60 Hikes in 60 Miles in 60 Weeks: Week Nine
Redwood Regional Park

Prince Road, Redwood Regional Park

What it's like:
An under four mile tour through a beautiful East Bay redwood canyon.

Why now:
Enjoy the last lingering leaves on big leaf maples and pleasant weather.

If you can't make it this week:
Trails are very wet in winter, but it's worth slogging through the mud to get glimpses of wintering ladybird beetle (ladybugs) colonies. They typically huddle together in massive, colorful groups in February along Stream Trail near the junction with Prince Road.

Insider tip:
This is great hike to share with your dog!

Redwood Regional Park is hike number 32 in 60 Hikes in 60 Miles: San Francisco (third edition). Read about this hike on BAHiker.

Alternate choice:
Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. This charming wine country park now has yurts in addition to a fine campground. Visualize a weekend here: stroll on lovely trails through redwoods, sleep in a cozy yurt, sip a little wine....

Post your comments and experiences here or on the BAHiker Facebook page.

60 Hikes in 60 Miles in 60 Weeks: Week Eight
Bear Valley to Arch Rock, Point Reyes National Seashore

Bear Valley Trailhead, Point Reyes -- open for business (and hiking)!

What it's like:
A nearly 9 mile out and back through woods and grassland -- the turn around spot is a bluff overlooking the ocean.

Why now:
When the federal government impasse shuttered our local national parks, Point Reyes businesses were financially impacted. Celebrate re-opened trails with a Point Reyes hike this week.

If you can't make it this week:
The hike to Arch Rock is absolutely stunning year round.

Insider tip:
My favorite way to support the local Point Reyes economy is via cheese (at Cowgirl Creamery) and bread (Brickmaiden loaves -- sold at Cowgirl Creamery and a few other locations in town). Get picnic supplies in town and plan for lunch at Arch Rock.

Bear Valley to Arch Rock is hike number 11 in 60 Hikes in 60 Miles: San Francisco (third edition). Read about this hike on BAHiker.

Alternate choice:
There are plenty of bay area trails that offer opportunity to glean fruit, but I know of only one where you can hike through a chestnut orchard. Skyline Chestnuts manages a 20 acre orchard within Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve. You can simply drive to the orchard and buy pre-gathered bags of chestnuts, but why not make it an expedition and hike in? Start at this trailhead and take the Bay Area Ridge Trail to Chestnut Trail. The orchard is near gate SR01, at the southeast edge of the preserve. It's a beautiful location and collecting chestnuts here has become one of our autumn family traditions. The chestnuts are sold by the pound -- bring gloves and a sturdy bag for toting.

Post your comments and experiences here or on the BAHiker Facebook page.

60 Hikes in 60 Miles in 60 Weeks: Week Seven
Castle Rock State Park

View from a trailside rock formation on Saratoga Gap Trail at Castle Rock State Park

What it's like:
Five and 1/2 miles of incredible, varied scenery (woods, chaparral, and rock formations) in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Why now:
Black oak leaves are putting on a gorgeous autumn show and the temperature is perfect.

If you can't make it this week:
I could hike at Castle Rock weekly without getting bored. After winter storms Castle Rock Falls is at its best. Late winter features aromatic blooming manzanita and ceanothus shrubs. Wildflowers bloom in the woods and chaparral through summer. It's just incredible all year.

Insider tip:
Gunshots from the nearby Los Altos Rod and Gun Club may not thrill you. Plan a hike when they are closed (currently they are open Thursday-Sunday).

Castle Rock State Park is hike 39 in 60 Hikes in 60 Miles: San Francisco (third edition). Read about this hike on BAHiker.

Alternate choice:
Hike to Balancing Rock at Mount Diablo. During their autumn mating season you may see tarantulas in many East Bay parks and preserves, but Mount Diablo is my go-to tarantula spot. Hopefully many tarantulas survived the Morgan Fire -- you will see the after affects from the fire on this part of the mountain.

Post your comments and experiences here or on the BAHiker Facebook page.

Fourteen years pass in the blink of an eye

Yesterday I was out strolling in the Devil's Gulch section of Samuel P. Taylor State Park. The old orchard (really just five trees) is still there, but I couldn't find any fruit this year. Back at home I looked through my old photos and realized the first time I hiked here was 1999. Mind blowing -- 14 years and yet the photos are so similar.

November 1999

October 2013

One "new" trailhead expands my horizons

Cruising down Sir Francis Drake Boulevard outside Lagunitas this morning I was thrilled to see the Leo Cronin Fish Viewing Area parking lot open. Until recently this little lot was accessible only during winter months, and visitors were restricted to one hour parking. Now the lot is open year round from sunrise to sunset, and I expect I'm not the only one excited by this.

