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Buckeye Flat Trail
(12.3 miles from G.T.)
mod/steep options
Buckeye Flat is an abandoned mining settlement below Ralston Ridge near
the Rubicon River. A U.S.F.S. stock bridge crosses the river there,
downstream of the confluence at Long Canyon, connecting the Buckeye Flat
area to washed out Rubicon Road.
Directions:
to access this trail follow the directions to Nevada Point Trail
and park at that trailhead. You could drive 3 miles further down Rubicon
Road with a high clearance vehicle, but it’s a pleasant hike down the
road to add mileage to an otherwise short hike. Follow the road down
towards the river and marvel at the fact that it used to be the main
road to French Meadows prior to Ellicott’s bridge being built in 1964.
This Trail
was originally built by the Ralstons in the late 1800’s when they needed
to find a better route between Georgetown and the Ralston Mine. The
early supply trail also accessed the mining village at Buckeye Springs,
(now called Buckeye Flat), before continuing up to the Ralston Ridge.
Later, most of the route was replaced by Rubicon Road. Watch for the
trail leaving the road on the left side (plastic post sign) as you
approach the bottom of the canyon in 2.8 miles. The road continues down
another half mile before reaching a dangerous washed out section.
The trail switchbacks steeply down for
1/3 mile where you go left onto the old road. Go another ½ mile and look
for the trail to leave the road on the left, then down 1/3 mile to the
bridge.
Cross the
green bridge and continue up the other side until it turns to road. The
area here has mining junk and old foundations being reclaimed by
vegetation plus the once well known spring.
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