Rain didn't begin until the end of my Foothill/De Anza College field trip today at Wilder Ranch State Park. We met at the park headquarters and then carpooled a couple of miles west along Highway 1 to Four Mile Beach. Then we walked about 5-6 miles along the Ohlone Bluff Trail and Old Cove Landing Trail back to the park entrance. A car shuttle makes it possible to explore this spectacular stretch of rugged coast without retracing your steps.
After examining a wave-carved tunnel at Four Mile Beach we climbed up to the coastal bluffs and headed east and around Three Mile Beach. We skipped this beach because the trail access involves scrambling down some steep slopes. It seems counter-intuitive to describe this route as going eastbound. If you examine a map you will see that this park is on a part of the coast that goes east/west, not north/south. When you look out to sea you are actually looking south. On a clear day you can see the Santa Lucia Mountains south of Monterey.
We followed a trail down to Strawberry Beach for lunch. This is a very pleasant little beach, protected from the ocean breezes by cliffs. Because it is the most isolated of the beaches in this park, we had it all to ourselves. At Sand Point Beach we followed a narrow trail to the beach. One part of this route is a little precarious and requires careful footing. Just beyond this beach we saw five sea otters relaxing in the kelp. They were far enough away that binoculars were required to confirm their identity. A short distance farther we gazed down from the coastal bluff to a flat surf-pounded rock with dozens of relaxing harbor seals.
Fern Grotto Beach was our next stop as we entered an ancient sea cave adorned with hanging ferns. Upon ascending back to the bluffs we were treated to the sight of a sea otter swimming below us, close enough that binoculars were not needed.
The field trip was concluded with a visit to the historic ranch buildings, which were the center of the annual Harvest Festival activities. There was live music and demonstrations of nineteenth century technology and agricultural methods. My favorite is the workshop, which is powered by water via a pelton wheel. The shop comes alive with conveyor belts, which run a saw, drill, lathe and electric generator. This event is held every October.
Wilder Ranch State Park is along Highway 1 about 42 miles south of Half Moon Bay and 2 miles west of Santa Cruz.
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