(Georgetown Divide)
Hike # 29
Directions to trailhead: From Auburn, take Hwy 49 south to Cool. Turn left at stoplight onto Hwy 193. At 12.3 miles, turn left at stop sign (Main St./Wentworth Springs) in Georgetown. At 3.0 miles turn left onto Breedlove Rd. Drive 2.4 miles (at 0.1 mile, take middle fork). Make sharp left turn onto Bottle Hill Rd. (signed, just past green house on left). Drive 1.4 miles past turn. You can park in a large clearing on the right, near power lines. Keep gated access road clear in parking area. The trailhead is not signed.
Trailhead UTM: 10 S 06 90 374 43 13 751
Topographic Map: Georgetown 7.5’
Elevation: 3199’ to 1742’ (1345’ total elevation gain)
Distance: 1 mile round trip
Difficulty: Strenuous
Jurisdiction: El Dorado National Forest
Trail description: Cross Otter Creek, walk downstream for a few hundred feet to find the trail as it continues uphill. From here, locate cabin sites and the rock walls built by the Kelliher family to grow vegetables for local miners. Diversion of a nearby stream in Quartz Canyon watered these terraced gardens. Old “graffiti” can be seen cut into creekside boulders at Otter Creek. Note the historical “candlestick” blazes, consisting of a long “candle” gash topped by a shorter “flame” gash.
Campsites: There are several adequate campsites near Otter Creek.
Note: Hikes # 28 & 29 may be hiked as a loop, see Hike #30.
Click HERE to view the Georgetown Hiking Trails version of this hike.
Get Off Your Gass 