Kellys Camp Spring (Ontario Peak Trail)

jfr · Post by **jfr** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:04 pm

I was there on Memorial Day weekend (ten days ago) and the spring was running fine, flowing at about 600 ml per minute (two minutes for a very full nalgene bottle). There is also a small pool/seep in the ravine 100 feet from the spring a bit further from camp. I saw a deer drinking from it.

tmmabey · Post by **tmmabey** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 8:38 pm

Just got back from Kelly Camp. Stayed Friday night June 15. Water is still flowing in a steady trickle. Filled a liter bottle in about 2-3 minutes.

hiiker · Post by **hiiker** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 5:55 pm

Today on my way to Bighorn Peak I stopped by both springs to check their flow. The flow out of the pipe remains unchanged from the last report. The flow from the spring without the pipe is very slow. I didn't measure its flow rate but it didn't take very long to fill its depression up after I cleared all the water out of it. This is a "pump only" spring. It could be an alternative source if the water coming out of the pipe stops flowing later in the year.

Water reports would be helpful for the remainder of the year for both springs. Anyone that happens to be in the area of these springs please check on them if you have time. Thank you.

Hiiker

Pipe flow

Other spring

Temp at Kelly Camp 9 a.m.

RichardK · Post by **RichardK** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:55 pm

I have read various reports about other unpiped springs in the Kellys Camp area, but I have never been sure about their locations. Where is this spring located?

Since this was a low snow year, I expect these springs to dry up at some point. So, frequent reports are very helpful for trip planning. Thank you for posting.

hiiker · Post by **hiiker** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 9:17 pm

It's only about 25 yards from the pipe. I took this photo last Oct.

Other spring location

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 8:39 am

hiiker wrote: It's only about 25 yards from the pipe. I took this photo last Oct.

Other spring location

So, basically just downstream.

Interesting that they only repaired one of the pipes (there used to be two).

HJ

Dave G · Post by **Dave G** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:12 pm

Hikin_Jim wrote:
hiiker wrote: It's only about 25 yards from the pipe. I took this photo last Oct.

Other spring location

So, basically just downstream.

Interesting that they only repaired one of the pipes (there used to be two).

HJ

I was up there today and the spring is still trickling--I'd estimate about 4 minutes to fill a liter bottle.

The "other spring" in the photo is in the Lost Creek drainage and is just west of the present spring. It has always been dry in my experience, except for run-off/snow melt. There are some old rusty tools and PVC pipe buried over there. Downhill from the present spring there are wet areas caused by the spring overflow. There was a pipe there for a time when the old spring box was clogging up, but I believe the source was the same.

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 8:20 am

Good updates; thanks, Dave.

HJ

Post by **Sean** » Thu Apr 18, 2013 11:30 pm

There was a steady but very weak flow at the Kelly Camp pipe yesterday. You could probably get a liter after a few minutes.

taktical · Post by **taktical** » Sat Apr 20, 2013 8:37 am

Has anyone been through Kelly's Camp recently? If so, I would appreciate any report on the condition of the spring. Thanks in advance.

Post by **HikeUp** » Sat Apr 20, 2013 10:10 am

Posted 2 days ago...

https://eispiraten.com/s ... ght=#43709

taktical · Post by **taktical** » Sat Apr 20, 2013 5:40 pm

Much thanks! I totally missed that.

HikeUp wrote: Posted 2 days ago...

https://eispiraten.com/s ... ght=#43709

RichardK · Post by **RichardK** » Sat May 18, 2013 7:11 pm

We hiked to Kellys Camp today to check out the spring. It is all but dry. Water was coming out of the pipe one drop at a time. It would take forever to fill a bottle.

The forest service put up a new sign at the trailhead with pictures of the Icehouse Canyon Resort.

Post by **JeffH** » Wed May 22, 2013 4:37 pm

Thanks for the water update, that may change my plans for this weekend by carrying more.
I remember having a beer at Icehouse before it burned down the last time. Sitting in the big room looking out towards what is now parking lot.....

longcut · Post by **longcut** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:37 pm

the piped spring was dry as a bone. the other "unpiped" spring was also dry if I was looking in the right place. Ive never been sure about the exact location of the other one but I check about 30 yards up and down of Kellys camp on the gully and there was nice green clumps of grass but no water to be gathered that i could see.

Post by **Uncle Rico** » Sun Aug 18, 2013 7:25 pm

Confirming longcut's report. The spring at Kelly's is totally dry. From today:

RichardK · Post by **RichardK** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 7:41 pm

Thanks Rico. We really, really, really need a wet winter.

The Steady Foot · Post by **The Steady Foot** » Sun May 11, 2014 8:46 pm

How is the water situation at kellys camp? Columbine spring below the saddle?

Grazi

RichardK · Post by **RichardK** » Sat Jun 14, 2014 5:51 pm

We were in Kellys Camp today. The spring is bone dry. Not a drop.

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Sat Jun 14, 2014 10:00 pm

Funyan005 · Post by **Funyan005** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 9:46 am

Anyone happen to have more recent info than this? Hopefully some of the monsoon rains helped?
I was looking to head up FRC to Ontario and wanted to have some water for the walk down.

Thanks in advance

tarol · Post by **tarol** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:31 am

Thinking about hiking there next month - do you know if there's water at the camp and will it continue into April?

RichardK · Post by **RichardK** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 9:07 am

We were in Icehouse Canyon for the first time this year yesterday. The early season creeks/springs between Columbine and the saddle were all dry. The creek that crosses a little before the Cucamonga wilderness boundary was down to a trickle. Although we did not go as far as Kellys, I am hard pressed to think that there is much water there. Columbine and the springs near the trailhead had good flow.

tarol · Post by **tarol** » Sat May 23, 2015 12:05 pm

Thanks - anybody been up recently to confirm?

jchristopher · Post by **jchristopher** » Tue May 26, 2015 7:02 pm

There was water at Columbine spring yesterday (Memorial Day)
Didn't get to Kelly's though. If you go up please let us know.

Post by **Sean** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 9:53 am

I was at Kelly's Camp on Tuesday. Was able to get water from the weak, natural flow in the gully west of camp. Couldn't find the pipe, even though I've been to it several times. It looked like someone might have buried it. Anyone know what's going on with that?

Post by **JeffH** » Sun May 01, 2016 8:18 pm

I couldn't find it last time I was there either. Kind of glad to know it wasn't just me feeling very lost.

blueshammer · Post by **blueshammer** » Tue May 30, 2017 9:41 pm

Any news this year regarding the water at Kelly's camp? I would imagine there should be plenty of water, but I'm curious if anyone's been up there recently.

psykokid · Post by **psykokid** » Tue May 30, 2017 10:14 pm

I'm going to head up there next Saturday to recce the water situation before going up with my son's Boy Scout troop the weekend after. With the wet winter I would expect there to be water flow but who knows for sure. If no one else chimes in beforehand I'll post what I find by late Saturday afternoon.

Post by **JeffH** » Sun Jun 18, 2017 12:34 pm

Water is flowing at Kelly Camp, I was there on Friday. Filled a 32 ounce bottle in about 30 seconds. Some work has been done to clear brush around the pipe.