Barker Valley Trail

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• Outdoor
  Jan 27, 2020
  Sunny Hike

  I find it interesting that a previous commenter gave this trail only two bones despite it being her own lack of preparedness and research that made her poor dog uncomfortable. It’s not a shady trail at all. Come prepared for that. Bring water. Put those little shoes on your dog. Maybe hiking isn’t for you if you can’t figure out basic preparedness, or understand that living in the California heat isn’t good for thick haired dogs better suited to cooler climates. Sounds like Pamela needs to start looking inward. And keep your damn dog leashed! How irresponsible.

• Pamela Renz
  More than a year ago
  Beautiful for Backpackers, hard on dogs.

  This is a great trail for experienced trail dogs, but NEVER on a hot day. For dogs, especially of the dark variety or those with dense fur, hot can begin at only 75. How will you know if it's too hot for your own dog? Is he running from one piece of shade to another and not really wanting to come out from under? His feet are burning on the sand. Are you able to stop in some shade and after a rest and some water, he no longer pants? If so he/she is still ok to go; if a dog cannot stop panting, the dog is still hot and you risk heat stroke and death if you continue hiking him. I have a black Kelpie and he will hike for 8 to 10 miles depending on terrain, and only slow down the last mile. I imagine him hiking with me down to his last breath, so it's up to me to pay attention and make wise trail choices for him. The first time I took him to Barker Valley, even after a 50 mile, 1 hour drive, when his actions told me that this was not the right day for this hike, we turned around after 1 mile of hiking, got in the truck, and found a cooler hike for him.

  However I was able to accomplish this backpack with him just a few days ago, I hiked down in the evening, and hiked out in the evening. He loved the freedom of being off leash, but I did keep him behind me so I would find any rattlesnakes before he did.

  So if you do this, do it in the morning or after 4 to 5pm on a hot day. Carry LOTS of water. My dog carries a Mountain Smith Trail pack with a litre of water, and I carry a three litre mule of my own which I share with him. I keep him well watered at all times. Dogs don't ask you for water, you have to pay attention. When I get to the bottom I use my MSR Sweetwater to filter/pump us up replacement water for the trip back up. I may or may not drink more water than you, but I like having lots of it around.

  Your dog needs toughened up paws for this. If your dog is an inside dog and the sidewalk is as difficult as it gets, you might buy him/her booties and only try a mile or two. The rock is granite, decomposed granite, plus feldspar, quartz, and other crystalline type rocks, it's very sharp and it's a very rocky trail, you would never walk on it barefoot unless your feet were totally toughened up, and maybe not even then. Also stop once in a while to pull foxtails from his/her coat, especially in the valley. You know how they feel in your socks, imagine how they feel stuck all over your body?

  I love this trail for a backpack, but my dog thinks Santa Margarita River is a much better hike and I have to agree.

• Gavin
  More than a year ago
  Great road!

  Brilliant afternoon out and a really nice scenic drive away from the concrete freeways of SD! 7 mile truck trail was brilliant. The dog spent most of it hanging out the window. (you really need a high clearance car though, and 4x4 if there's been recent rain. Walk was spectacular with lots of interesting things along the path. Views are lost a little at the bottom of the valley where the path is rather overgrown. Higher up it rates amongst the best! 4 hours leisurely walk up and back including 12 week pregnant wife! (up to date tomtom will take you right to the trail head - very impressed)

• Victor
  More than a year ago
  Barker valley

  I took this trail down and back up it is not for the faint of heart it is pretty brutal, please bring PLENTY water along you can allow your dogs to get water at the bottom from the creek. The trial has many types of terrain sand, rock, hard packed. If you do not exercise your dogs and do not take them out regularly please reconsider this trial it is pretty tough !

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