SF American - Kanaka Valley / Pine Hill / Burnt Shanty / Hallelujah Trail

[Troutsource]

Does anyone know if there's any road access to this area (where Weber Creek dumps in)? I've been researching it but information is scarce and incomplete. It sounds like there's a gate on the road which then would entail a long hike, but it's not clear.

The Burnt Shanty Creek and/or Hallelujah Trail area also looks like an interesting prospect. I drove around in that area once and in one case the reality didn't match the maps, and in another case I was in a sedan so I couldn't proceed down what looked like a promising dirt road that headed toward the river.

Thanks in advance for any insights. Basically trying to find access between Coloma and Salmon Falls Bridge.

[JasonB]

I don't know all the details, but yes there is some sort of "road" that gets in there as you do see some 4wd folks there sometimes. I do know that there are a lot of private roads in that area and it's pretty complicated. Fwiw, I think you would be far better served by some other access areas upstream. Right now the water is VERY warm, so the closer to the dam you get the better off you are. That far downstream the water has been in the mid to upper 60s for a while now and has hit low 70s more than once so far.
JB

(PM coming)

[Grady]

All those roads turn private. Best access is off of pedro hill road in pilot hill. I forget the hiking area name, but you can hike down the canyon. water is warm. or hike up from skunk hollow parking area off of salmon falls road.Cheers

I don't know all the details, but yes there is some sort of "road" that gets in there as you do see some 4wd folks there sometimes. I do know that there are a lot of private roads in that area and it's pretty complicated. Fwiw, I think you would be far better served by some other access areas upstream. Right now the water is VERY warm, so the closer to the dam you get the better off you are. That far downstream the water has been in the mid to upper 60s for a while now and has hit low 70s more than once so far.
JB

(PM coming)

[Troutsource]

Thanks for the advice. I plan to check out some of these roads some weekend and will post a report whenever that happens. I've fished below Chili Bar and in the Apple Hill area, but am trying to find somewhere that's an even closer drive. I've also tried at Salmon Falls Bridge at low water in winter a few years ago but it wasn't what I was expecting (broad, shallow riffles with lots of slime and no hint of fish). I've seen people pull trout out in Coloma, and recently stopped to look at the final put-in/take-out location downstream from there along 49, which had a nice pool but is probably mobbed in the evening.

[Sheepdog8404]

Funny to find this thread! Just 2 days ago, my wife and I were trying to drive down Kanaka Valley rd to hang out at that spot where Webber runs into the SFA... NO LUCK! There's a big gate about a half mile from where the road ends. On the gate there is a bog dramatic sign stating that the entire area is on 24he video surveillance and trespassers will be prosecuted... I know that there is a hiking traihead somewhere to the east of kanaka that will take you down to the confluence but I haven't found it yet... good luck in your hunt for access to this spot. I'll let you know if I turn up any leads!

Tight lines,
Gary

[JasonB]

Really not a very ethical time to fish this particular area, due to water temps. Sad to say that there have been quite a few folks out with spinning rods and some folks fishing bait, but I would hope that anyone with an interest in C+R fishing would be looking elsewhere until we get some cooler temps. Here's a link to the last 30 days water temps for that specific area:
http://www.dreamflows.com/graphs/mon.642.php

It's been very warm water there since May. There are other better places to fish, where we can fish without putting such undue stress on the fish.
JB

[Troutsource]

I realize I never posted my follow-up. I tried driving to the area in an Accord. One road was fine, but at one point it simply disappeared (vs. the map). Another road became too rough for the Accord and the rest of the route has been parked in my brain's fantasy fishing lobe until further action (it gets better every time I think of it). I don't remember the names of the two roads.