Cabin Hunting in Dark Canyon
Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2015 10:27 am
Yesterday Dima, Henry, and I joined forces on a cabin hunting mission in Dark Canyon. These cabins occupied the banks of the streambed until the great flood of 1938, which permanently shut down the area to motor traffic. The Brown Mountain debris dam was constructed in '42 for flood control, and the cabins in Dark Canyon were demolished or abandoned when the Forest Service assumed management of the watershed.
We started our hike at 8am heading down the CCC Ridge and connecting with the old road into Dark Canyon.
The initial descent to the stream proved relatively easy. Most of the roadbed still exists, and a good use path can be followed. Only a couple washouts and landslide sections required extra care in passing.
The real fun began once we reached the main branch of Dark Canyon. Nearly eighty years of neglect has rendered the lower road sections practically nonexistent, especially where it crosses the stream.
At times the canyon scramble offers heavy brush and log crossings. Other times there is a recognizable use path.
I had printed out copies of the 1939 topo map, and we used it to locate some cabin sites and ruins.
(Sitting on steps at the first cabin site)
(Henry between cabin walls)
(Steps leading from a cabin site down to the stream)
(The only remaining pillar structure we found, perhaps used to support an arch or porch.
The most intact cabin had been surprisingly renovated by someone not present during our visit, but who shall be referred to as Darkman.
(Henry and Dima at the entrance to Darkman's Cabin)
(Inside Darkman's Cabin)
Around 11:30am we reached the Oakwilde site at the mouth of Dark Canyon, where it empties into the Arroyo Seco. A fairly thorough search of the area revealed only a few items of historical interest, including a retaining wall.
If you follow the flagged trail you'll also come across some circular slabs and a small stone pillar.
After grabbing a bite to eat, we continued up the Arroyo Seco, following the recently worked Gabrieleno Trail.
A few downed trees remained to be cleared.
Otherwise it was an easy and scenic trip along the Gabrieleno, and we had fun collecting other people's trash and balloons.
The trail left the Arroyo Seco and climbed around an active waterfall into Long Canyon.
(On the trail above the Long Canyon Falls)
The trail stayed above the Long Canyon stream, on the south side. After approximately a mile into the Canyon, we decided to leave the trail and continue cross-country up the Canyon going north, where the trail sharply turns to the south.
(Dima climbing the dry falls at the start of our cross-country section in Long Canyon)
(Henry getting up the waterfall)
After working a bit to climb the falls, we had a decent stretch of light bushwhacking while following the water course upward.
Then we encountered a bigger and badder dryfall.
This one had to be bypassed along the left side. Using all fours, and grabbing branches for leverage, we made it up the very steep and loose slope to the ridge.
By now the predicted storm clouds were rolling in, and we decided to stick to the ridge for a quicker exit to the highway, which was now in view directly north of us, a rough half-mile or so away. This area has some neat rock features.
Dima pushed ahead, locating an obscure animal trail which contoured around the final bump and saved us some difficult scrambling.
(Dima contouring around the final bump, with the highway in sight.)
We then dropped down a little ridge and crossed the gully below the road, before finding a way out on the other side.
We started our hike at 8am heading down the CCC Ridge and connecting with the old road into Dark Canyon.
The initial descent to the stream proved relatively easy. Most of the roadbed still exists, and a good use path can be followed. Only a couple washouts and landslide sections required extra care in passing.
The real fun began once we reached the main branch of Dark Canyon. Nearly eighty years of neglect has rendered the lower road sections practically nonexistent, especially where it crosses the stream.
At times the canyon scramble offers heavy brush and log crossings. Other times there is a recognizable use path.
I had printed out copies of the 1939 topo map, and we used it to locate some cabin sites and ruins.
(Sitting on steps at the first cabin site)
(Henry between cabin walls)
(Steps leading from a cabin site down to the stream)
(The only remaining pillar structure we found, perhaps used to support an arch or porch.
The most intact cabin had been surprisingly renovated by someone not present during our visit, but who shall be referred to as Darkman.
(Henry and Dima at the entrance to Darkman's Cabin)
(Inside Darkman's Cabin)
Around 11:30am we reached the Oakwilde site at the mouth of Dark Canyon, where it empties into the Arroyo Seco. A fairly thorough search of the area revealed only a few items of historical interest, including a retaining wall.
If you follow the flagged trail you'll also come across some circular slabs and a small stone pillar.
After grabbing a bite to eat, we continued up the Arroyo Seco, following the recently worked Gabrieleno Trail.
A few downed trees remained to be cleared.
Otherwise it was an easy and scenic trip along the Gabrieleno, and we had fun collecting other people's trash and balloons.
The trail left the Arroyo Seco and climbed around an active waterfall into Long Canyon.
(On the trail above the Long Canyon Falls)
The trail stayed above the Long Canyon stream, on the south side. After approximately a mile into the Canyon, we decided to leave the trail and continue cross-country up the Canyon going north, where the trail sharply turns to the south.
(Dima climbing the dry falls at the start of our cross-country section in Long Canyon)
(Henry getting up the waterfall)
After working a bit to climb the falls, we had a decent stretch of light bushwhacking while following the water course upward.
Then we encountered a bigger and badder dryfall.
This one had to be bypassed along the left side. Using all fours, and grabbing branches for leverage, we made it up the very steep and loose slope to the ridge.
By now the predicted storm clouds were rolling in, and we decided to stick to the ridge for a quicker exit to the highway, which was now in view directly north of us, a rough half-mile or so away. This area has some neat rock features.
Dima pushed ahead, locating an obscure animal trail which contoured around the final bump and saved us some difficult scrambling.
(Dima contouring around the final bump, with the highway in sight.)
We then dropped down a little ridge and crossed the gully below the road, before finding a way out on the other side.
