Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2008: Bikepacking in Henry Coe State Park / Day 2: Central Henry Coe day hike from Pacheco Camp, including Willow Ridge Road, Walsh Trail and Pacheco Ridge Road 54
I decide to stay camped at Pacheco Camp and do an afternoon hiking loop over White Tank Spring Trail, Willow Ridge Road, Center Flats Road, Walsh Trail and Pacheco Ridge Road.
I leave camp before 13h and return before 19h. 12.5 hiking miles with 2250 feet elevation gain (not including rollers).
Noon sunshine at Pacheco Camp with my tent hiding under the big oak tree on the left
The old cabin at Pacheco Camp is well-maintained, locked and used by the Park for special events
The metal fire pit near Pacheco Camp cabin sports an appropriate message for the hot-and-dry season
The thermometer on the shady side of the shower building shows 80 degrees F
The Pacheco Spring tub is full of fresh water (and a few yellowjackets)
The old outhouse at Pacheco Camp (no longer used) sits near the more recent concrete outhouse a bit up the hill
I finally start today's hike, first up White Tank Spring Trail, and pass this dormant hillside gooseberry (ribes californicum)
White Tank Spring, Henry Coe State Park
White Tank Spring, Henry Coe State Park
Above Pacheco Camp, White Tank Spring Trail passes through a ceanothus grove before rising into a drier, more exposed area
Fluffy clematis post-flower seed heads along White Tank Spring Trail, Henry Coe State Park
View of damage from last year's brush fire from White Tank Spring Trail, Henry Coe State Park
View back toward Pacheco Camp from a ridgetop on White Tank Spring Trail
The top of White Tank Spring Trail crosses Hoover Lake Trail, an open area that was once an airplane-landing strip
After White Rock Spring Trail, I walk south along the ridgetop on Willow Ridge Road
A couple of minutes later, and further south on Willow Ridge Road, I have a nice view down to Coit Lake
After almost two miles on Willow Ridge Road, I reach the junction with Coit Road
I'm enjoying the view down Coit Road from Willow Ridge here, toward Kelly Lake and Wasno Ridge beyond
Crest Trail rises a bit more, eventually reaching approximately 2600 feet elevation
Near the top of Crest Trail is a transmission tower of some sort
After Crest Trail, I hike down Wagon Road 3/4 mile to reach Center Flats Road
Despite the name that suggests flatness, Center Flats Road looks like all downs and ups from here
One of several steep stretches along Center Flats Road, Henry Coe State Park
Well... part of the Center Flats Road ahead is somewhat flat
OK, but this "little" hill on Center Flat Road is definitely not flat!
This segment of Center Flats Road looks like a little landing strip on top of a hill
More Center Flats Road
After 2.4 miles on Center Flats Road, and only 300 feet overall elevation drop, I begin the steep hike down Walsh Trail
Wild berries (chokecherries?) on the way down Walsh Trail
Walsh Trail descends quickly into the Pacheco Creek canyon
Close-up of Walsh Trail rising up the hill on the other side of the canyon
Getting close to the bottom of Walsh Trail
At the bottom of Walsh Trail near Pacheco Creek are some ruins of an old building
This intact shed also sits at the bottom of Walsh Trail by Pacheco Creek
Walsh Trail crosses the dry Pacheco Creek stream bed here
I almost didn't see this skull camouflaged in the grass along Pacheco Creek
At first, I find myself climbing up through a very burnt landscape looking for the trail
I haven't climbed much yet, but I'm already way above Pacheco Creek
Ah, here's the trail!
I stop briefly to catch my breath on this rather heart-pounding climb
Almost at the top of Walsh Trail
I take a short break at the top of Walsh Trail, look back down, and drink a lot of water
Starting the two-mile hike up Pacheco Ridge Road
I snap several shots of Walsh Peak as I hike up Pacheco Ridge Road
Pacheco Ridge Road is a classic Henry Coe roller-coaster-ridge road with uphills in both directions
Higher up Pacheco Ridge Road, I look back toward Walsh Peak again
At the top of this part of Pacheco Ridge, the road winds to the right around the lush green knob ahead and through a shady area
I walk down the switchbacks of Coit Road for 3/4 mile to get back to my tent at Pacheco Camp
And voilà, here I am back at Pacheco Camp, 5.5 hours later
My tent and bicycle are here waiting for me at Pacheco Camp
I walk around Pacheco Camp a bit and see an artifact that I hadn't noticed before
It's certainly cooler down here in the canyon than it was up on the hills, and the temperature here shows 82 degrees F
Before the sun goes down, I take a cold-water shower and rinse some dirty clothes
Tent supper tonight is instant Mountain House Beef Stew, one of my favourite dehydrated backpack meals