[Bloated Chipmunk]

Peeps had been bugging me for a long time to schedule a hike to the famous Goat Canyon Trestle, either via Mortero Palms or from the De Anza Springs Resort, so I finally relented. I'd already been pretty close to it 6 yrs. ago, thus my lack of entusiasm, but as new ideas are harder & harder to come by I decided it was worth a shot to do the long way via the resort. As it turns out, I only had 2 takers in the end. Guess it's not that popular afterall. We started out by checking in/registering @ the resort, then drove back over to the TH &: geared up. As we were doing so, a naked guy emerged from the trail & walked thru the parking lot. Evidently he already finished his hike for the day.

@ the TH

We started up the trail, which cuts west over to the tracks, where there is a path (for the most part) that parallels the tracks. It didn't take long before we came across our 1st tunnel & abandoned train cars.

RR

Entering the 1st tunnel

Inside a train car

Inside a train car

We continued along, passing thru several more tunnels, snapping on the headlamps when necessary.

??

Inside a train car

Inside a train car

??

Old train cars

Spooky...

Emerging from a tunnel

Bladderpod along the tracks

Inside a train car

Inside a train car

Looking out from the train car

Heading for an abandoned tunnel

Inside the abandoned tunnel

The next tunnel...

Once we arrived @ the trestle, there were hoards of people of course, incl. some guy w/a Mickey Mouse hat. A few swigs of bourbon helped curb my annoyance.

Crossing the trestle

Goat Canyon Trestle

We have arrived...

Boot shot from atop the trestle

Old abandoned trestle

Goat Canyon Trestle

Goat Canyon Trestle

On the trestle

Swig of bourbon

The 2 peeps I was w/decided to go a little further up the trails to check out the trainwreck, but I was content w/seeing them from a distance since this was already going to be a 17ish mile hike roundtrip. There were short periods of time that I had the place to myself & was able to get better pics of the trestle. @ one point a boy scout troop w/full o/n packs came through, as well as some other lg. parties. Yep, not much privacy on this hike.

Wreck

Backpackers on trestle

Goat Canyon Trestle

Eventually the other 2 came back, & we headed out. This was a long hike but very flat, nevertheless I was pretty tired by the end.

Almost back...

Looking back

Don't step there!

Add 2-3 mi. to total...

Route

Post-hike margs

[Blowdown]

I thought this was an April Fool's joke until I read farther down. Extremely cool and unique area! Hard to believe they'd put so much effort into those trestles, only to abandon them in place. Nice adventure and TR!