After sorting through feedback, I've decided to drop 3 hikes on the geographical fringe of the "60 Hikes in 60 Miles" concept. I still believe it's worth the long drive to Henry Coe and Mount St. Helena (so I've kept them in the next edition), but readers have asked for more hikes closer to San Francisco, so I'll be adding three new hikes in the City proper. You can still read about the dropped hikes (Wilder Ranch, Loch Lomond, and Pinnacle Gulch) on Bay Area Hiker.
1 Angel Island State Park
2 Annadel State Park
3 Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
4 China Camp State Park
5 Jack London State Historic Park (will be rewritten to reflect new trails)
6 Marin Headlands: Gerbode Valley Loop
7 Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve
8 Mount Tamalpais: Phoenix Lake
9 Mount Tamalpais State Park: Matt Davis-Steep Ravine Loop
10 Mount Tamalpais State Park: Mountain Home-Muir Woods Loop
11 Mount Tamalpais State Park: Cataract Falls-Potrero Meadows Loop
12 Point Reyes National Seashore: Bear Valley to Arch Rock
13 Point Reyes National Seashore: Muddy Hollow (new page coming soon)
14 Point Reyes National Seashore: Tomales Point
15 Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve
16 Skyline Wilderness Park
17 Robert Louis Stevenson State Park
18 Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
19 Samuel P. Taylor State Park (book version is slightly different -- I can mail copies of this hike)
20 Tomales Bay State Park
EAST BAY (including Alameda and Contra Costa Counties)
21 Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
22 Briones Regional Park
23 Anthony Chabot Regional Park
24 Coyote Hills Regional Park
25 Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve
26 Las Trampas Regional Wilderness
27 Los Vaqueros Watershed
28 Mission Peak Regional Preserve
29 Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
30 Mount Diablo State Park: Donner Canyon Waterfall Loop (an updated hike is planned with Hetherington, Bruce Lee, Donner trails connecting to Cardinet Oaks Road)
31 Mount Diablo State Park: Mary Bowerman Loop
32 Mount Diablo State Park: Mitchell Canyon-Eagle Peak Loop
33 Redwood Regional Park
34 Round Valley Regional Preserve
35 Sunol Regional Wilderness
36 Tilden Regional Park (book version is different but the web hike -- I can mail copies of this hike)
PENINSULA AND SOUTH BAY (including San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties)
37 Almaden Quicksilver County Park
38 Año Nuevo State Reserve
39 Big Basin Redwoods State Park: Waterfall Loop
40 Castle Rock State Park
41 Henry W. Coe State Park
42 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
43 Edgewood Park and Preserve (DONE)
44 Joseph D. Grant County Park (planning a hike with different trails for 3rd ed)
45 Montara Mountain (book version is different -- I can mail copies of this hike)
46 Monte Bello Open Space Preserve
47 Portola Redwoods State Park
48 Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve (planning a hike with different trails for 3rd edition)
49 Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
50 Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve (book version is different -- I can mail copies of this hike)
51 Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve (planning a slightly different hike for 3rd edition)
52 San Bruno Mountain County Park (planning a slightly different hike for 3rd edition)
53 Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve
54 Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve (book version is different -- I can mail copies of this hike)
55 Sweeney Ridge (DONE)
56 Uvas Canyon County Park
57 Windy Hill Open Space Preserve
SAN FRANCISCO
58 Lands End (DONE)
59 Mount Davidson (DONE)
Feel free to post your thoughts in the comments!
I feel you have to include Crissy Field, Marina Green to Fort Point. It's a very special place, the San Francisco shoreline, for biking or hiking. There's really no other place quite like this.
ReplyDeleteI live in the South Bay and would like to hike Skyline Ridge and Rancho San Antonio. Can you send me the details?
ReplyDeleteAlso I plan to hike Russian Ridge tmw and hope I can follow this - http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/russianridge.html
Tatetat, not sure if you are still planning on hiking in the rain (at least that's what's going on here). What's the best way for me to send you the hikes? As a PDF or photocopies?
