Snow Mountain Wilderness vs. Ventana Wilderness

How do you feel about poison oak?

Poison oak seldom grows much above 5000 feet elevation.

–B.G.–

If you don't like crowds and end up in the Ventana, stay away from the Pine Ridge trail and Sykes Camp. Stay far away, unless being stuck in a crowded river corridor with 200 other people to see a tiny hot spring sounds fun to you.
I've done some off trail hiking in the Vetana to places where few people ever go and it's amazing. Just watch out for the poison oak, it's everywhere.

Always check the trail conditions first. Some "trails" turn into huge bushwacks.
http://www.ventanawild.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=36

Thanks B.G. and G.B. Yes, I would like to avoid poison oak and bushwacking. :)

Would Snow Mountain have less poison oak?

Yes, definitely less poison oak. Poison Oak doesn't grow at higher elevations.

Cache Creek area is beautiful, I’ve only day-hiked and rafted there. No crowds, no bears, water in Cache Creek, about 2 hours from SF.

http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ukiah/cachecreek.html
http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/wildView?WID=684
http://www.yolohiker.org/
http://www.everytrail.com/destination/cache-creek-wilderness

— Rex

Coe Park is also beautiful, rarely crowded, especially if you start from Hunting Hollow or Dowdy Ranch entrances, no bears, water available but you must plan carefully, less than 2 hours from SF. Coe Park is always steep, and could be hot.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=561
http://coepark.net/ See the “Water Resources”, and “Backpacking” sections.

— Rex

Another idea: the Ohlone Wilderness past Murietta Fall.

–B.G.–

>No crowds, no bears, water in Cache Creek<

The site for the area says "You may see mountain lion, black bear, coyote, gray fox, bobcat, badger, raccoon, beaver or river otter during your visit."

But I doubt it is "bear country" in the way that the Sierra area is.

I have been to Cache Creek several times. It's a decent place to backpack.
It can get very hot there. In the summer the grasslands get lots of prickly weeds and stickers that can get in your shoes. Gaiters are pretty much a requirement.

If the amount tracks and scat are any indication of the number of bears, then Cache Creek has a lot of bears. But they are probably all very shy. I had one check out my camp on rocky creek in the middle of the night, but it left me alone.

If you go there in summer after they have increased the water flow, you might not be able to cross Cache Creek which limits where you can go.

I posted some info HERE about the Snow Mountain Wilderness that you may find useful.

I know you said you’re hesitant about the Sierra due to bears, but I think you should really reconsider it. There are plenty of trailheads less than 3 hours away in the Tahoe, Eldorado, and Stanislaus National Forests that just don’t seem to have the same type of bear pressure that some of the more popular areas do (e.g. Yosemite, SEKI). Besides, I’m sure most here can attest that bear encounters are rare and most likely go down like this. “Hey, look a bear.” “Where?” “Oh man, it just ran off. That was so cool!” I’m actually on higher alert when hiking at lower elevations due to rattlesnakes, poison oak, water quality, raccoons, mice, stinging nettles, mountain lions, etc.

If you’d like some specific trail suggestions, let me know and I can suggest a few.

Another option is the Ishi Wilderness near Chico.

http://www.summitpost.org/ishi-wilderness/290043

Ishi is located southwest of Mount Lassen in the Lassen National Forest. Elevation is from 1500' to 3500' so it can get warm during the summer. Rivers from Lassen cut deep canyons through the area. To get to Ishi, you drive on dirt roads, with the last couple of miles on a deeply rutted rough road. Take a high clearance 4wd vehicle to get there. Worst road I've ever been on, which helps keep folks away.

When we went two years ago in the late spring, we split entire the Mill Creek Canyon with an old couple at the trailhead campsite. We saw a big rattlesnake, herds of deer, a salamander, and signs of bear with no problems. There was a lot of poison oak and because we were early in the season, the trails along Mill Creek was a little overgrown. We found a great campsite next to Mill Creek about two miles from the trailhead.

Black Rock at the Mill Creek Trailhead

Mill Creek