Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Today I lead my College of San Mateo class on a 5+mile field trip through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, near Felton. The weather was perfect and the wildflowers were blooming.

We started at the main parking lot, just south of Felton. From there we walked through the small old-growth redwood grove, pausing to examine the ancient trees and the plants that grow on the shady forest floor. From there we took the River Trail along the San Lorenzo River and then hiked uphill on the Eagle Creek Trail. We stopped to examine a big old gnarly redwood that was probably spared because it has too many burls and fire scars to make good lumber. We headed south on the Pine Trail and paused for lunch at the observation platform, with views of the surrounding mountains and Monterey Bay. We also observed the unique vegetation of the sandhills ecosystem. We descended on the Ridge Fire Road and turned right on the Rincon Fire Road, left on the River Trail  and Pipeline Road back to the old-growth redwood grove. After finishing the old-growth loop, we walked across the parking lot to the Roaring Camp Big Trees Railroad property, where we examined some nineteenth century sawmill equipment.

This is the first time I have used this route for a field trip, but it will not be the last.

Steven Creek County Park & Fremont Older Open Space Loop

Today I lead my Foothill College class on a six mile hike through Stevens Creek County Park and Fremont Older Open Space Preserve. We started our outing at the Stevens Creek County Park parking lot on Stevens Canyon Road.
It was a hot day, and the combination of heat and recent rain resulted in an explosion of wildflowers. It looks like we pretty much hit the wildflowers at their peak. We say larkspur, globe lilly, striped coral root orchids, chia, monkey flower, phlox, blue witch, Chinese houses, linanthus, climatis, checker lilly, and many more. Being on the dry east side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the wildflowers will be fading in the next few weeks.
Our six mile hike started at the Stevens Creek County Park parking lot. We followed the  Stevens Creek Tony Look Trail along the reservoir to the group picnic area where we had lunch. We then made a steep ascent into Fremont Older Open Space Preserve  to the Coyote Ridge Trail, where we watched a mole burrow through the ground and disappeared out of sight into the ground. We then enjoyed a spectacular view of the Santa Clara Valley from atop Maisie's Peak. From there it was downhill on the Coyote Ridge Trail back to our starting point.
TO GET THERE: from Highway 280 take Foothill Boulevard south. It turns into Stevens Canyon Road before reaching Stevens Canyon County Park.

Edgewood Park Wildflower Ramble

After a long dry spell, the rains of March and April have brought Edgewood County Park & Preserve back to life. Because of the late rain and the unusually cool Spring, it will be another week or two before the wildflower display reaches its peak.

On April 14 I lead my College of San Mateo class on a 4.2-mile ramble through the serpentine grasslands and woodlands to view the emerging explosion of blooming plant life. We met at the Clarkia Trail head along Canada Road, just south and east of Highway 280. We then combined the Clarkia Trail, Serpentine Trail, Franciscan Trail, Old Stage Road, and Edgewood Trail, which took us back to the Serpentine Loop and Clarkia Trail.

The tidy tips and goldfields are out in force in the serpentine grasslands. We also enjoyed lots of poppies, cream cups, sun cups, buttercups, lomatiums, and some purple bush lupines in full bloom. It was a beautiful sunny day. Serpentine, the state rock of California, is associated with fault zone and provides poor soil for non-native grasses because of its high toxicity and low water holding capacity. This leaves room for native plants which are adapted to the serpentine soil to thrive.

Sam McDonald County Park Redwood Ramble

On Saturday, April 7 I lead my Foothill College class on a 4.8-mile ramble through Sam McDonald County Park, deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

We started at the main parking lot on Pescadero Road. After crossing the road we charged uphill on the Town Trail, with a slight diversion on the lower part of the Big Trees Loop to see a magnificent ancient redwood with reiterations sprouting from its massive trunk. We then entered a sunny, grassy meadow and passed the horse camp and then paused at the Sierra Club hikers hut. This would have been a great place for lunch if we had arrived about half an hour later. So we descended on the Heritage Grove Trail to the beautiful old-growth redwood grove along Alpine Creek known as the Heritage Grove. This small grove of ancient redwoods was saved from being cut by conservationists in the 1970's. You can still see blue paint on some of the trees that marks them to be cut.

We were unable to reach the place I had in mind for lunch because the bridge over Alpine Creek was closed with a sign saying that it is too dangerous to use. As a result we made due with another beautiful part of the grove. After lunch we headed west on the Heritage Grove and Big Trees trails back to our starting point.

TO GET THERE... from Skyline Boulevard, take La Honda Road west, past the town of La Honda, and turn left (south) on Pescadero Road. Continue on Pescadero Road a couple of miles to the Sam McDonald County Park parking lot.