During salmon spawning, the fish viewing area (across from Shafter Bridge) is a great place to spot the salmon doing their thing. All year round LCFVA will provide new options for cyclists and long-distance hikers. Cyclists (or hardy hikers), consider making a loop out of Shafter Grade, Bolinas Ridge Trail, Jewell Trail, and the Sir Francis Drake Bikeway. Folks wanting to hike to Barnabe Mountain can now start at LCFVA rather than Devil's Gulch or Samuel P. Taylor's main trailhead. Instead of attempting to park at one of the tiny staging areas on the edge of residential areas, I think I'll explore more of Gary Giacomini Open Space Preserve from LCFVA.

Lots of possibilities for wheels and feet. Thanks MMWD for allowing us to use LCFVA year round!

PS: Note that as of this writing, thanks (ha) to the budget situation, Bolinas Ridge is off limits.



 

60 Hikes in 60 Miles in 60 Weeks:
Week Six
Purisima Creek Redwood Open Space Preserve

Bigleaf maple leaves litter the trails at Purisima Creek Redwoods this month.

What it's like:
This one's a seven mile loop through redwood-stuffed canyons south of Half Moon Bay.

Why now:
Look for colorful orange leaves on bigleaf maples while trekking on mostly-shaded and well-graded paths.

Can't make it this week:
As long as trails aren't too muddy, this is an incredible winter hike. Spring is lovely too, with a variety of wildflowers in the woods and chaparral.

Insider tip:
Beware of the Halloween pumpkin-seeking hoards, who descend into Half Moon Bay this time of year. If you're planning a visit to Purisima Creek on a weekend, consider starting this hike from the Skyline Boulevard trailhead.

Purisima Creek Redwoods is hike 48 in 60 Hikes in 60 Miles: San Francisco (third edition). Read about this hike on BAHiker.

Alternate choice:
Joaquin Miller Park is a little-known redwood enclave, in Oakland!

Post your comments here or on the BAHiker Facebook page.

Red flags and the government shutdown

Samuel P. Taylor State Park, cool, shaded, and OPEN!

The budget mess is colluding with red flag warnings, resulting in confusion. Where should you go hiking this weekend? 

Closed until further notice (due to the federal government shutdown):

Point Reyes National Seashore (sigh)

Muir Woods

Alcatraz

Marin Headlands

Fort Funston

Milagra Ridge
Sweeney Ridge

Presidio SF

Red flag warnings:

This windy morning the streets of San Francisco are littered with pine needles, leaves, and small branches. High winds combined with dry conditions can easily lead to serious fire danger. I would recommend staying clear of parks in the red flag area.

Use extreme caution (but still open):

East Bay hills

Peninsula preserves on Skyline Boulevard

Mount Tamalpais

Mount Diablo

Henry Coe

Good choices:

Tomales Bay State Park is open! It's a little bit of Point Reyes without the budget closures, since Tomales Bay is a California State Park.

Samuel P. Taylor State Park is open! This gorgeous destination, with grassland, shaded woods, and ocean views, is just a few miles from Point Reyes.
Angel Island instead of Alcatraz. Better hiking anyway.

Kortum Trail, on the Sonoma Coast, offers sweet coastal views.

Armstrong Redwoods is a suitable wine country substitute for Muir Woods.

Lower elevation Mount Tamalpais hikes such as Phoenix Lake and Sky Oaks are safer than higher elevation destinations.

Huddart, Wunderlich, Edgewood, Pulgas, Coal Mine Ridge, Fremont Older, Picchetti Ranch are safer Peninsula options. 

Be sure to check trail conditions with the managing agency before you head out -- stay safe!

60 Hikes in 60 Miles in 60 Weeks: Week Five
Jack London State Park

Big old black oaks on Sonoma Ridge Trail at Jack London State Park. They were bare in March when I took this photo, but should have colorful orange leaves this month.

What's it like:
Almost 11 miles out and back through woods and a bit of grassland on Sonoma Mountain.

Why now:
Autumn in wine county is enchanting! Enjoy crisp weather and admire colorful foliage on bigleaf maples, black oaks, and grape vines.

Can't make it this week:
This hike is lovely in late winter and early spring.

Insider tip:
On October 6th the park will be hosting a celebration honoring Jack's Oak -- you might choose that day for a visit or not, depending on your tolerance for crowds.

Jack London State Park is hike 4 in 60 Hikes in 60 Miles: San Francisco (third edition). Read about this hike on BAHiker.

Alternate choice:
Los Trancos Open Space Preserve. Enjoy an easy, mostly shaded 3 mile loop through this Santa Cruz Mountains preserve. Grab a brochure at the trailhead to follow the interpretive earthquake tour.

Post your comments here or on the BAHiker Facebook page.