Rancho Caņada del Oro
Friday, November 11, 2016, 8:30 am
We will start early and probably finish before lunch. There is a short version of the hike that is a little over 4 miles and 750 feet of elevation change and a longer loop that adds an additional steep 4 miles and another 750 feet of elevation. Meet at the parking lot on Casa Loma Rd. Bring plenty of water.
Directions: From Highway 101 or Highway 85. Turn west onto Bailey Avenue. At the intersection with McKean Road turn left. Where McKean Road becomes Uvas Road turn right onto Casa Loma Road. You can also go South on Almaden Expressway, jog right at the end and take McKean road to Casa Loma. Rancho Caņada del Oro Open Space Preserve is at the end of the public access portion of the road.
Rain Cancels so let Bill know if you plan to hike so he can contact you if we cancel.
Contact: Bill Desler, 408-268-3025 or desler@pacbell.net
Santa Teresa Park
Friday, October 14, 2016, 10:00 am
This hike is in Santa Teresa County Park meeting at the "chickens" entrance: intersection of Camino Verde and Manila Way. You can access Camino Verde from Santa Teresa Boulevard, just near Kaiser San Jose. Go towards the foothills until you can't go any further. This will be the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch section, with a small parking lot and plenty of street parking. Hike options will range from 4 miles to a bit over 7 miles, with approximately 400 feet elevation gain. Both will ascend the Joice Trail, the shorter-hike people looping back from Bernal Road (with David), the longer hike has hikers going into Almaden Valley and looping back (with Marilyn). There is almost no shade for anyone, but plenty of pretty views. Longer-hike people might want to bring along a lunch - everyone should bring water, sunscreen, and a hat, the usual preparations. Rain cancels.
Link to the park: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Documents/Santa-Teresa-map.pdf
Contact: Marilyn Feldhaus, David Gross, dpgross@jps.net, 408-226-3822
UC Berkeley Botanical Garden
Friday, May 27, 2016, 9:30 am
Fee: Seniors $8.00 cancelled due to lack of interest
200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA 94720-5045 The UC Botanical Garden is a non-profit research garden and museum for the University of California at Berkeley. It has a notably diverse plant collection including many rare and endangered plants. Established in 1890, the Garden, which is open to the public year round, has over 13,000 different kinds of plants from around the world, cultivated by region in naturalistic landscapes over its 34 acres. We'll meet at the main entrance to explore the gardens in bloom. Sierra Azul
Meet at the Sierra Azul parking lot on Hicks Road. Maps and a restroom are available there. West Pinnacles National Park
For a full description of this hike, click here. Rancho Canada del Oro
Meet in the parking lot on Casa Loma Road. Restroom and trail
maps are there.
See http://www.openspaceauthority.org/trails/rancho.html
We'll hike the Mayfair Ranch Loop 4.3 miles, about 800 vertical feet, gentle up and down slopes, about 2 hours. It has some nice displays of flowers, trees and shade, and one picnic bench near its
half-way point.
Getting there: From Highway 101 or 85 or Santa Teresa Blvd., turn west onto Bailey Avenue. At the T-intersection with McKean Road turn left. Drive McKean Road (Highway G8) southeast past Calero
Reservoir and a golf course and over the hill to the point where McKean becomes Uvas Road. Turn right onto Casa Loma Road. Avoid hitting a rooster or turkey crossing the road. Drive 1.6 miles
to where the pavement ends. Turn left there into the Rancho Canada del Oro parking lot.
Hike leader: Henry and Barbara Bender, 408-225-3039
The Pogonip, Santa Cruz
Ten minutes from downtown Santa Cruz lies a lush city greenbelt with spectacular views overlooking the town and Monterey Bay. It is sandwiched between the San Lorenzo River and the UCSC campus. Pogonip's 640 acres and 8 miles of trails serve up prime Santa Cruz hiking, walking through a redwood forest, oak woodland and remnants of coastal terrace prairie, plus some good old-fashioned, totally nonnative, yet-fetching-nonetheless grassland and a field of cairns. Pogonip still has four old-growth trees that were too funky to chop. One of them towers over the Spring Box Trail. A few feet away from this botanical behemoth lies a koi pond. The favorite Pogonip sampler platter loop starts at the end of Golf Club Drive and winds through grassland, redwood forest, oak woodland and abandoned clubhouse grounds.
Let me know if you plan to attend. Bring a hat, water and a lunch.
4 miles; 2 hours; moderate
Meeting point: Limited parking on Golf Club Drive, just off River Street (not far from Costco).
Hike leader: Bev Baker, 408-930-3618, bjb1950k@gmail.com
Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve, south of Calero County Park Meet at 10:00 AM at the Casa Loma Entrance of Rancho Canada del Oro where there are picnic tables and a restroom.
