Outdoor Adventure USA

Share your photos and run stories from you Saturday run(s).

Willow Creek & Dishpan Springs Run Report

This year's SummerFest was a blast and I was more than happy to lead a few trail runs over the weekend. On Saturday, the 26th Autumn and I arrived at the Big Bear Discovery Center a little before 9am. A short while later, socal_rubi showed up followed by Willie H, Chazz Layne and SP Jon M3. That made for three Jeep Wranglers (YJ, TJ & JK), one Toyota 4Runner and a Land Rover Discovery. Soon we were on the road heading west on Hwy 18 to the 173 and onto Willow Creek Road. The first part of the trail travels through some scenery burned over by the Willow Creek Fire in 1999. Recovery is slow and some parts of the landscape are still blackened and bare. After airing down at the OHV Pinnacles Staging Area we followed the rutted trail down to Willow Creek, which we had fun crossing while Autumn and Dani took pictures.

Our route passed through forest and open meadows along one of the main routes through a popular OHV area in San Bernardino National Forest. The more difficult parts consist of weathered trails with severe holes, ruts, and off-camber sections. We ran into quite a few ATV's, or "sand fleas" as they were called. Some of whom passed by us rather recklessly. Dishpan Springs, the last black-rated section of our run, was extremely rocky and boulder-strewn. Halfway through this trail is a very steep, rocky climb often called the "waterfall". It was here where SP Jon M3 had some issues getting his 4Runner through the boulders. So rather than risk breaking something he and Chazz turned back to exit the trail. The remaining three Jeeps continued on through some fairly deep ruts to the end of the trail. If time permitted, the plan was for everyone to regroup and run Gold Mountain. By the time we reached paved Green Valley Lake Road it was past 4pm so we decided to head on back to camp in time for the potluck.

Route Overview


Lots of flowers along the way.






Airing down at the staging area.


Coming down 3N34. Others in the group got some good pictures here.


Willow Creek crossing.


Willie H


SP Jon M3




Chazz Layne




One of the hill climbs.




socal_rubi was the first up the waterfall in case anyone had any problems.


He made it look easy.


My turn.
















Later that night we enjoyed the campfire at Coon Creek Camp.




A big thanks to socal_rubi, Willie H, Chazz Layne and SP Jon M3 for coming along and making this such a fun day! I'll be looking forward to running the trails again with you guys in Anza-Borrego this fall.

BorregoWrangler wrote:A big thanks to socal_rubi, Willie H, Chazz Layne and SP Jon M3 for coming along and making this such a fun day! I'll be looking forward to running the trails again with you guys in Anza-Borrego this fall.

Ditto, and thanks for having us. I'd never been out on Willow Creek before, great views.

For those who haven't seen it, here's what Dishpan USED to look like (the bridge, the parking lot where we ate lunch, the waterfall... w/TJ on 31s)...

WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

HAHA! Thats how it's done right there!

Riding the notches on willow creek will do that to ya. it's wheel stand central.

Chazz Layne wrote:WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

THIS is the picture I have been waiting for. Good thing your fast on shutter button Chazz!

Thanks for a great day on the trail. I had a great time. I am still going through pictures, I'll post some when I get them all sorted out.

Great report and pictures. What was the issue with the 4Runner going up the waterfall? Traction issue, articulation or ???

Regards, Steve

ssc wrote:Great report and pictures. What was the issue with the 4Runner going up the waterfall? Traction issue, articulation or ???

Regards, Steve

There were a few boulders on the way up the climb that weren't there a few months ago. He was bottoming out on one of them and spinning his tires. We probably could have got him through with the winch but since he didn't have too much in the way of armor underneath he didn't want to risk breaking anything. Jon may have a better understanding of the issue than I do, though.

Awesome run, wish I would have woken up on time, ha ha. I ended up running Dishpan with Steve and our friend Rob a little later this day, Ill see what pics I can get.

Dishpan has some nice marbles added to it just before the waterfall and the waterfall on the right is dug up pretty good makes for a fun climb up. For the bypasses there is the middle one that takes some manuevering or the one on the far left that has gotten a lot easier a pretty much stock Jeep can get through there if you can get past all the rocks before the waterfall. Ran the trail 2 weeks ago was a fun ride, very nice afternoon diversion.