In my opinion, its easier to just walk through ALL the crossings... there are probably 30 or more crossings.

There is a large tree down crossing the road about 1 mile from the school. Im sure it will be clear for this weekend. Had the whole camp ground to myself last night. Still plenty of water, getting a bit buggie. I did scout the trail up to Hurricane deck from the school and found it almost impossible to find. Very overgrown and stickers everywhere !.

There is water the whole way there, and really not that difficult... just be prepared to hike at least 3-4 hours to get back there. Well worth the effort.

Happy trails