From there we will make a 4.3-mile loop along Mayfair Ranch and Longwall Canyon trails. During our 2 hour walk we gain approximately 400 feet to the ridge with views of Loma Prieta and Mt. Umunum along the way. Lunch will be at the picnic benches at the Casa Loma Entrance. For those who wish to continue hiking after lunch we will enter Calero Park by crossing the road to make a loop on Bald Peaks, Needlegrass and Longwall Canyon trails and thence back to our cars -- also about a 2-hour hike. From the highest point of the ridge we will see spectacular views of Mt. Hamilton and Santa Clara Valley. For both trails we will take a moderate to leisurely pace in order to enjoy wildflowers, views, the pleasant oak woodland and creeks. This is one of our favorite hikes. For those wishing an easy hike after lunch instead of a climb to a view, try the half-mile stroll along a paved nature trail and across a meadow dotted with oaks and walnut trees and along Llagas Creek. Watch for the active colony of ground squirrels in the meadow as well as deer, a bobcat, strutting turkeys, quail, and song birds. The Presidio Experience (San Francisco) Hike the Presidio Promenade to Crissy Field Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park This hike will be on Friday, April 17th. With luck we will be greeted with plenty of wildflowers. Great views of southern Santa Clara county are guaranteed. Plan to meet at the Mendoza Ranch entrance. From U.S. Highway 101 in Gilroy, take the Leavesley Road exit. Proceed east on Leavesley Road 2 miles to New Avenue. Proceed north on New Avenue .5 miles to Roop Road. Proceed east on Roop Road 3 miles into the foothills. Turn left into the park where there is a gravel parking lot. The hike will be a loop of with moderate climbing in some places. Bring your lunch. Afterwards, you are invited by the hike hosts for refreshments at their home in Morgan Hill near Lake Anderson. Directions will be provided. Rain cancels! Please reply to our email address if you are coming so that any changes can be addressed or questions answered.
Mount Sutro Open Space Preseve Join us deep in the heart of San Francisco for our monthly hike. It's in the UCSF Mount Sutro Open Space Preserve just south of the UCSF Medical Center. The Mount Sutro OSP has been recently developed to ensure this unique forested area in the center of San Francisco at an elevation topping 908'. The trails are both paved and unpaved, generally rolling with no serious ups and downs in elevation. The walk takes a couple of hours through the trees and some managed gardens along the way. Bring your lunch and water, and bathroom facilities are very limited. We'll meet at the corner of Twin Peaks Blvd. and Clarendon Ave. at 10:00 am.
St. Joseph's Hill Start the year off with a hike in the St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve located in Los Gatos. Beginning near Old Town, we'll hike on the Los Gatos Creek Trail all the way up to the top of St. Joseph's Hill - a 1,250 foot pinnacle. If we're lucky, we will be treated to panoramic views of the Santa Clara Valley, Lexington Reservoir, and the impressive Sierra Azul mountain range. This hike will total around 5 miles, with plenty of fun going uphill to work your cardiovascular system. Hopefully the views will make all that climbing worthwhile. If the trail is muddy we will take an alternate route on the flat, paved Los Gatos Creek trail in the opposite direction. However, heavy rain will cancel the hike. Long Ridge Open Space Preserve This area has at least two possible loops of 4.3 miles or 5.6 miles with about 600 ft of elevation change. The hike has tree cover and some open area and there is a small lake that may have some water. We will meet at the Grizzley Flat Trail parking lot on east side of Highway 35, 3.3 miles north of the intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 35 at Saratoga Gap. Travel West out of Saratoga on Highway 9 then turn North on Highway 35.
We will start the hike at 10:00 am. Bring lunch and water. Rain will cancel.
If you plan to hike, contact Bill Desler at desler@pacbell.net or 408-205-5207 so if we do cancel we can contact you.
Mount Madonna County Park We plan about a 5-mile loop in this Santa Clara County Park along the Merry-Go-Round Trail, Loop Trail, and Ridge Trail from the Sprig Recreation Area with a stop in the middle for lunch at the ruins of the Henry Miller House. See a description in Bay Area Hiker (http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/madonna.html).
We will meet at 9:30 AM at the Sprig Lake entrance parking lot for day use. It's free. You will know you have gone too far if you come to the main Entrance Station, which takes a $5.00 charge for parking. To get there, travel south on Highway 101 and exit Highway 152 West (Hecker Pass Road). Then go about 8 miles and turn right onto Sprig Lake Day Use Area, where there are dirt parking areas for cars and horse trailers.
People wishing to car pool should meet at the Cottle Road Park & Ride (Cottle & Hwy 85) at 9:00 am. Bring lunch and water. Rain cancels.
