Pictured above is “The Longest Mile” – a section of the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail, courtesy of EBMUD. The watershed trails in Amador and Calaveras Counties offer 29 continuous miles of trail to the public. Please note however, that NO DOGS ARE ALLOWED, there is NO CAMPING and an inexpensive trail permit is REQUIRED. Permits are available online at ebmud.com/recreation. Questions? Call EBMUD at 209-772-8204.
EBMUD Permit Instructions & Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail Maps
- Online Permit: Purchase and print trail use permits online.
- Online Maps: View a free digital map of the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail here.
- Permits By mail: Download the application below and mail it with your payment to EBMUD.
- Permits and Maps In person: Pick up annual or one-day trail use permits and a print map at:
- Mokelumne Watershed and Recreation Headquarters, 15083 Camanche Parkway S, Valley Springs, CA 95252; 209-772-8204 (Monday-Friday)
- The recreation area gates at Camanche North Shore or Camanche South Shore (7 days a week)
- The recreation area gate at Pardee Reservoir (7 days a week, February 15 – November 4, 2019)
- You can also pick up free paper Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail maps (not permits) from the Calaveras Visitors Center in Angels Camp, CA. (7 days a week)
Before visiting, you’ll also want to download the map. Go to the EBMUD Sierra Foothills Trails page and scroll down to “Trail info on the go” where you will find the link to the kmz file.
Mokelumne River Canyon | Barry Boulton
Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail: EBMUD describes the features
- New! John Bull Loop Trail: Explore a new 2.4 mile segment branching off of the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail. The new loop starts 1.5 miles east of the Campo Seco Staging Area and takes visitors northwest from Lawry Flat and through the rolling hills overlooking Pardee Reservoir. Enjoy the sights of nature from the Pardee View Vista Point (open now) and John Bull Peak at over 1,000 feet in elevation (John Bull Peak spur will open this summer). Signage for the John Bull Loop Trail is posted. From the Campo Seco Staging Area, the round trip is over 7 miles. Please bring water, sunscreen, proper footwear and other essentials to make your trip rewarding and comfortable.
- Cooks Mesa Trail access point: To make day trips easier between Camanche South Shore Staging Area and the Campo Seco Staging Area, the 12.4 mile distance is divided by the Cooks Mesa Trail access point. The new trail access is 3 miles from the Camanche South Shore Staging Area, 10 miles from the Campo Seco Staging Area, and 100 yards south of the Mokelumne Watershed Headquarters on Camanche Parkway South. Cooks Mesa has drinking water, handicap-accessible chemical toilets and limited parking. Trailers are prohibited due to the small parking area.
- Patti’s Point: A popular section of trail, the Patti’s Point to James Bar trail is a short but steep segment of the MCCT which descends east from Patti’s Point down to James Bar (off Gwin Mine Road).
- Rich Gulch Trail: For a moderate hike (4.2 miles round trip), head east from Rich Gulch to the Middle Bar Access Point. You’ll follow the river canyon to the Middle Bar Bridge and pass through an area rich in history.
- Middle Bar through Independence Flat: In October 2012, EBMUD opened this last section of Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail on District land. Since the trail alignment east of Highway 49 isn’t established yet, trail users enter and exit at the Middle Bar Trail Access Point. The trail offers a loop aspect for pedestrians, following the narrow gauge along the river canyon (livestock are excluded from the canyon section for safety reasons).
One of our favorite, local instagrammers, @jassandra1111 has captured some beautiful shots of the trail
When hiking the trail, be sure to follow our sustainability and safety guidelines on our Hop Lightly page. You can also access the Mokelumne River at the Electra Powerhouse access.