17
Pro tip: that 'shortcut' trail on AllTrails near Willow Creek is a trap
I learned this the hard way last Saturday. Saw a user marked shortcut on AllTrails that claimed to save 2 miles off the main Willow Creek loop. Thought I'd try it since I was running late. Turned out it was a steep, overgrown deer path with loose rocks and no clear markers. I slipped twice, lost my water bottle down a ravine, and took an extra hour to bushwhack back to the main trail. The shortcut added 3 extra miles of misery. Now I always double check those user routes against satellite images. Anyone else get burned by a bad AllTrails shortcut?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
william_taylor19d agoTop Commenter
3 miles of misery sounds about right for that area. I actually scanned that same trail on satellite before heading out and could see it dead ends into a cliff band about half a mile in. I've had better luck sticking to the official Forest Service trails out there even if they add distance. The user routes are hit or miss and I'd rather walk an extra mile on solid ground than gamble on someone's bushwhack.
2