Contact: Dick & Dianne Oswald, 408-295-0094, dickoswald@ieee.org
San Francisco City Hike - Lands End This hike will take us on the Lands End trail in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There are great views of the ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge along the way. As an added bonus (or penalty, depending on how you feel about them), we will have quite a few steps to go up and down. This will be an out and back hike, with the group deciding how far to venture. It's possible to walk all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge if you are ambitious (it's 4-1/2 miles one way). However we are planning about 6-7 miles total, unless the group wants to go farther! Our lunch stop will be Baker Beach on the return trip.
We will meet at the new GGNRC visitor center which is located just past the Cliff House. You might want to arrive early to check out the well stocked center and read about the area's history. The center opens at 9:00 am.
Directions: Take 280 north toward San Francisco. Take exit 47 (Highway 1) , then Highway 35 North (Skyline). Stay on Skyline for awhile. Once entering the San Francisco city limit (look for the signs) you will see a sign indicating the Great Highway. Make a left turn there. Stay on the Great Highway, a lovely drive with Ocean Beach on your left. Look for the visitor center parking lot on your left. Bring lunch and water.
For more information on Land's End, check out the following link:
www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/landsend.htm
Your hike leaders will be Gil and Julie Feller. Please let us know if you plan to join us.
giljulief@gmail.com, cell: 408-314-1546
Hike: Golden Gate Park This is a 6 to 8 mile hike with some 500 feet (or more) of elevation change, depending on your enthusiasm for zig-zagging on the 4 miles eastward we intend to walk. We will take the free shuttle bus to return west to the Ocean Beach Parking Lot. Bring water and sun protection. Yes, the GGP is known as a place for just a nice picnic in the park, but one is easily fooled. There is a lot of walking, indirect sunlight (thru SF overcast/fog), dehydration, elevation change and many things to look at that keep you going. Do bring trail snacks (park concessions are NOT where you need them to be). If you wish to visit the Arboretum for an hour or so, the cost is $5 for over 65 and $7 for young folks. A visit to the Conservatory of Flowers is also possible (same price.) You can stay for an optional early dinner at the second floor Beach Chalet restaurant.
Trailhead: We will gather at the Beach Chalet lobby (restrooms nearby), a bit south of the Dutch Windmill at the west end of GGP. There is a large Free Parking lot across the Great Highway at Ocean Beach in San Francisco.
Leaders: Leona and Bruce Baumgart Hike: San Bruno Mountain Beautiful panoramas and some late wildflowers highlight this hike on 2266 acres at San Bruno Mountain State and County Park's Summit Loop and Dairy Ravine trails (about 4 miles, 2.5 hours, 725' elevation gain). The mountain, 1314 feet high, dominates the northern Peninsula landscape between San Francisco, Brisbane, South San Francisco and Colma. The mountain's most extensive and varied displays of annual flowers are found on some 150 acres on the April Brook slopes known as the Flower Garden, a carpet of color from March through May with blossoms every step of the way. Yes, this is a June hike, and may not be a colorful as the April hike, but it will still be nice. Stone outcrops by the trail form rock gardens. Pink-hued succulents, small polypody ferns and thick-leaved daisies fill the crevices. After reaching the summit, we'll eat at the picnic tables near the Park Entrance. After lunch, if you wish, join us strolling about 3 miles of the Saddle Loop and Bog trails (150' elevation gain.) Sweeney Ridge is a hilly hiking area of ridges and ravines between San Bruno and Pacifica with many surprises. As you hike on a paved fire road, there are views of the SF Airport, SF Bay and, from the top, Pacifica below out to the Farallon Islands, and from Montara Mountain north to Mount Tamalpais, with the Golden Gate Bridge in the foreground. This (minus the bridge) is what explorer Don Gaspar de Portola saw in 1769. The ridge's 1,200-foot-high summit, covered with coastal scrub and grassland, slopes down to the bay on one side and to the Pacific on the other. A walk along Sweeney Ridge takes you through a history of San Francisco's 20th-century Nike coastal defense system. Look for the stone plaque honoring Portola's expedition. A nearby granite monument directs you to views from this scenic San Francisco Bay Discovery Site, including the Farallon Islands, Mt. Tamalpais, Point Reyes, Mt. Diablo, the Montara Mountains, and San Pedro Point.
For more info on the gardens: http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/
Parking is available in a lot located across the street from the main entrance to the Garden. It is a pay lot for $1 per hour and is enforced all day. The lot is operated by UC Berkeley's Department of Parking and Transportation. Recommend carpooling to save on expenses.
Directions: Exit at University Avenue in Berkeley from Highway 80. Go about 2 miles to campus (the street ends) and turn left at the stoplight onto Oxford Street. Turn right onto Hearst Avenue at a stoplight. Go uphill and turn right at a stoplight onto Gayley Road. Be forewarned that Gayley Road is being repaved in July-August and there may be traffic delays. Turn left onto Stadium Rimway at the stop sign (just past the Greek Theater). Turn left at the next stop sign onto Centennial Drive. Go uphill about 1 mile. The Garden entrance is on the right just below the parking lot on the left side of Centennial.