ReplyDeleteThe Russian Ridge hike follows the text on BAHiker, with these changes:
at the junction with Alder Spring Trail, so straight (left) on Alder Spring.
At the junction with Hawk Trail, go right on Hawk Trail.
At the ridgeline and junction with Ridge Trail, turn right and follow Ridge Trail back to the trailhead.
I've added on to the existing hike because I think Hawk is a nicer trail.
Let me know about how to get the other hikes to you.
Jane, I completed the Portola Redwoods hike on Sunday November 27, 2011. Great hike and here are some comments.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen so many mushrooms anywhere, including any of the Santa Cruz Mountain hikes. Great numbers and great diversity; more than any other 5 hikes put together that I've ever been on. Note that this was a couple of days after a pretty good rain. Iverson trail wins my vote as the best mushroom walk in the SC mountains. Too bad the park is closed from Dec 1 until next spring.
According to my GPS the distance I got for the hike was a mile short of what you report. You report that the turn onto Iverson trail from the service road is at 3.7 miles. You also report problems with the trail. Well, today, at approx 2.7 miles in, there's an entrance to Iverson trail. I took that turn. I think by taking that turn I cut a mile from the hike. Anyhow, entering Iverson from Old Haul Rd meant that the trail was clean and clear. No hint of the slide or downed trees you mention. It seems likely that the trail was rerouted to avoid the trouble spot. Being so late in the season, there wasn't a ranger around to ask when I left for or got back from the hike.
Because my hike was after the rangers removed the bridges over Pescadero Creek, I started at the Madrone parking area and started on the Iverson trail as you suggest. You might note that this is the same parking area that's closest to the Ranger station, it's just a few steps before you actually arrive at the station. My point is that starting out on the Iverson trail does indeed avoid the creek on the way INTO the hike, but you still need to cross the creek nearly at the end of the hike. And like the bridge near the nature trail, this bridge was pulled out as well. On the bright side, the water was only about a foot deep at the deepest spot. But you should add this note.
Hi Jim, thanks for the great report. I wasn't aware that Portola would close for the winter. Do they always do that? -- I don't remember it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's a gorgeous park and I have also experienced the mushroom splendor! But I wonder if it's a good hike to include in the 3rd edition of the book. If it's closed in the winters and stands to close with the budget cuts coming in 2012, should I maybe swap it for a park that will be open all year? What do you think?
Hi Jane. I may have been mistaken. I saw or heard that it was closed from Dec 1st till spring but it may have just been referring to the campground. But I can report that the campground was already closed on Nov 27. Probably a good idea to call them on Dec 1st. They seem to update their website almost daily, so someone's paying attention. It's a park that does close after bad weather; it's a great idea to advise people to call ahead. I've learned the hard way. Its remoteness and ruggedness is part of its charm. If I was wrong and it's not closing, then I'd recommend keeping it in the book, and let's all keep fingers crossed that it won't get the budget-caused "hook". Having said that, if you're pretty sure that the "closing" list will come true, then you'd be wise to just include trips that you know will be available. It'd be a shame because Portola compares very favorably with Big Basin and it gets a tiny fraction of the action. This was my 3rd hike at Portola, they were all different and all very good.
ReplyDeleteOn another topic ... on July 17th I did your Purisima hike. Another surprisingly good hike. Only things to report are that many cars were able to park at the trailhead, along the road. As you know, the parking lot is tiny. Also, everything was really green; very much like a rain forest. Hike set a record for banana slug sightings. Only big surprise was the amount of mud. I know it was a wet spring, but I've never seen so much mud in July. Even the open and wide Harkens Ridge trail was really slippery on the steep descents. Reminded me of many other SC mountain hikes in the middle of winter.
Lastly, are there any of the peninsula or south bay hikes you're particularly interested in having checked out? Have you thought of covering the Fall Creek unit of Henry Cowell?
Hi Jane, here's my report on Round Valley (part 1). I was there this morning following the route on BAHiker.com.
ReplyDeleteUpdates to driving directions:
None from CA 24 vial Clayton. I did not check the Vasco Road route.
