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 Comments:
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.
27 Nov, 2011. Hello Folks. I have deleted some of my old comments as they were several years out of date. I left a couple of the old ones as they still reflect current conditions.
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