Contact: Bev Baker, 408-930-3618, bjb1950k@gmail.com
Friday, April 22, 2016, 9:30 am
We'll hike Woods Trail out 2.7 miles to an intersection with Barlow Road trail and back. For descriptions of the abundant birds, butterflies, wildflowers, trees and shrubs with photos,
see http://bahiker.com/southbayhikes/sierraazul/sierraazul2.html
This shady, 5.4 mile out and back hike is moderately easy on a wide dirt fire road, without a lot of up and down-it does have some, of course.
Contact: Henry and Barbara Bender, 408-225-3039
Friday, April 16, 2016, 10:00 am
Friday, March 18, 2016, 9:30 am
Friday, September 25, 2015, 9:30 am (was 9/18 but got changed)
Friday, June 12, 2015, 10:00 AM
Coming from central San Jose, take Almaden Expressway to McKean Road past Calero Lake and boat ramp all the way to Casa Loma Road. Turn right onto Casa Loma Road and drive to the Casa Loma Entrance to Rancho Canada del Oro. If coming down 101 turn right onto Bailey Road, turn left onto McKean and make a right on Casa Loma Road.
Hike Leader: Barbara or Henry Bender at 408-225-3039
Friday, May 15, 2015, 9:30 AM
The Presidio Promenade takes visitors through centuries of history. From its trail head at the Lombard Gate, the trail winds past the Letterman District, once the park's medical center, now the Letterman Digital Arts Complex, where historic and new architecture seamlessly blend. Next door is the Thoreau Center for Sustainability. It meanders into the Main Post, the cultural heart of the park, where the Visitor Center, the Transit Center, restaurants, and other popular destinations greet visitors. Just past San Francisco National Cemetery, the trail passes through the historic Cavalry Stables before heading up to Crissy Field Overlook, where visitors are offered stunning views of the San Francisco skyline, Alcatraz, and Angel Island. The final destination is the Golden Gate Bridge.
Hike Length: 4-5 miles
Meeting Location: Parking Lot east of the Crissy Field Marsh (carpool, if possible)
We start walking at 9:30 am. RAIN CANCELS! Please reply to our email address if you are coming so that any changes can be addressed or questions answered.
Hike Leader: Bev Baker, 408-930-3618, bjb1950k@gmail.com
Friday, April 17, 2015, 10:00 am
Hike Leaders: Jim and Maya D'Anjou, 408-779-1292, jimdanjou@gmail.com
Friday, February 27, 2015, 10:00 am
To get there from the South Bay: Take I-280 North to San Francisco. Exit following CA Route 1 North. This will turn into 19th Avenue at the stoplight. Continue north for approximately 2.5 miles to Taravel Street, turn right and continue for about 1 mile to a small traffic circle. Go 3/4 way around the circle, exiting at Dewey Street. Go straight on Dewey to the stoplight, go straight through to what becomes Laguna Honda Street. Stay straight for about 1/4 mile to a stoplight. Turn right on Clarendon Avenue, go up the hill about 1 mile to the intersection of Twin Peaks Boulevard. Park either on Calrendon Avenue or Twin Peaks Boulevard.
We start walking at 10:00 am. RAIN CANCELS! Please reply to our email address if you are coming so that any changes can be addressed or questions answered.
Hike Leaders: Chuck and Kathy Cruse, 415-334-2236, clcruse@aol.com
Friday, January 23, 2015, 10:00 am
We'll meet at 10:00 AM at the Miles Avenue parking lot in Los Gatos. To get there, go south on Highway 17 and take the Highway 9 exit towards downtown. Turn left at University Avenue, continuing a couple of blocks to Miles. Turn left, go downhill and the parking lot will be on your left.
Last time we did this hike, many of the hikers continued the fun with lunch afterwards at the Los Gatos Brewing Company. We plan to do this again in 2015. Hope you can join us! Please RSVP with your email so we can notify you if the hike is cancelled.
RSVP to Gil & Julie Feller408-247-6769 (home) or 408-314-1546 (cell)email: giljulief@gmail.com
Friday, November 21, 2014, 10:00 am
Friday, October 24, 2014, 10:00 am
Friday, September 26, 2014, 10:00 am
Saturday, August 9, 2014, 10:00 am
Please let us know if you plan on hiking: bgbaumgart@mac.com, contact by cell phone on day of hike: 408-799-8998
Friday, June 27, 2014, 9:30 am
Take 101 to South San Francisco Exit 426A, "Bayshore Blvd./Brisbane." Go north on Bayshore Blvd for 2.1 miles. Turn left onto Guadalupe Canyon Parkway and go 3.3 miles. Turn right into the Park Entrance on the north side of the Parkway (no entrance fee for seniors on weekdays). Meet near the restrooms at 9:30 AM. Come prepared for wind, rain, fog and sun, and beautiful views of the City, the Farallon Islands, Mt. Tam, and Mt. Diablo. Bring water and lunch.