Changes in access or entrance fees:
- Parking is free, not $2 as you mention
- Potable water is available at the trailhead however it has a very strong chemical taste. I wasn’t desperate enough to drink it today. ;)
- There is a bike rack at the lot and a recycling bin for bottles
- There is an emergency phone next to the toilets
- There are three picnic tables under a large oak just before the first bridge near the parking lot.
- While the park is open from dawn to dusk, the gates are open from 8 AM to 6 PM and there is a park curfew from 10 PM to 5 AM.
Changes in trail names:
None
Changes in trail conditions:
- Trails were in excellent shape. Dry and even, not beat up by cattle or horses like they get in wetter months.
- Sections of Los Vaqueros are closed due to construction and expansion of the dam. However, the Miwok Trail that links Round Valley to Morgan Territory through Los Vaqueros is and will be open throughout the construction period.
New trails:
None
Removed trails:
None
Anything different than the text:
There is one group campground in Round Valley. It is a beautiful site off Murphy Meadow Trail, tucked away behind a hill and invisible unless one gets really close to it. Non-potable water and a vault toilet are available at the campsite. There are picnic tables and leveled tent spaces. I have not camped there but I had hiked up to it early one morning this spring and wished I’d spent the night there.
Round Valley (part 2)
ReplyDeleteAnything good or bad in your hiking experiences:
- Over the years, I’ve noted more people and trash in the park. It is definitely getting popular but the rewards are still the same.
- From the top of the Hardy Canyon loop, one can see the entire valley below, Morgan Territory straight up and Mt. Diablo’s peaks behind it. Also looking back one can see the central valley and the Sierras. And if one walks around exploring the area near the top, one can see Los Vaqueros reservoir and windmills too.
Anything interesting you see or experience while hiking:
- On any given day, expect to see equestrians, bikers, runners, power walkers and hikers in the park.
- The Hardy Canyon Trail is already turning green while the Miwok Trail is still summer-burned.
- The squirrels along Hardy Canyon Trail seemed more active and numerous than those along the Miwok Trail.
- On a recent hike this October, some members of the hiking group I was with saw tarantulas.
- Watch out for angry birds here. On the same hike, I was attacked by an aggressive rooster in the parking lot. Apparently they wander over from neighboring properties and get aggressive with visitors. Other members of the group too were attacked or chased by the rooster.
Additional notes:
- Round Valley is the eastern terminus of the Diablo Trail, a 31 mile trail (planned as a 60 mile loop when complete) that ends in Shell Ridge in Walnut Creek. It goes through Round Valley, Los Vaqueros, Morgan Territory, Mt. Diablo State Park, Diablo Foothills and Shell Ridge.
- One can see the Volvon Trail (the windy gap near the Bob Walker Ridge) from Round Valley
- I prefer to hike in a clockwise rotation (opposite of the description in the book), starting with the Hardy Canyon Trail and ending with the Miwok Trail for the following reasons:
1. I think the view of the valley is better and more dramatic from the top of Hardy Canyon Trail. It adds an element of surprise and reward to the hike.
2. Likewise, one is hiking down facing the valley below instead of climbing up with their back to the valley.
3. It allows people to extend their hike to the easy section of the park since the challenging part is over.
I’ll check Morgan Territory and Black Diamond Mines for you next week. I was on the Volvon Trail in Morgan Territory twice last month but without my fact-checker’s eyes.
Please let me know if you have any questions about Round Valley. Thanks for writing such a fantastic book.
Raj
Jane,
ReplyDeleteTwo friends and I just finished a fabulous hike of Castle Rock State Park today. Sadly, it appears this is on the list for closure by July 2012. It seemed pretty popular, especially with rock climbers, so I hope that doesn't happen.
We started at about 10:15am on Saturday Dec. 3. The parking lot was about half full, but there were a lot of cars in the no-fee area up the road as well. It took us almost exactly 3 hours, including the visit to Castle Rock. Temperature in the shade was cool for the whole hike, and was 43 degrees in the parking lot when we left at 1:20pm. It was reasonably busy, and many hikers seemed to be going in the reverse direction, beginning with the Saratoga Gap trail and ending with Ridge Trail. When we left, the fee parking area was completely full.
