Clear Creek Management area

[Mel Carter]

I'm heading out to Clear Creek on the 15th of this month, I was wondering if anyone has been out there lately and how's it look. I've been there before so I know what were up against, any suggestions where to try.

Thanks for your help.

Mel Carter

 

[yotegetter]

Hey Mel,

I'm heading out to Clear Creek that same weekend too. I'll be heading up to Gilroy and figured I'll go to Clear Creek. I've never been there. You have any info on this place?

 

[feelinducky]

Where is clear Creek located?

 

[yotegetter]

Northern California

 

[Mel Carter]

I've heard Clear Creek can be good at times, as long as you get away from the roads and the motorcyle riders. It's very brushy and somewhat hard to hunt. If you don't know how to get there, you take HWY 25 from 101 towards Hollister. Stay on 25 and take the Coaling Rd turn off, it'll be on your left. Follow Coalinga Rd until you get to clear creek. It's about 60 miles or so out of Hollister. I missed a shot there about8 years ago and havn't been back since. I'll be there for a small part of Saturday and most of Sunday. If you see some guys riding their Quads, that would be my buddies Ruben and Joe, I'll be driving a black Dodge. We'll probably be in the first camp ground on your left, it's about a mile or so after you get into the area. Maybe I'll see you there. You can also try Laguna MT, you'll pass it on the way to Clear Creek. It's suppose to be good, if you get one it's a major haul to get him out, strait up hill. This is a walk in area only.

Mel

 

[Speckmisser]

Can't believe I missed this topic.

Mel, I was out at Clear Creek the last Sunday of Quail season.  Just drove through, since I was gonna take my daughter and girlfriend over to see the New Idria Mine.  Bad call, since the roads up top are a mess, and the Idria road was closed altogether.  Seems like that's where the best sign was, in my experience, and the only place I've actually seen pigs.

The dirt bikes were there in force, so you'll need to get away from them.  If your buddies have quads, you might be able to get on back across the canyons.

If you can get over the peaks, you might head down toward the lake (Spanish Lake?).  

 

[Duck Assassin]

If someone share a little info I would appreciate it.How bad are the roads? I have a full size 1 Ton truck 4wd. I am a novice to 4Wd roads but have commen sense. How far in do you go?

 

[trickshot12]

i was up there about a month ago just after it rained,and the roads were pretty snotty but passable.I had to use 4wd a few times and had a little problem on the way out getting up a little hill due to some pretty deep ruts ,but made it.I went to the gate past spanish lake and did'nt see anyone up there all day. I came in on New Idria road so i dont know the condition on the Clear Creek enterance.I use my 86" toyota to hunt so you should'nt have a problem with your rig.

 

[Speckmisser]

Hey Duck Assassin.

You might wanna think twice before getting too far up there in that big truck.   I had my 3/4 ton Dodge up there on the last weekend of quail season (how long has that bee?), and decided to turn back...  And I've got a pretty fair amount of 4x4 experience in mud and goop.  It just wasn't safe...especially without a winch.

The way the roads up near the top are right now, a short wheel-base like a Jeep would be much easier to deal with.   The thing with a full-sized truck is the weight, and slip-sliding on those mountain trails doesn't always leave a lot of room for error.  All you can do is aim at the ruts, kick it, and hope they hold you on the road like railroad tracks.  Once you start to slide off that road, you're most likely to fetch up against a tree before you stop.  That would suck.  It would suck even more if you're by yourself, and have to get that behemoth unstuck.  Not a lot of traffic there.

Anyway, when I was there, the road from the top down to New Idria was closed anyway, and probably will remain that way 'til the rain stops.  

The roads from the Coalinga side aren't bad at all, if you use that common sense.  There are some slick spots where the dirt bikes tend to spin wheels coming out of creeks and turns.  Other than that, the road is actually pretty driveable.  So you can go in from the Clear Creek entrance and get to most of the access areas.  But the best hunting is going to be walk-in or quad only.  

 

[Duck Assassin]

Speckmisser,
  Thanks for the feedback. Once you start sliding your hosed, give it gas and prey. The last thing I want to do is start telling myself "It sucks being me". I will try it when it dries up some. My truck is completely stock also.


(Edited by Duck Assassin at 5:45 pm on Mar. 1, 2002)

 

[yotegetter]

Well drove by Clear Creek last weekend and the roads were pretty bad I heard. I talked to a guy from Hollister and he said it has been pretty bad to get up the road. I'll probably get back up there during spring time when it's nice. Heard there's some hogs around there.

 

[Speckmisser]

Just wanted to add that I turned back at the summit, coming in from the Clear Creek side.  The summit and the far side is where it gets really ugly.  

The road down to New Idria is always kinda messy, even in the drier part of the Spring.  Once it gets all the way dry, then you have to deal with the asbestos dust.  

WHile I'm here... anyone ever hunted that lake (Spanish Lake?) down at the southern end of the area?  

 

[Rocketman]

Speck
I've been going to Spanish lake longer than I care to admit...OK, 25 years. Nice area, some game signs. More game a few miles back up the road near a couple of small springs. They are marked on a topo map. Many years ago there was a cabin there, long since gone but last time I was there an old pipe in the foundation had water flowing out in the summer. Lots of pig tracks. Spanish lake is just over the ridge from the old asbestos mine that's now a superfund site. They blocked off all the roads into the area but you can hike in there safely when the ground is moist. Lots of sign there too. Coyotes and ground squirrels down in the canyon to the northeast sometimes. Used to ride dirt bikes there for years, just recently decided to try hunting. I'm going down there this weekend to have a first try at calling a coyote... Wish me luck.
Ed

 

[Speckmisser]

Good luck!

Let me know how it goes.  Last time I tried to get to Spanish Lake, I almost got stuck in the snow (odd weather that year).  Haven't had a good opportunity to go back since.