Carpool at 8:00 AM from the Cottle Road VTA lot next to the light rail stop. Rain will not cancel this hike.
Contact: Henry Bender, 408-225-3039, hbender637@earthlink.net
Friday, May 16, 2014, 9:30 am
Directions: Go north on highway 101. Take the Alexander Avenue exit (second exit after crossing the bridge). Stay to the left on the exit ramp to get onto Alexander Ave. Drive under 101 and turn right onto Conzelman Road right before the ramp heading back to San Francisco. Follow along Conzelman until you get to the roundabout and proceed turning right onto McCullough Road until you reach a stop sign at McCullough Road and Bunker Road. Turn left onto Bunker and drive approximately 1.5 miles. Turn left onto Field Road. The visitor center will be on the right side of the road. Carpooling is recommended. To access a map of the Headlands: http://www.parksconservancy.org/assets/park-improvements/pdfs/marin-headlands-map.pdf
Or http://bit.ly/1hL1NDo
Contact: Bev Baker, 408-930-3618, bjb1950k@gmail.com
Friday, April 25 , 2014, 10:00 am
Friday, March 14 , 2014, 10:00 am
Friday, February 21 , 2014, 10:00 am
Friday, January 24 , 2014, 10:00 am
To get to the starting point from Highway 17 going south, take the Highway 9 exit. At the first light (University Avenue), take a left turn. Continue on University until you come to Miles Avenue (1 block past the stop sign). Turn left and continue until you come to the trail parking lot. Contact: Gil & Julie Feller, (408)247-6769 home, (408)314-1546 cell, giljulief@gmail.com
Friday, November 8, 2013, 10:00 am
RAIN CANCELS
Contact: Bill and Linda Desler: 408-268-3025
Friday, September 27, 2013, 10:00 AM
Do you know where TV was first patented? We’ll find out and explore other hidden attractions. We will end this portion back at the Ferry Building in time for lunch. Bring your own or dine at one of the many places along the way.
After lunch we’ll reconvene and head south for a couple miles, going under the Bay Bridge along the recently completed America’s Cup venue to AT&T Park and beyond.
Total time is estimated at 4-5 hours, including lunch. It’s flat, with a few intervening stairways. So it’s easy and the weather should be good. Bring water and food if you wish, or money to buy lunch.
Ending the hike together at this end on the Embarcadero will place us very close to the Cal Train station for those of you using this system.
We recommend that you use either BART or Cal Train from the South or East Bay, as both traffic and parking are limited. If you use Cal Train, transfer to Metro Muni (streetcar) lines either “N” Line or “T” line inbound to the Embarcadero Station and go to the street level, locate the Ferry Building and head for the clock. If you use BART, do the same thing.
See you there!
Contact: Chuck and Kathy Cruse, 415-334-2236, clcruse@aol.com
Hike: Sweeney Ridge
Friday, June 21, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Please join us for a short, leisurely uphill walk through Sweeney Ridge, Golden Gate National Recreational Area in San Mateo County. We will walk the Sneath Lane Trail to the restroom and park bench and then on up the Sweeney Ridge Trail to explore the remnants of the Nike Missile Control Site. From there we will backtrack down this trail to the Portola Discovery Site and then return to our starting point. At the Portola area some of you may wish to continue on to the end or take a side trail and then return; at this park there are no loop trails. For a description of this hike and just some of the plant life and views you will encounter, see http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/sweeney.html. The best link to a good full page map of the park is at the City of Pacifica parks website.
Directions: Take 280 to Exit 43A San Bruno Avenue/Sneath Lane. This is a double exit, so keep going straight until you see the Golden Gate Cemetery just ahead of you, and then make your left turn onto Sneath Lane. Take Sneath Lane around and upwards in a residential area to its end in a small parking lot. Since the parking lot is small, you may wish to carpool. Dick estimates a little over an hour's drive even from South San Jose.
Contact: Dick & Dianne Oswald at 408-295-0094 or dickoswald@ieee.org
Hike: Rancho Cañada del Oro
Friday, May 24, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Rancho Cañada del Oro is part of the wonderful Open Space Preserve and has a serene mix of wooded and grassland areas, and we may still be able to see wildflowers. You will definitely enjoy some lovely panoramic views on the route of 5.8 miles, which will have approximately 800 feet elevation gain all told. The area also boasts several species of wildlife, though the wildlife may decline to be seen at mid-day.
