Can I make it up Heart Attack Hill in Anza?

[e9999]

the gal I met was friendly. Was she in a Wrangler? Forgot...

it seems like it would be possible to go from Sheep Canyon's end to Coyote Creek straight through Collins Valley (and not doing the discussed here climb). Is there a current trail for that or do you end up past the Coyote Canyon blockage?

 

[sdnative]

Back in the day, you could drive along the creek at third crossing much, much further. Instead of coming out of third crossing and going up the bypass section (there is a reason it is called "bypass"), you would just continue to the right following the creek. It would exit somewhere up by middle willows. Then you would continue on the Baley's cabin, and up to upper willows and up the "Turkey Track", which was pretty nasty before they graded it several years ago.

Several years ago, they closed a section in the middle, and now you cannot go through from Borrego to Anza.

"Lower Coyote Canyon" begins in Borrego, and ends at middle willows. Notable camping spots include Sheep Canyon.

"Upper Coyote Canyon begins in Anza (off of Terwiliger Road), and ends in middle willows. Notable camping spots include Baley's cabin and Alder canyon.

I think there is only about a mile or so of closed section between upper and lower coyote canyons.

 

[e9999]

snip

I think there is only about a mile or so of closed section between upper and lower coyote canyons.

well, if so, could one not go around thru Collins Valley?

 

[LandCrusher'70]

There is no trail out of the Sheep Canyon area, other than back down the bypass. It's essentially a dead end.

 

[e9999]

well, FWIW, the AB park map (http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/638/files/ABDSPmap.pdf) shows the trail going through the bypass (I guess) through Collins Valley, North to Middle Willows and stops there. From the North, it shows the trail going down to Upper Willows / Alder Canyon and stopping there. If one is to trust that map, there is about 3 miles or so of "no trail" gap. On top of that there is a yearly closure that probably encompasses a larger area still.

I do vaguely remember trying some time back to get out of Collins Valley Northbound towards Coyote Creek on a trail. I think I got to the creek but there were steep creek sides / berms that I didn't want to wreck so I went back.

So, is this called a bypass because the creek "trail" is closed for a bit after Box Canyon / Lower Willows?

 

[sdnative]

well, FWIW, the AB park map (http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/638/files/ABDSPmap.pdf) shows the trail going through the bypass (I guess) through Collins Valley, North to Middle Willows and stops there. From the North, it shows the trail going down to Upper Willows / Alder Canyon and stopping there. If one is to trust that map, there is about 3 miles or so of "no trail" gap. On top of that there is a yearly closure that probably encompasses a larger area still.

I do vaguely remember trying some time back to get out of Collins Valley Northbound towards Coyote Creek on a trail. I think I got to the creek but there were steep creek sides / berms that I didn't want to wreck so I went back.

So, is this called a bypass because the creek "trail" is closed for a bit after Box Canyon / Lower Willows?

Sounds about right. I thought it was about 1 mile, but maybe it's closer to 3.

Once you exit 3rd crossing, the path to the right is closed, forcing you to go up the bypass and into Collins Valley. If you head north from Collins Valley, you will eventually get to a fence, which is next to the creek with steep sides like you mentioned.