We're pretty sure we made it to the top of Goat Rock. We didn't see the first signed junction with a trail to the interpretive center, but at the junction that says Ridge Trail, "to Campground", you can also go left towards a "Scenic Overlook". It has some benches, two signs describing the wildlife, and a nice view of Monterey Bay on a clear day.
The sign for turning on the Saratoga Gap trail ("At 2.40 miles, Ridge Trail meets Saratoga Gap Trail at a signed junction. Turn left onto Saratoga Gap Trail.") was a bit difficult. To see that it was pointing towards Saratoga Gap, we actually had to look on the side of the sign that wasn't facing us. We almost continued on to the campground. It was about a 315 degree turn.
Not very much water at Castle Rock Falls, but it was still flowing.
On the way to Castle Rock, during the last segment on Castle Rock Trail, we encountered some other hikers descending at an unmarked intersection. We took their way up (left), instead of remaining on the path that continued straight. We saw a Path sign later on our trail, but we're not really sure if that was the standard approach to Castle Rock or not.
It would helpful if words like bridge and fence were also bolded in the narrative, so you had more confirmation you were on the right path.
updates to driving directions: none
changes in access or entrance fees: none
changes in trail names: The bird watching viewpoint just before the connector from Ridge Trail to Saratoga Ridge has a sign labeling it "Emily Smith Observation Point"
changes in trail conditions: Still in good shape, although there were some downed branches from recent storms, and multiple signs warning of areas that were off limits (mostly for plant rehabilitation).
new trails: The trail to the Scenic Overlook wasn't mentioned.
removed trails: none
anything different than the text: see above
anything good or bad in your hiking experiences: very nice weather. Lots of shade, except the Saratoga Gap Trail. It was about 20 degrees cooler in the mountains than in the town of Saratoga (45 vs. 65)
anything interesting you see or experience while hiking: View of Monterey Bay with the sun reflecting was quite nice.
Thanks,
Russell
Jane, I followed the route you described in Morgan Territory today. These are my observations (part 1):
ReplyDeleteUpdates to driving directions:
- I drove in through Clayton and the distance to the parking lot was about 9.25 miles. I did not verify access via the other two routes you mention.
- Morgan Territory road was paved over a couple of years ago but it remains a bumpy ride. The road is deteriorating. Also, there were a lot of broken branches scattered on the road.
Changes to access or entrance fees:
- The parking lot is open from 8 AM to 5 PM
- There are three picnic tables at the trailhead and also a recycling bin
- There is a backpacking camp on the west side along the Highland Ridge Trail
Changes in trail names:
None
Changes in trail conditions:
- The trails were generally fine. The open hillside section of the Coyote Trail between Stone Corral and Mollok trails had some residual unevenness from cow footprints from last year but it wasn't bad.
- Cow droppings and cows were limited to the first mile and a half of the hike, and neither were in significant numbers.
- Sometimes there is barbed wire strung across Coyote Trail between the pond and the Condor Trail intersection. Today the wires were moved aside but they were up, albeit trampled down last month.
New trails:
None
Removed trails:
None
Continued...
Morgan Territory (part 2)
ReplyDeleteAnything different than the text:
- From the parking lot, just after the Coyote Trail split, the Vovlon Trail goes through a gate. It is insignificant since it is visible from the parking lot. However I mention in for the sake of completeness.
- There are views of the delta, central valley and the snowcaps of the Sierras from the notch on the Volvon Trail where it begins the loop around the Bob Walker Ridge.
- You mention the Coyote Trail splits up after the cattle gate as one heads towards the Mollok Trail. I did not see the split. Instead, before getting to the gate, an unmarked single track trail joins in from the right. This is a detour that links up to the Stone Corral Trail at the bottom of the hill. It leads to a large tree with a concentration of grinding bowls in rocks under its shade.
