Newest section of the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail opens.

On October 14, 2009 the newest 2.7 mile section of the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (MCCT) was completed and opened to the public; making 28.1 miles of continuous MCCT available for hiking and horseback-riding on EBMUD lands!

Hikers will be able to access this new segment of trail from the Middle Bar Take Out parking lot and the Rich Gulch Trail Access Point. This section stretches between James Bar and Middle Bar Bridge. Roughly paralleling the river in an elevation range between 600 and 750 feet, the trail is a less rigorous trek than some of the sections farther to the west. Equestrians will still need to access this section from the Campo Seco Staging Area, as trailer parking is prohibited at the Middle Bar Take Out parking lot and the Rich Gulch Trail Access Point due to the limited parking and inadequate access roads.

Area Points of Interest
Patti’s Point, roughly 1 mile west of James Bar offers dazzling view of the Mokelumne.
Middle Bar Bridge is a beautiful reminder of early 1900s architecture.
Cultural Sites abound in the area reminding us of the rich history of times past.
Poorman’s Gulch Bridge is a newly installed self-weathering steel bridge offering easy access across the drainage for trail users.
Gwin Mine was a highly productive gold mine in the mid 1800’s.

As with all of EBMUD’s trails, access must be gained through one of the staging areas and requires a valid EBMUD Trail Use Permit. Trail permits, MCCT & China Gulch map, and the latest issue of the Mokelumne Monitor Newsletter, the Mokelumne Trailbuster volunteer program is available for viewing online at:

http://www.ebmud.com/services/recreation/sierra/trails .

Steve Diers
EBMUD
Ranger/Naturalist II
Trail & Volunteer Programs
Mokelumne Watershed Unit
Natural Resources Department
Phone: (209) 772-8260 – Fax: (209) 772-1047
Email: sdiers@ebmud.com