A 46 foot bridge was installed over Neilson Creek during October 2021. This was a very gnarly creek crossing for many many years. As of the active date of this cache, the ramp to the bridge on the south end is not yet in place. So, there is still a rope for the short distance to the bridge. This cache is located 4+ miles from the Blueberry Hills parking lot. The cache is a plastic container...yummy gelato! The coordinates should put you near a bend in the trail before the S end of the bridge.
Please remember that the Ditch has historical status and the archeologists at the Forest Service desire that it remain undisturbed.
Come on, flat terrain and a repaired trail! Bike in!
General History
The Treadwell Ditch was constructed generally atop the overburden of a ditch constructed in the 1880’s. The ditch was designed to collect and transport water to the Treadwell Mine Complex in Douglas where it was used to generate electricity for mining operations. The Ditch starts in the Fish Creek valley, below the present-day Eaglecrest Ski Area. It is 16 miles long and holds a 1% grade. One of the flattest trails in Juneau!
A major effort has been underway since 2016 to improve the Treadwell Ditch trail for hikers and bikers. As of the summer of 2021, 20 bridges have been added in the 4 mile stretch from Blueberry Hills. Thanks goes out Trail Mix crews and to an intrepid group of aged dudes who volunteer their time to improve the trails. You can even see some eBikes along this part of the trail.
Donate to Trail Mix, you can see the results.