Hill and Dale: Pontatoc Canyon-Finger Rock Loop (Warning: Unofficial)

I have read two or three AllTrails hike descriptions mentioning a possible new trail connecting Pontatoc Canyon and the Finger Rock Trail, converging at Linda Vista Saddle, making a 7.4-mile loop, with serious elevation gain. And about three weeks ago on a hike up the Finger Rock Trail to Linda Vista Saddle, I saw what looked like a new trail being constructed just below where the spur trail from Finger Rock wends its way 0.2 miles up to the Saddle.

Today, I can confirm that there is indeed a new trail being built connecting the two hikes, but it is being built center out and it might be a while before it is officially ready to hike. This new trail is no where near the terminus of the Pontatoc Canyon Trail and so we basically had to bushwhack our way up and over to it. The warning sign above we only saw at the end, where the trail meets the Linda Vista Saddle spur trail. We really had no business on this new trail, but it was just too tempting a hike. I was also excited that there was a new loop trail being built connecting with the underwhelming Pontatoc Canyon Trail, thus giving one more of reason to hike it; it currently ends abruptly facing a unremarkable cliff wall.

Looks like that hope may not come true as this new trail appears to be headed to a point closer to the Pontatoc Canyon-Pontatoc Ridge trailhead than the Pontatoc Canyon Trail terminus. In any event, if the forest service continues to get money from the inept and cruel dolts in the criminally insane dotard’s administration, and this trail continues to be built, many hikers will rejoice that there is an alternative way other than the treacherous Finger Rock Trail up to and down from Linda Vista Saddle, and a somewhat safer route to Mount Kimball and other ridge-line destinations.

The elevation gain is nothing to sneeze at, and almost 300 feet

more than the challenging Finger Rock ascent to the Saddle. The

pace was so slow because of all the bushwhacking on the steep

canyon slopes.

Both the Pontatoc Canyon and Pontatoc Ridge trails share a trailhead, and also a trail for about a mile.

A little chilly before the sun poked its welcomed face over the ridges.

More uninspiring views from Pontatoc Canyon.

The unceremonious nothing-burger end to the Pontatoc Canyon Trail.

From here we bushwhacked north and west to find the new trail build.

The new trail, in various states of completion. This section is headed south, and it's not that far back down to the Pontatoc trails from here; the trail no doubt ends abruptly and possibly dangerously a bit further on.