Rancho Cañada del Oro, is located in south San Jose off McKean Road, just south of Calero County Park. To get to the trailhead, go south on McKean Road about 2 miles past Bailey Road, and turn right onto Casa Loma Road, which is where McKean changes name to Uvas Road. You will also see a sign indicating the turn for Rancho Cañada del Oro. Drive along Casa Loma until you get to the trailhead (it will be obvious, with a sign and parking lot). On a Friday preview trip, there was plenty of parking at 10:30 or so in the morning.
Contact: Marilyn Feldhaus and David Gross; phone number 408-226-3822)
Grant Ranch Wildflower Hike
Friday, April 26, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Santa Clara County’s 9,000-acre Joseph D. Grant Park in the Diablo Range includes secluded Hall’s Valley, sheltered on the west by a high, wooded ridge and on the east by green grassy rounded hills dotted with great oaks. The Grant Ranch was part of Rancho Cañada de Pala, awarded to José Jesús Bernal in 1839. The Cañada de Pala Trail traverses the park’s east ridge with great views, past fields of flowers to hidden Deer Valley. The 8-mile round trip is moderate, taking about 4 hours with an elevation gain of about 450’. There are more strenuous trails too, if you wish.
We’ll meet at 10 a.m. April 26 (John James Audubon’s birthday) at the Twin Gates parking area on Mount Hamilton Road. From Highway 680, go east on Alum Rock Avenue about 2 miles to Mt. Hamilton Rd. Turn right, uphill, and go 8 miles to the park entrance. Keep going, crossing Hall’s Valley. About a 10-minute drive past the park entrance, uphill, park on your left (north) at the crest of Mt. Hamilton Road before it descends east to Smith Creek. Bring your water, sunhat, camera, lunch, and companions. Our lunch spot might be at the hunting cabin (picnic tables) where Joseph Grant hosted President Herbert Hoover.
From south San Jose, steep twisting Quimby Road meets the Mt. Hamilton Road within Hall’s Valley.
Carpool from the VTA Light Rail parking lot on Cottle Road (at the end of Highway 85's Cottle off-ramp), at 8:45 a.m. Contact: Henry and Barbara Bender at 408-225-3039 or hbender@sjpc.org.
Hike:Point Los Alamitos Creek Hike
Friday, March 15, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Join us for a 4 1/2 mile hike along Los Alamitos Creek. We will park at the parking lot on Camden and Mt. Forest Drive (across the street from the Mormon Church). The hike will be on a paved path along the creek. We will cross over Camden in the crosswalk and continue on the southwest side on a trail that comes out near McKean & Harry Road. We will loop back on the northeast side of the creek and return to the parking lot. Please bring water and you are invited to bring your lunch to our home and deck. We are about 1 1/2 miles from the parking lot. Anyone who wants to extend the hike could continue on to Almaden Lake Park.
Please RSVP - 408-997-0478 - Ray & Mary Ann Holly (Heavy rain cancels the hike.)
Hike:Point Lobos State Reserve
Friday, February 22, 2013, 10:00 AM
This month we are going to visit the crown jewel of the California state park system. "The greatest meeting of land and water in the world." according to famed landscape artist Francis McComas. And if we are lucky we may see some gray whales on their northern migration with babies in tow. Our walk is approximately a 6 miles loop around the reserve. The elevation changes are very modest. There is a park entrance fee, which includes parking. We will meet at the picnic area just south of the information station, which is a mile past the entrance station. After passing the information station continue south about a thousand feet along the coast where there is a small parking area and a left turn into picnic/restroom area. If that is full there is additional parking nearby. Our hike will take us around the reserve from China Cove in the south to Whaler’s Cove in the north. Be sure to bring a lunch. Due to limited parking at this popular location carpooling is highly recommended! Car-poolers: meet at the normal place – Camden Park and Ride (Camden at 85), at 8:15 AM. The leaders, because of their south county location, will not be at the park and ride.
Serious rain cancels the hike.
Contact Jim or Maya D’Anjou at 408-779-1292
Friday, January 25, 2013, 10:00 AM
Last time we did this walk everyone said it was most enjoyable, so we are doing it again. It is an urban trek, almost all on paved streets and walkways. But oh, what walkways these are! We will use the city’s stairways to navigate hills that are too steep for cars. When we scouted the walk, we counted a total of 550 stairs going up, probably about the same going down. So bring your most comfortable walking shoes and tune up your knees for this challenging walk.
We found the walk in a delightful book called “Stairway Walks in San Francisco.†Our route takes us through Golden Gate Heights, an area south of Golden Gate Park. It’s a quiet residential neighborhood with a lovely park and great views.
Other than the stairways we’ll navigate, your other challenge will be finding a place to park. We will be meeting on the corner of 15th and Lincoln, across the street from Golden Gate Park. We noted that there was available parking on Lincoln, with no time limit. Probably your best bet to get to the city will be the 280-19th Avenue route. When you get to Lincoln (just before Golden Gate Park), turn right and begin your search for a space. Carpooling is highly recommended! Carpoolers - meet at the normal place – Camden Park and Ride (Camden at 85), at 8:30 AM.
