By TIM WILCOX
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
Where: Crestline
Length: 2.6-mile round trip
Elevation gain: 322 feet
Challenge: moderate to momentarily difficult
One of the western San Bernardino Mountains’ more obscure hikes is in the same neighborhood as what could be the most well-known and popular trail: Heart Rock. They share a large parking area on Highway 138, but that’s where the similarities end.
Most hikers are unaware of the Valley of Enchantment Trail. Also, thanks to a complete lack of signage, it isn’t clear whether this route is the same as Seely Road, a long-unused logging venue. So, let’s just go with this ID: V.O.E. Trail/Seely Road.
Here’s how to get to the parking lot. Take Highway 18 west to Lake Gregory Drive and turn right at the stoplight. Downhill a couple of miles, next to the lake, is Crestline’s main intersection. Turn left there at the stop sign and drive through town. When you start going uphill, watch for the old white church on the right. Immediately beyond it and straight ahead is Knapps Cutoff (don’t continue going uphill). Follow the cutoff to a stop sign, which is the intersection with Highway 138. Continue forward and downhill, past a storage facility, then watch for a large open space on the left. Claim a spot, and you’re ready to go hiking.
On the Trail
The entry point is directly across Highway 138 from the entrance to Camp Seely. Look for an opening in the barbed-wire fence and a small, weathered sign that reads, “LIMITED USE AREA.” Pass between the wooden beams and proceed a few paces until you come to a long-unused forestry road. If you were to turn right, the road would soon become a narrow trail and end in less than a quarter mile. Instead, turn left and head uphill.
While this was an actual road for many years (Who knows how long?), it’s now reserved for hiking. So, let’s just call it a trail. Thanks to last winter’s rains, it’s mostly covered by grass. You’ll notice, too, deep channels carved by the flow of water. As the pathway becomes even steeper, the erosion is increasingly dramatic. Keep an eye out for unusually muddy spots.
With a base diameter approaching eight feet, a wizened oak may be the largest tree in the trail’s immediate neighborhood.
Initially, at least, oaks predominate, with a scattering of pine and fir trees. But as you climb higher, deciduous trees give way to evergreens, with stout and tall Ponderosa pines being the most prominent in that category.
The trail continues its ascent, with some stretches proving to be quite steep and hence aerobically beneficial. The overall ascent, though, is moderate rather than difficult.
You’ll be struck by how green the hillsides are along the way, thanks again to the winter and early-spring rains. The forest is quite thick as well, which means that to this point distant vistas have been rare.
At about the 0.7-mile mark, the old forestry road branches off to the left. If you feel inspired to take a quick detour, head mostly downhill for about three-tenths of mile, where the pathway ends. There you get the best views of hillsides to the north of Crestline and Lake Gregory.
Swivel 180 degrees and head back to the principal trail. Turn left and hike uphill once again. The ongoing route is decidedly more overgrown here, so you’ll need to follow it more carefully to avoid wandering off-trail. Soon you’ll encounter a large downed tree, which will require low-level scrambling. Young firs become more prominent on the trail, suggesting that any vehicles motored this way many years ago.
Now the pathway levels off and becomes much more distinct before heading downward. At this stage, after all the climbing you’ve done, it almost feels as if you’re gliding downhill. Soon, though, you’ll come upon a fence, gate and sign reading, “Private Property, NO TRESPASSING.”
OK, there’s nothing ambiguous about that. Obviously, then, it’s time to make a U-turn and, except for the quick detour, retrace your steps. This time of year and even closer to summer, it’s unlikely that you’ll encounter other hikers. That makes this largely unknown route so much different from the Heart Rock Trail. Chances are good that whether you’re hiking solo, with family members or friends, you’ll welcome the solitude.
NOTES: This is one of our mountains’ least-traversed trails, which makes it a hidden gem offering exceptional opportunities for quiet, ambulatory reflection. Resist the temptation to bring along your music player and headphones or earbuds. Instead, savor the silence!
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