Hiked Cone Peak yesterday (8/8/2020). The trailhead info is correct, and looks similar to the helpful beta photo. However, it ceases to resemble a "road' within about 15 feet. It's very overgrown, yet easy to follow.
But now there is a very good connecting trail along the west side of Limekiln Creek (presumably leading to Limekiln Falls). It intersects the trail at the top of the first ridge, right after the main trail takes a 90-degree right turn. It's more obvious than the actual trail that you want to follow, which actually takes a left turn down another overgrown path. If you find yourself heading DOWN Limekiln Creek instead of up it, you missed the turn.
From there, the trail is very easy to follow (but steep!) all the way up to the junction where Vicente camp is right and Goat Camp is left. A good use trail has also developed that continues straight from this junction all the way up to Twin Peak. This use trail cuts out the long traverse over to Goat Camp and the long traverse from the saddle back to Trail Spring. The tradeoff is that it's incredibly steep, there's no water, and the ridgeline scramble from Twin Peak to Cone Peak has some loose Class 2.
We ascended via Goat Camp and Trail Spring, following the author's route, and descended via the Twin Peak ridge. Water was plentiful in Limekiln Creek at Goat Camp, and also available at Trail Spring. The climb above Goat Camp was probably the crux of the ascent route, with steep switchbacks and some very overgrown places in the trees. Of note, the junction above Goat Camp is now very well signed (not at a burned tree anymore).
ljwoodw - Aug 9, 2020 1:27 pm - Hasn't voted
Update August 2020Hiked Cone Peak yesterday (8/8/2020). The trailhead info is correct, and looks similar to the helpful beta photo. However, it ceases to resemble a "road' within about 15 feet. It's very overgrown, yet easy to follow.
But now there is a very good connecting trail along the west side of Limekiln Creek (presumably leading to Limekiln Falls). It intersects the trail at the top of the first ridge, right after the main trail takes a 90-degree right turn. It's more obvious than the actual trail that you want to follow, which actually takes a left turn down another overgrown path. If you find yourself heading DOWN Limekiln Creek instead of up it, you missed the turn.
From there, the trail is very easy to follow (but steep!) all the way up to the junction where Vicente camp is right and Goat Camp is left. A good use trail has also developed that continues straight from this junction all the way up to Twin Peak. This use trail cuts out the long traverse over to Goat Camp and the long traverse from the saddle back to Trail Spring. The tradeoff is that it's incredibly steep, there's no water, and the ridgeline scramble from Twin Peak to Cone Peak has some loose Class 2.
We ascended via Goat Camp and Trail Spring, following the author's route, and descended via the Twin Peak ridge. Water was plentiful in Limekiln Creek at Goat Camp, and also available at Trail Spring. The climb above Goat Camp was probably the crux of the ascent route, with steep switchbacks and some very overgrown places in the trees. Of note, the junction above Goat Camp is now very well signed (not at a burned tree anymore).