We didn’t find a great place to stop for lunch along the walk, so we recommend bringing a snack and drink for munching along the way. Once we finish the walk there is a wide variety of restaurants nearby around 9th avenue (we’ll direct you) where you can replenish the calories you burned.
If you plan to join us, please let us know as we’d like to have an idea of who will be going. We’ll do the walk rain or shine.
Contact: Gil & Julie Feller - 408-247-6769 or 408-314-1546
Thursday, November 15, 2012, 10:00 AM
We will try again this year to hike the Skyline trail in the upper regions of Sanborn County Park (We will NOT park in the main Sanborn park area). This is an out and back trail of about 6 miles with mild (600 ft) elevation change. There are several options for loops along the trail for the more adventurous. We will start at the Sunnyvale Mountain trailhead off of highway 35 south of Saratoga gap. We hike north along Skyline trail parallel to highway 35 (the highway is not visible from the trail) to Indian Rock where we will lunch. This is
well-forested trail with Madrone, tanoak, and Douglas fir, along with California bay and big leaf maple.
To reach the trailhead take highway 9 west out of Saratoga until you reach highway 35 (6.6mi to Skyline Blvd at Saratoga gap). Turn left (south) for 4.5 miles and park at the Sunnyvale Mountain trailhead on the left. The trailhead is also 1.7 miles north on 35 from Black Road.
Rain cancels (as it did in 2011). If you contact us by e-mail before the hike, we will send you an email in the morning to confirm if we are going.
Contact: Bill or Linda Desler, 408-268-3025, desler@pacbell.net
Friday, September, 28, 2012, 9:00 AM
Meeting point: Pelican Point Beach off Highway 1
Friday, August 17, 2012, 9:00 AM
Note the 9:00 AM starting time, as arriving earlier than other groups will help us secure parking places in the small Caltrans Skeggs Point Parking Lot. There is also limited parking along the roadside.
The parking lot is on the east side of Highway 35 (Skyline Boulevard), about 4 miles north of Highway 84 (La Honda Road) and 1.5 miles south of Kings Mountain Road. Note that Caltrans prohibits a left turn into the lot when approaching from the north along Skyline Boulevard. The El Corte de Madera Creek Trail/Tafoni Trail entrance is slightly to the north and across Skyline Boulevard.
Dick suggests that you take Sand Hill Road west from 280. Then turn right onto Portola Road, left onto 84, and right onto 35 Skyline. Note that you will pass Bear Gulch Road twice (once on each side of Skyline) and the Skeggs Point lot will be on your right.
Most of the hike is tree-shaded. Bring your water and your lunch. If you wish to car pool, meet at the VTA Park and Ride lot at Camden and 85 at 8:15 AM.
Hope to see you there,
Dick and Dianne Oswald, (408) 295-0094, sdroswald@sbcglobal.net
Hike: Uvas Canyon County Park
Friday, May 4, 10:00 AM
Contact: Andrew Recupero (408-268-3420)
Friday, April 6, 10:00 AM
Meet at 9:30 AM at the VTA Park and Ride lot at Camden and 85 to car pool -- to drive fewer cars up steep and twisty Hicks Road. Or, be at the park at 10 AM. Drive south on Camden about 1.7 miles, turn right onto Hicks Road. Six miles up, at the Hicks Road summit stop-sign, turn left into the Almaden Park parking lot.
We will lead a 10-mile loop via the Wood Road, Yellow Kid, Randol, Mine Hill, and Castillero trails. Those who prefer a shorter stroll can walk 2 miles on the Wood Road and Yellow Kid trails to Englishtown's picnic tables and then return to your car. The grades are gentle. Bring water, lunch, and your sun hat.
Any question, phone Henry or Barbara Bender at (408) 225-3039.
Friday, March 30, 2012, 9:30 AM
Contact: Ray & Mary Ann Holly, (408) 997-0478 or rah-mah@sbcglobal.net
Hike: Shoreline Park
Friday, February 24, 2012, 10:00 AM
After the hike, we will have lunch on the patio overlooking Shoreline Lake. This time you have a choice of bringing your lunch or buying it, as there is a café where you can purchase lunch if you like.
To get to the Shoreline Lake parking lot where we will be meeting, travel north on Highway 101 or Highway 85 toward San Francisco, and exit at Shoreline Boulevard. Make a right turn at the stoplight onto N. Shoreline Blvd. heading east. Stay on Shoreline, going past the guard shack at the entrance to the park and continue till the road ends at the lake and boathouse. Don’t forget your water, and lunch if you prefer not to buy at the café. Heavy rain cancels the hike.