- The distances mentioned in the text are slightly off. Unfortunately the GPS on my phone was acting up so I don't have verifiable for you. Overall the hike is about 5 miles, not 4.7 miles. I was on a 6-mile hike (verified by two different GPS units) here last month and the only difference was that we did the loop around the Bob Walker Ridge and skipped the 0.30 mile connector between the notch and Stone Corral Trail. Doing the math, the hike come out to 5.1 miles.
Anything good or bad in your hiking experiences:
- I've noticed that there are more people on the trails in Morgan Territory. Versions of loop are popular with visitors to the park. Other trails and particularly the west side of Morgan Territory are less popular.
- For some reason, one can never escape the constant drone of airplanes at Morgan Territory. Also helicopters and small planes add to the noise.
Anything interesting you see or experience while hiking:
- I usually see coyotes on the trail here. Saw one today too. Also, I saw a fox there once.
- Last month I encountered half a dozen cops riding motorcycles in formation on the Volvon Trail. That was one of the strangest encounters I've ever had on any trail.
- In April last year, I saw a mountain lion cub running across the trail in the west side of Morgan Territory near the backpacking camp.
- Along the Blue Oak Trail, after the Hummingbird Trail split, I saw couple of trees severely pockmarked by woodpeckers with holes packed with nuts. Apparently woodpeckers are like squirrels in this regard.
Best,
Raj
Jim,
ReplyDeleteI'm trying not to add any new hikes that stretch the 60 miles concept -- Fall Creek is lovely but it takes a long time to get there from SF (and everywhere else but the peninsula and south bay)
Would you consider checking Sierra Azul? Let me know! And thanks!
Jane
Raj, Awesome reporting! You should start your own blog! I like your idea about routing the Round Valley hike the other direction. I will do the hike that way next time. Thanks so much, your comments are extremely helpful.
ReplyDeleteJane
Thanks for the suggestion Jane. I have a blog www.52hikes.wordpress.com. It was dormant for a year.
ReplyDeleteI should be able to make it to Black Diamond Mines before the end of the week.
Best,
Raj
Hi Jane. I did your Sierra Azul hike today, Dec 11th. It was overcast and hazy but it was a pleasant hike. Your report from 2006 is still spot-on. As you suggested, the Mt Umunhum road sign was down, but there's a 4 way stop at the intersection. Turn right from Hicks and you get to the Sierra Azul parking lot; turn left and you're near an Almaden Quicksilver lot. You may want to note that if the smallish Sierra Azul parking lot is full, there's a much bigger parking lot, used for Almaden Quicksilver, just on the other side of Hicks Road, and it probably would only add 400 - 500 feet to the hike. I got the second to the last parking spot today but the guy who arrived right after me noted that he'd never seen so many cars. I agree with you that this would be best in the late Winter or Spring, for the flowers. Also, pick a clear day for the great views. The road/trail was wide and dry the whole way and seemed well patrolled by a ranger. The road/trail is more rocky than sandy so it's not a route for sneakers. I saw 1 runner, a couple of bikers and a handful of other hikers, which means I didn't see anyone for 98% of the hike. Hearty hikers can double the walk and add approx 1200' elevation by continuing on Woods trail to the top of Mt. El Sombroso. Lastly, I've never been so close to the abandoned Air Force "box" building at the top of Umunhum.
ReplyDeleteJane,
ReplyDeleteHere's my report on Black Diamond Mines. I covered the hike last week. Here's the link to it - https://acrobat.com/#d=Ju*rdz-FgNzX4iIjznOXLw
I'll probably get to some of the other east bay hikes after the holidays.
Best,
Raj
Jane ...
ReplyDeleteI did the docent-led Ano Nuevo hike on Dec 17th, but can't really review your directions from your April 2005 hike because the docent led hikes are, well, docent led. One comment though ... there is an "equal access" trail for part of the year, allowing wheelchair users or simply people who require a shorter walk to see the Elephant Seals. As for the part of the hike that overlaps yours, everything still seems the same since your 2005 hike, including entrance fee, parking, trail conditions, wildlife, etc. Equal access:
http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=77&type=0
Jim, can you email me your snail mail address? I'd like to send you a copy of my new book as a thanks for your excellent trail checking. My email is jane@bahiker.com
DeleteThanks!