MrHollister.com/indian creek 10

The three day MLK holiday finally provided the escape from shackles of post-grad homework I so desperately needed. With a series of five El Nino-driven storms set to bulldoze their way through the upcoming week, we decided to take advantage of a dry Saturday and enjoy a stiff hike down to Indian Creek along side the Tuolumne River. The trailhead is rather secretive off of Ferretti Road near Pine Mountain Lake resort, and I don’t suspect many folks outside of Groveland know about it, and those who do most likely know better than to walk down the old jeep trail’s 1800’ drop to the Wild & Scenic river. But my family finds the seclusion to be a great option for a winter season hike. The hills are green, newts are usually out and about and this year we even saw 10 deer, a bald eagle & a bear (although he was 600 or so yards away). There are several mine adits along Indian Bar (where I hear rafters make camp on their last night of trips) that are fun to explore, and one could possibly walk another mile or two upriver if the fishing-bug ever struck when the season is in session. The hike has a lasting effect on both memories & butt muscles!