60 Hikes in 60 Miles in 60 Weeks: Week Thirty-five
Henry W. Coe State Park

Mariposa lily, one of the beautiful wildflowers blooming now at Henry W. Coe

What it's like:
This 4.7 mile loop just scratches the surface of this massive state park east of Morgan Hill. But it's an itch that must be scratched!

Why now:
This is the goldilocks window for Coe -- not too hot, not too muddy, but simply perfect, with wildflowers everywhere.

If you can't make it this week:
I experienced an incredibly gorgeous Coe hike once in mid-June, when the flowers were still blooming and the morning was shrouded in fog. Other seasons are wonderful if you don't mind heat or mud.

Insider tip:
Hikers sometimes get overwhelmed with Coe's elevation changes -- this is a park with steep hills! The hike described here is moderate and totally achievable for beginners, but be sure to bring lots of water or electrolyte-replacing beverages.

Henry Coe is hike number 42 in 60 Hikes in 60 Miles: San Francisco (third edition). Read about this hike on BAHiker.

Alternate choice:
Chimney Rock, at the southern tip of Point Reyes, is bursting with color this week. Goldenfields, poppies, iris, and many more flowers spanning the colors of the rainbow bloom across the top of a dramatic oceanside bluff. The hike is an easy-going 2 miles, but it takes a good long time to drive to this trailhead and there's not a lot of parking, so head out early and take your time.

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

A blissful day at Mount Burdell

Buckeyes along Middle Burdell Fire Road

I timed it right -- I'd never seen Mount Burdell so beautiful. Grass tall but still green, buckeyes in bloom, and wildflowers everywhere.

Back at home, I compared photos from this hike to previous years and was surprised to see that in this drought year, the grass at Burdell is far more lush than it has been in some "normal" rain years. Testament I suppose to the late and proportional amount of rain received in the north bay -- grassland is considerably drier everywhere else in the bay area.

In most parts of the preserve the grass is now towering over and obscuring smaller flowers. I didn't see some favorites from the past: no owl's clover, tidytips, nor creamcups. Broad leaf filaree was the dominant bloom, but poppies are coming on strong. Royal larkspur, Chinese houses, iris, buttercups, and even a few milkmaids were blooming in shaded spots. Next month might bring a new wave of beauties, including clarkias and mariposa lilies.

This was the first time I hiked at Burdell with a fitness tracker app on my iPhone. I now know Old Quarry Trail has some stretches that are at 25-27% grade! Old Quarry is a weird little trail, very unusual in our contemporary world of well-designed paths. It's old and straight and covered with ball-bearing-like stones and rocks and so crazy steep. I love it and I hope it never gets mothballed.

http://bahiker.com/northbayhikes/burdell.html
more photos: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bay-Area-Hiker/138877479476343

60 Hikes in 60 Miles in 60 Weeks: Week Thirty-four
Joseph D. Grant County Park

Up on the ridge at Grant, on Canada de Pala Trail

What it's like:
I think of this hike as a table -- straight up, across, then straight down. It's not really super steep, but you do need to be in decent physical shape to tackle this 7.4 mile loop on the high slopes of Mount Hamilton, east of San Jose.

Why now:
Although a bit of rain is expected this week, the end of April usually spells the end of green grass in the bay area. Get hiking at Grant while the hills are still verdant; look for big patches of California poppy, blue-eyed grass, lupines, and many more wildflowers.

If you can't make it this week:
My cut-off date for Grant is mid-May. As the bay area temperatures soar this grassland bakes to a crisp and the park's cows make the trails very dusty. Grant is lovely in late winter, when the big old valley oaks stand leafless above tidy fresh green grass.

Insider tip:
If you are capable of stretching this hike a bit, instead of returning to the trailhead via Yerba Buena, continue across Mount Hamilton Road on Canada de Pala Trail, then take Hotel Trail back to the trailhead.

Grant is hike number 43 in 60 Hikes in 60 Miles: San Francisco (third edition). Read about this hike on BAHiker.

Alternate choice:
Happy birthday John Muir! The naturalist and conservationist spent more than 30 years at his ranch outside Martinez. On this his birthday week hike 2.3 miles at Mount Wanda on trails Muir strolled with his daughters, where colorful flowers bloom in grassland beneath graceful oaks.

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

New hikes

Here are the three latest:

Stanford Dish

Devil's Slide

Crockett Hills


More new hikes soon!

60 Hikes in 60 Miles in 60 Weeks: Week Thirty-three
Las Trampas Regional Wilderness

Rocky Ridge in spring

What it's like:
4.6 mile loop up and along a rolling rock-studded grassy ridge west of Danville.

Why now:
Las Trampas sings in spring -- lovely flowers and not too hot.

If you can't make it this week:
Too hot in summer, but autumn is pleasant. Avoid during the wettest months because trails get mucked up by the cows.

Insider tip:
Bollinger Creek divides Las Trampas into two different plant communities. If you prefer chaparral to grassland, explore the eastern part of the wilderness, on trails up and down Las Trampas Ridge.

Las Trampas is hike number 25 in 60 Hikes in 60 Miles: San Francisco (third edition). Read about this hike on BAHiker.

Alternate choice:
Crane Creek is a tiny oasis on the eastern outskirts of Rohnert Park. Lose yourself in a landscape of grassland, graceful oaks, and a burbling stream, on this easy 1.1 mile hike.

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

60 Hikes in 60 Miles in 60 Weeks: Week Thirty-two
Briones Regional Park

View of lovely hills from Old Briones Road Trail

What it's like:
4.3 miles up, over, and down glorious rolling grassy hills near Walnut Creek.

Why now:
Flower displays peak in April before grass towers over and obstructs big patches of California poppy, creamcups, and lupines.

If you can't make it this week:
Often really muddy in winter due to cattle traffic. Pleasant in autumn, especially the colorful foliage on Black Oak Trail.

Insider tip:
Briones is a large park with several staging areas, but Bear Creek provides the most parking as well as a few charming picnic sites (with grills and tables) near the trailhead.

Briones is hike number 22 in 60 Hikes in 60 Miles: San Francisco (third edition). Read about this hike on BAHiker.

Alternate choice:
Calero County Park trails lead uphill from the shore of their namesake reservoir, southwest of San Jose. This is a remote and often lonely place, where wildflowers are plentiful in spring (you may see some rare ones in the serpentine soil part of the park).  Spend a few hours exploring Calero on this 5.1 mile loop, or make a full day out of it by continuing deeper into the hills. Most trails here are old ranch roads with moderate grades -- check the park map for some ideas.

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