A Downhill Saunter Through Wunderlich County Park

My College of San Mateo class enjoyed a delightful one-way downhill saunter from top to bottom at Wunderlich County Park in Woodside.

We met at 10 AM at the main parking lot on Woodside Road. Because parking was getting quite tight, next time we do this route we will meet at 9:30 AM instead. We then carpooled south on Woodside Road, uphill on La Honda Road (Hwy 84), and then north on Skyline Boulevard (Hwy 35) to the uphill entrance to the park.

From there, we walked downhill on the Alambique Trail through a forest of second-growth redwood and Douglas fir, with some beautiful irises and wild rose along the way. We noted many dead tanbark oak that were killed by Sudden Oak Death Syndrome (SODS). One of these trees had many holes that were filled with acorns by a colony of acorn woodpeckers. We then headed north on the Bear Gulch Trail to our lunch stop at  The Meadows. Here we were out of the forest in a green and open meadow with beautiful views. Some of us rolled cut sections of a downed tree into the shade to sit on while eating lunch. After lunch I

passed around brownies made from the nut of the California Bay tree.

The ecological diversity of this park was further revealed as we continued downhill on the Meadow Trail, which passes through groves of coast live oak, white oak, and black oak. Continuing downhill on the Meadow Trail, we turned north on the Redwood Trail and the Madrone Trail. We stopped to watch newts swimming in the concrete pond at Salamader Flat. This pond was constructed more than a hundred years ago to provide water for the Folger estate.

From the Madrone Trail we turned right on the Bear Gulch Trail and continued downhill to the historic Folger Stable, built in 1905. We visited the small museum in the stable. This recently restored stable  is the ultimate in equine luxury.

TO GET THERE... from Highway 280, take Woodside Road west and south. The park entrance is about 2 miles beyond the town of Woodside.

Hidden Villa Ramble

A warm and sunny day set the stage for a scenic and eventful hike with my Foothill College class that included two rattlesnakes, a horned lizard, lots of wildflowers, and some great views.

After carpooling from the Foothill College parking lot #1, we assembled at the big parking lot at Hidden Villa at 10 AM. We then toured the organic garden, watched the chickens, pigs, goats, cows, and sheep, and visited the Duveneck home before charging uphill on the Long Bunny Loop trail. It was on this trail that Victor first spotted a rattlesnake, who warned us in no uncertain terms that we were not to come any closer. 

We obeyed. 

We then paused for lunch at two picnic tables beside Adobe Creek before heading uphill on the Creek Trail and Ewing Hill Trail to the Black Mountain Trail in Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve. It was along this stretch of trail that some of the group encountered another rattlesnake that was too close to the trail for comfort. Fortunately, rattlesnakes are not aggressive creatures. They just want to be left alone to find a nice juicy rodent to eat. This one slithered away to a safe distance. Just before the Black Mountain Trail we stopped at an overlook to appreciate a spectacular view of much of the South Bay Area.

From the Black Mountain Trail we enjoyed lots of beautiful wildflowers before turning left and eastward on the Hostel Trail

. It was along this trail that I nearly stepped on a horned lizard. The creature was so well camouflaged  that I didn't see it. Fortunately, Victor did see it. See the photo I took after it scurried off the trail. We continued downhill on the Hostel Trail and back to the parking lot. 

Among the wildflowers we saw were buttercups, Solomon's seal, woodland star, clematis, elegant clarkia,  mule ear, indian paintbrush, hounds tongue, sticky monkeyflower, larkspur, linanthus, globe lilly, star flower, and blue witch.

Hidden Villa is owned by the private non-profit Trust for Hidden Villa. It is open to the public from Tuesday through Sunday from 9 AM until sunset. It is closed to the general public during summer when summer camp is in session.

TO GET THERE... from Highway 280 in Los Altos, take the El Monte/Moody Road exit at Foothill College  and travel west on Moody Road 2.5 miles to Hidden Villa. Look for the "AYH" sign.

Calero County Park Figure-8 Ramble

Today was another glorious day for a field trip for my College of San Mateo Peninsula Parks & Trails class.  From the south entrance to Calero County Park we hiked the Access Trail to the Los Cerritos Trail, pausing at the pond to appreciate the song and antics of a colony of redwing blackbirds. With much aerobic exertion we then ascended a ridge on the Pena Trail, with great views of Mount Hamilton to the east and Mount Umunhum to the west.

From the intersection, where four trails meet, we traveled the Javelina Loop, stopping to examine an elevated hotel for bats. From the intersection with the Cottle Trail we charged uphill and to the south on the Javelina Loop, stopping for about half an hour for lunch at an open hillside, where there were lots of wildflowers, including wild onions and goldfield, and a great view of the Calero Reservoir.

On the way back, we stopped to look at the Fish Camp pond and some beautiful white oaks. Returning to the intersection we then headed southeast on the Figueroa Trail and north on the Vallecito Trail. The rest of the route retraced our steps on the Pena Trail, Los Cerritos Trail, and Access Trail. I picked up a large gopher snake on the way back. Most of the group declined the offer to hold the creature.

Our route covered about 6 miles of rugged terrain, mostly on old ranch road trails. Some of the route is quite steep, but the trails are in excellent condition.  Much to our surprise we saw no equestrians along the way.

TO GET THERE... from Highway 101 south of San Jose, take Bailey Avenue west and McKean Road south to the park entrance.

Portola State Park & Pescadero Creek County Park hike

Today I lead my Foothill College class on a 5-mile redwood loop hike from Portola State Park, through Pescadero Creek County park, and then back to where we started.

After carpooling at the Highway 280/Page Mill Road park & ride lot, we assembled at the Ramada Group Day Use Area in Portola State Park. We then headed down the Service Road, where we admired a banana slug, crossed the bridge over Pescadero Creek, and paused at the Iverson Cabin Site. We then followed the Old Haul Road west and then headed northwest on the Bridge Trail, taking a side excursion to the twisted old Snag Tree. We stopped for lunch along Pescadero Creek at the bridge.

After lunch we continued north on the Bridge Trail and then east on the Pomponio Trail. We climbed over a fallen tree and stopped to admire some beautiful Douglas irises on our way back to Portola State Park. We visited the small museum at the Park Office & Visitor Center. Before continuing back to our cars, part of the group hiked the .7-mile round-trip side trip to the Old Tree on the Old Tree Trail. Here we saw the best old-growth redwoods of the field trip, including the namesake tree, which is 280 feet tall, 12 feet in diameter, and estimated to be 1,200 years old.

TO GET THERE... From Highway 280 take Page Mill Road west, which turns into Alpine Road west of Skyline Boulevard. From Alpine Road turn south on Portola State Park Road.