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Features: The Cerro Vista Ridgeline Trail in the
Applegate area is a loop that passes through a variety of terrain and
vegetation: Canyon rim vistas and natural meadows, oak forests and
Manzanita
groves, a wagon road beside a shallow creek and a cascade among boulders.
Map Notes: Click on map shown to view the full-size
version. The parking locations are shown as blue dots to the south and
southwest of map center. Access to Boole Road and Cerro Vista Road is from the
Applegate exit from I-80, top left.
Availability: Cerro Vista Ridgeline Trail is multi-use:
Mountain bikers and hikers are asked to use special caution on single track
sections with blind corners to avoid spooking horses you may encounter. The
trail is generally usable year round, but some sections may become boggy during
the November-April wet season.
Difficulty: The trail covers about 3.5 miles in all,
round trip. The route is generally easy to hike or ride, with some moderate,
but short grades. The footing is good and mostly free of rocks. The circuit
uses some sections of paved road, but there is very little traffic to contend
with.
Cautions:
 This trail traverses
"Cougar Habitat." Cougar sightings
are rare, but use good sense: Do not walk or ride this trail alone. Keep
small children and pets close at hand.
Poison Oak grows
along much of this trail and hangs out into the trail in places.
Drinking Water must be carried with you. Creek and
river water are not safe for human
consumption, no matter how clean it looks. Drink it only in an emergency
and consult a doctor afterwards.
Trailhead Parking:
You can use either of two parking areas as your trailhead, one
on Boole Road, the other on Cerro Vista Road.
Take the I-80 Applegate exit and follow the overpass road East
to where it T's into Applegate Road. Go left; the road passes through a narrow
tunnel under the railroad. Take an immediate right after the tunnel onto Boole
Road. Boole Road is narrow and has poor shoulders, so drive with care.
Continue on Boole Road for about 1.8 miles to where the
pavement forks. Boole Road continues to your right; Cerro Vista Road to your
left.
- Boole Road: About 1/2 mile down you will cross a cattle
guard. About 100 yards farther is a large triangular area between where the
roadway sweeps to the right and a dirt road continues straight. This is private
property, but the ranch owners are friendly. Horse trailers are Ok, but be sure
to cleanup and carry away any "leavings." Also, if riding horses, you will be
letting yourself through the "Portuguese" gate on one side of the cattle guard
as you proceed along the trail course.
- Cerro Vista Road: Less than a quarter mile up the hill,
where the road curves to the right, is a dirt area to your left. There is room
for several cars or a couple of horse trailers on the flat area. From here, you
pick up the trail on the opposite side of Cerro Vista.
Trail Description:
- Starting from the Boole Road parking area, take the dirt road
heading south. This wagon road is an old county easement that follows Clipper
Creek to where it passes through a ranch gate (leave it closed after you) and
joins the far end of Cerro Vista Road. Enroute you will pass beside the
waterfall on your right.
- Follow the graded roadway for about 100 yards and turn left
onto the paved roadway leading uphill. At the top of the hill, about a quarter
of a mile, you will be back to Cerro Vista Road again. Bear off left for a few
yards and then cross out into the meadow on the other side.
- Follow the trail eastward through the meadow and look for a
trail cut into the buck brush to your right. It is marked with yellow survey
ribbon. Note: You may see ribbons of other colors along the trail, but these
are survey-related and do not apply to the trail course.
- The trail section through the brush follows an old wagon road
that meanders in a southerly direction. There are two side trails along this
section that turn uphill to your left. Each one will shortcut the route you are
following, taking you to the northbound side of the loop.
- After a gentle climb, the trail will enter a small clearing.
The loop trail continues on the eastern (opposite) edge of the clearing,
following a winding, single track course downhill through a stand of oaks and
Manzanita. Again, the trail is marked with yellow ribbons. There is also a spur
trail that heads south from the clearing and goes about 300 yards before dead
ending.
- The downhill trail crosses a boggy open area and proceeds
uphill along a wagon road through more oaks and Manzanita. Look for a branch
trail to your left about 100 yards up. The road that continues straight dead
ends after a short distance, but there is a nice view to the south from there,
if you like to explore.
- The trail now heading northward, climbs sharply for a short
distance, the only fairly steep slope you will encounter on the entire
loop.
- After leveling out, the trail crosses a series of small
natural meadows. The shortcut trails mentioned in #4 above rejoin in this area.
Continuing north, the trail re-enters a wooded area. Watch carefully for the
yellow marker ribbons.
- The trail will then follow a wagon road over a small hill and
down to Cerro Vista Road. As it approaches the pavement, look for a single
track continuation of the trail on your right. Following the yellow ribbons,
the trail will meander downgrade and away from the road and then back up
again.
- The trail will approach the paved road a second time. This
time you will cross the road and pick it up again on the other side where it
continues northward and into a grove of Manzanita.
- Along this section there are breaks in the foliage with
wonderful views across the North Fork canyon. When the trail comes out again
beside the roadway, the Cerro Vista parking area is directly across the
way.
- To return to the Boole Road parking area, proceed downhill
along (or beside) the paved road to the corner of Boole Road and turn left.
Follow Boole Road for the final quarter mile to where you began. If you use the
Portugese gate through the barbed wire next to the cattle guard, be sure to
close it again properly.
Alternate Routes:
- There are a number of shortcut trails along the basic trail
course that can be taken to shorten the loop or provide some variety on a
subsequent visit. Consult the map for their locations.
- On the east side of the loop, you can turn onto the Boole
Training Hill trail, taking you steeply down into the canyon to join the
Upper Clementine trail. Returning by that trail,
you will add about three miles to your route and several hundred feet of
elevation changes.
MVTA tries to assure the accuracy of
the trails information presented,
but can make no claims to such. Please
let us know if any entries are incorrect.
Email your comments or questions to
our webmaster.
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