It was impossible to keep from grinning on this perfect fall hike. The entire spectrum of autumn colors—from sunny yellows to crimson reds—dazzled as we followed the exuberant Squaw Valley Creek along its twisting course from Cabin Creek to Beartrap Creek. Beautifully hued leaves of all shapes and sizes flickered on branches, fluttered to the ground, and paved the trail in a colorful mosaic.
We will never tire of this moderately easy trail, no matter the season. In spring, wildflowers are plentiful. Two summers ago, Chris Harvey hiked this trail (Squaw Valley Creek Trail, August 6, 2020; Chris provides great direction to the trailhead in this article!), finding later-blooming flowers still, along with many fruits, and a lovely reprieve from the valley heat. Fall is enchanting for its festive colors, and winter… well, we haven’t tried this trail in winter, but we can just imagine it would be a wintry wonderland of snow and ice. There are many points of interest along the way, and the botanical diversity is very high.
Within the first quarter of a mile, there are two substantial wooden bridges. The first is encountered right away and crosses over Cabin Creek, very close to its convergence with Squaw Valley Creek. The second is several hundred yards farther downstream and connects the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) with Squaw Valley Creek Trail. Indeed, the PCT shares Squaw Valley Creek Trail for a short distance and offers the day-hiker an alternate route for a short loop hike. (Taking the PCT at its next junction will get you back to the road, which you can then take back to the parking area.)
Photo by Don Burk.
Recent rains had increased the rushing and splashing of gorgeous Squaw Valley Creek, which is almost never out of sight of the trail. There are a couple of low waterfalls at about 2 miles, and a much taller waterfall at close to 3 miles. It appears that this tall waterfall is often the destination for day-hikers as shortly thereafter the trail becomes more overgrown and visibly less used, but still quite passable. It also changes aspect from eastern to southern, providing a whole new palette of plants.
Running out of daylight and not sure exactly where we were, we turned around before reaching Beartrap Creek, stopping first for a creekside snack. (If you make it to Beartrap Creek, however, you could opt to cross the creek to the dirt road, which will take you back to the parking area, but it’s a steep uphill slog—not nearly as nice as the trail.) For those who don’t want a 10-mile hike, the first 2 miles of trail are, without a doubt, the most scenic. The footbed is excellent along this stretch, and access to the creek is easiest here. We did encounter a handful of newly fallen trees, most of which were easily navigated and stepped around or over, but unfortunately, the first downed tree is the most difficult to get around (but do-able!).
We highly recommend this lovely trail, especially now in the fall, but it will enchant in any season. Here are a few sights that put grins on our faces as we hiked. All photos by Don Burk. Enjoy! -Laurie & Don Burk
