Another Quillian Loop Idea

[JC785]

We are planning on hiking a similar route that Elbowman did, but we were thinking of parking at Thompson Creek trail head and following the creek to the quillian area. I attached a copy of the proposed route. Let me know what yall think. Also how hard is it to find the old Arnold motorway to hike back to the car?

[Pully]

The Arnold Motorway is not hard to find. There is a camping site, Quillan makes a northern turn and a creek meets Quillan where the motorway crosses. You'll know it when you see it and the trail along Quillan virtually stops and begins following the motorway.

Will you be hiking the west side of Thompson Creek? Will it be a day hike?

[JC785]

Were gonna make a weekend out of trip out of it. We will be there early Friday.

[JustADude]

Don't miss Riddle Creek when you pass it on your way up Quillan. There are three nice waterfalls there, well one average and two real nice IMHO.

[Pully]

You might want to also check out Schoolhouse Falls. I sent you a PM with some coords.

[Jackalope]

I made a similar route except in reverse about a year ago and have to say there are much better ways to see Quillan and Riddle.

We went down Riddle Creek to find the way to the middle waterfall and from there the plan was to follow Quillan to Hubbard to Thompson and after finding Kings Cove/Schoolhouse Falls, crossing Thompson to pick up 206 for the walk out. Once we turned downstream at Quillan and joined Hubbard, it turned into a slog through a muddy and pig wallowed flood plain followed by a bushwack through cane breaks and brier thickets before finally getting to where the water started flowing south letting us know we had made Thompson Creek.

It had taken us so much longer to get from Quillan around to Thompson than we had planned for that we had to scrap our plans for Kings Cove/Schoolhouse Falls (still haven't gotten there) and head back to the car because we were running out of daylight.

While you can do it that way, a big section of the route will be hard work without reward. I think you would get much more enjoyment out of the loop Elbowman made. There are a number of places to camp on that loop and you will have time to explore upstream of the Arnold Motorway which everyone says is quite nice.

[Uncle Wayne]

I made a similar route except in reverse about a year ago and have to say there are much better ways to see Quillan and Riddle.

We went down Riddle Creek to find the way to the middle waterfall and from there the plan was to follow Quillan to Hubbard to Thompson and after finding Kings Cove/Schoolhouse Falls, crossing Thompson to pick up 206 for the walk out. Once we turned downstream at Quillan and joined Hubbard, it turned into a slog through a muddy and pig wallowed flood plain followed by a bushwack through cane breaks and brier thickets before finally getting to where the water started flowing south letting us know we had made Thompson Creek.

While you can do it that way, a big section of the route will be hard work without reward. I think you would get much more enjoyment out of the loop Elbowman made. There are a number of places to camp on that loop and you will have time to explore upstream of the Arnold Motorway which everyone says is quite nice.

Agree with both statements.  We made that same mistake and it is not worth it at all.  If you are determined to make that route, cross Hubbard as soon as possible and walk on that side of the creek. It's a little better but a lot of work for little reward imo.

[Pathfinder]

Neither side of Hubbard is any fun downstream of Quillian.  I had a hard time getting one of my sons to go back to Sipsey for a while after we tried that section of Hubbard.

[MobileBackpacker]

Once we turned downstream at Quillan and joined Hubbard, it turned into a slog through a muddy and pig wallowed flood plain followed by a bushwack through cane breaks and brier thickets before finally getting to where the water started flowing south letting us know we had made Thompson Creek.

This^^^^^

I saw a dozen or so hogs on the other side of thompson heading north, if you do go up thompson be sure to check out the last drainage before the trailhead. There is a great waterfall about 1/4 mile up

[JC785]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I think we are going to do Elbowman's route.

All packed and ready to hit the road early in the morning!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jackalope]

You guys are going to love it!

Do take the time to explore up all the feeders. There are waterfalls up all of them and since you are camping, you should have plenty of time. Also upstream from the Arnold. I've not been upstream yet but everyone that has says it is well worth the effort.

Another possibility for you is to hike in on the Arnold with your gear and set up a base camp then explore from there. You could go down to Riddle Creek then pick up the three waterfalls upstream there than backtrack back to your camp. I would bet Quillan would look different going downstream than coming back up, especially if it is your first time there.

Just a thought.