Local Hikes
Blog your local hikes here. Use the comment button to add your hike.
posted by Bob Groff @ 1:52 PM
Thursday, July 20, 2006
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6 May: Henry Coe State Park trails are in pretty good condition but still had some tree falls across some trails. You could get through but it took a bit to get around, over, or under some of the blockages. The wildflowers were just past their peak but still look great. Make sure you take enough water (you should do that in any case) because it can get really hot at Coe.
27/28 May: Did a quick backpack trip to Henry Coe. The trails are in better shape since the 6 May hike. Memorial Day weekend is usually busy at Coe but there are enough places to camp we have never had trouble finding a spot. You can see where the trail repair folks have been working on the China Hole trail out of Manzanita Point. The trail from China Hole to Kelly Lake/Lost Spring needs some work though. And a lot of poison oak around and ticks abound so be alert. The creeks are all running well so expect to get your boots wet. The springs are also doing well so there is a lot of water to fill up your bottle but make sure you filter it! And make sure you do bring a good sized water bottle. I use a 2 liter bladder in my pack and went through almost all of it on Sunday. Staying hydrated is VERY important. The days are warm to hot and the nights are chilly so come prepared. There was some wildlife to see as well. A lot of birds, some deer, beetles, and we accidentally flushed a coyote around Poverty Flat. There are still a lot of wildflowers but they are really starting to fade. If you have allergies, make sure you bring your personal remedy. Coe is a great place to enjoy nature and is close by. Get out there and enjoy it.
3 July: The Coyote Creek Parkway has a great trial for biking. You can hike it but it is paved and fairly open to the sun so biking is a better way to go. We started at the trailhead at the Anderson Lake area off Cochrane. There is a lot of new housing going in that detracts from the ride but it quickly heads along Coyote creek and into nature. There are a lot of different birds along the route to see. About every 4 to 5 miles there is a little picnic area for trail users, but there is no water so make sure you bring your own. The trail then runs within sight and sound of 101 which also detracts from the ride but it then curves back to a more rural type feeling and runs along Coyote Creek again. There are a couple of areas where there are bathroom facilities, mostly port-a-potty type, until you get to Metcalf park about 14 miles from the trailhead. There you will find flush toilets and water. You can continue your ride as the trail ties into Helyer Park trail after it crosses back under 101 near the 85 interchange. It is mostly an urban ride and there are more walkers around Metcalf Helyer Park then further down. All things considered, it is a nice ride.
4 July: Did a six+ mile hike at Sanborn County Park. Sanborn is a really nice park for a picnic, a hike, or to just wander around in. There is a YSI facility there to interest the younger set and also a nature trail. The trails are well maintained and for the most part the trail markers are good. We took the Sanborn trail up to Skyline. It was a fairly easy hike but there was some uphill that might provide a bit of work for those just getting into hiking. The views were nice but most of the trail was covered by tree canopy so even on a hot day it should be ok, but be sure to bring water. From the connection to the Skyline trail one could get to Castle Rock, Saratoga Gap, Big Basin, and beyond for those seeking a really long hike. There are 15 miles of trails in Sanborn and the Bay Ridge Trail goes through the upper part of the park. Check out Sanborn, it is a close by treasure.
16 July: Villa Montalvo has a few short trails that are nice for a quick hike or to take the little ones. The trails are mostly under the tree canopy so it is not too hot when hiking but as you will have noticed by now I always encourage you to bring water. The lookout trail brings you out on an small mound that gives an expansive view of Santa Clara Valley. It is always a bit disconserting seeing the layer of haze that hangs over the Valley and to think we are breathing that stuff. A lot of it blows south and has a effect on Morgan Hill/Gilroy area. Coming back down from the lookout, you can head back to the parking lot or take the redwood trail that hooks up with the creek/orchard trails. Taking this route will add another 15 to 20 minutes to your hike depending on your speed. There are a lot of families on these trails so serious hikers may want to give it a miss unless you are just out for a stroll.
15 January: Returned to Sanborn County Park for a winter hike. The park had very few visitors and the trails were almost empty. If you decide to go, make sure you bring some $1 bills or a 5 to put in the machine in case the entry station is closed. We parked in the upper parking lot and immediately saw at least a dozen deer munching on the grass. The bathrooms are open in the picnic area but are cold. There are no other formal restrooms available after the campground so be prepared. We hiked up through the campgrounds (closed at this time along with the bathrooms in the campground) to the Sanborn trail. From there we continued up to the Skyline trail and over to Sunnyvale Mountain. We saw a lot of birds, mostly jays, and even some insects along the way. It is a nice hike but be sure to be ready for winter hiking. Be sure to bring enough water (at least a liter per person) and dress in layers. You will get warm hiking up and cool coming back down and you need to be able to remove and add layers. Do not wear cotton. Layer with one of the wicking materials available. While the trails are pretty clear, there are a couple of spots where the high winds we had a short time ago have blown some trees over the trail. They are fairly easy to get around though. When we got to the junction of Sanborn and Skyline trails we turned southeast on Skyline to Sunnyvale Mountain. In about 0.7 miles the trail gets close to highway 35. There is a picnic bench there but it is in the shade and a bit chilly along with the traffic noise. On the way out, we saw a coyote just trotting across an open field. It did not pay us any attention so we were able to get a good long look. A nice winter hike.
Anyone out there interested in taking some local hikes? I have been exploring quite a bit and have found some wonderful places to go hiking in the local area. If there is enough interest, I would be happy to lead some hikes for the Guadalupe group. I am also a qualified Wilderness First Responder and a Service Outings leader so I have experience to lead hikes. Leave a note on this blog if you are interested in some local hikes.
1 April 2008: Just visited The Forest of Nisene Marks for a day hike. We set off on the West Ridge (WR) trail just a ways down from the winter gate. The trail head was clearly marked. There were some ups and downs but mostly an easy stroll. This trail is in pretty good shape and easy to follow. A few of the signs at trail intersections need to be a little clearer but not too bad. The first major intersection is the toughest. Our trail made a tee into another trail but the trail arrow showed straight ahead (there is no straight ahead). Take a right here. In a bit you will run across another intersection that is labeled. You can continue on the WR trail or cut across on the Ridge Connection (RC) trail. We took the RC trail and in about 1/2 mile connected up with the Big Stump Gap trail. Here we headed down to the Loma Prieta Grade (LPG)trail to view a couple of historic sites. It looks like these are old logging camps and pretty much in decay. Back in the late 1800's and early 1900's this area was clear cut. Looking at the trees you can see it is a pretty young forest and still recovering. Have a look at the state park web page to see what the Marks family did to help the recovery. The LPG trail mostly follows the old logging train bed and you can still see some of the ties. This area was also the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The trail ended at the fire road and we hiked a short ways to the Porter Family picnic area were we were able to pick up a short trail, the Porter trail, to get away from the road. This trail had a couple of creek crossings but there was no problem hopping from stone to stone to stay dry. The trails are mostly under canopy so even on a hot day it should not be too bad but still bring a hat. This park has a nice selection of trails and you can spend the whole day there and not see all of it. One note, make sure you take your own water as we did not see any available for drinking there.
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