Contact: Gil or Julie Feller at (408) 247-6769 or giljulief@gmail.com
Friday, January 20, 2012, 10:00 AM
Contact: Jim or Maya D'Anjou at (408) 779-1292 or jim.hapapapa@gmail.com
Friday, November 11, 2011, 10:00 AM
To reach the trailhead take Highway 9 west out of Saratoga until you reach Highway 35 (6.6mi to Skyline Blvd at Saratoga gap). Turn left (south) for 4.5 miles and park at the Sunnyvale Mountain trailhead on the left. The trailhead is also 1.7 miles north on Highway 35 from Black Road. Carpoolers, meet at the Camden Park & Ride at Highway 85 and Camden at 9:00 AM.
Rain cancels. Contact Bill or Linda Desler 408-268-3025; desler@pacbell.net
Hike: Pinnacles National Monument
Friday, October 14, 2011
All those who are planning to join the hike should meet in the Target parking lot on Highway 25, south of Tres Pinos Road, at 9:00 AM. We will organize car pools and go by convoy to the Pinnacles. Travel time from San Jose to Hollister is about 45 minutes and from Hollister to the Pinnacles about a half hour. In the event of inclement weather, the hike will be canceled. Please contact us if you are planning to join the hike.
Remember to bring your Golden Age Passport card for free admission for everyone in your vehicle.
Contact: Ralph Beaudoin, (831) 630-3043 or e-mail at rcbeaudoin@yahoo.com
Harvey Bear Ranch Hike, near Gilroy
Friday, September 30, 2011
Come and enjoy the heat! Explore part of this large area. The landscape consists of rolling hills, with oak and chestnut trees - somewhat sparse, so bring sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water. We will be on the Ridge Trail where we should have some spectacular views of southern Santa Clara County.
Our hike will take a fairly strenuous loop route of about 6 miles. The hike will take us from the parking lot (about 500' elevation) along the Harvey Bear and Willow Springs Trail, then on the Coyote Ridge Trail where we will top out at about 1200'. This climb is a good cardio workout! The trails aren't rocky, but turn to mud with rain (see below) - but this shouldn't be a problem in September.
To get there, take Hwy 101 south toward Gilroy. Take the San Martin Ave. exit. Proceed east on San Martin Ave. for about 2 miles. The Park entrance is on the left, 1/4 mile east of Foothill Ave. We will meet in the parking lot at 10 AM. Lunch will be on the trail. No facilities are available, so we will spread out on the surrounding ground. Carpoolers, meet at the Cottle Park & Ride (Hwy 85 and Cottle) at 9 AM. See you there.
Rain CANCELS!
Also - if the TEMPERATURE FORECAST is 90 degrees or higher for the 30th - This CANCELS, too!
Chuck & Kathy Cruse, (415)334-2236, clcruse@aol.com
There is no regular Friday hike in July or August.
Friday, June 10, 2011, 10:00 AM
The location chosen for the June hike is the Little Yosemite area of the Sunol Regional Wilderness of the East Bay Regional Parks District. There are many different trail routes available that access different types of terrain. The one chosen starts by crossing the foot bridge over Alameda Creek just inside the park and follows the Canyon View, McCorkle, Cerro Este trails across partially shaded woodland and open grassland that had many wildflowers in late March, but may be somewhat dried out and brown now. After about 2.6 miles and 1 ½ hours you arrive at the Little Yosemite area on Alameda Creek, which is the largest watercourse in Alameda County and is the boundary between the park and the San Francisco Water Department lands around Calaveras (Berryessa) Reservoir. This location has a restroom and picnic tables, making it also a good place to have lunch. The return to the starting point is about 1.5 miles along Alameda Creek (actually the gravel Geary Road -- Camp Ohlone Road -- which is closed to most vehicular traffic), which is also the outlet for Calaveras (Berryessa) Reservoir and is partially tree shaded.
The park can be reached from Calaveras Road, which is the extension of Route 237 at 680 in Milpitas; but this route is slow for much of the way where it follows the edge of Calaveras (Berryessa) Reservoir. A much better and faster route, though several miles longer, leaves 680 just before the Route 84 exit to Livermore on Calaveras Road (the 680 exit is signed "Calaveras Road") and proceeds south and east and past the (left T) junction of Geary Road which enters the park. Admission has been free on week days, and there is a parking area near the restrooms and footbridge just inside the park on the left side of the road next to the creek. Travel time from San Jose on the 680 route is just over ½ hour and we plan to start at 10:00 AM so as to avoid the warmer part of the June day.
Contact:Dick and Dianne Oswald(408) 295-0094, sdroswald@sbcglobal.net
Friday, May 27, 2011, 10:00 AM
We will be walking the San Francisco Land’s End Trail to China Beach. The walk is 4.5 miles round trip. We’ll start at the Sutro Baths Ruins. From there we will be walking along the Coastal Trail to Eagle Point. We’ll take city streets to reach China Beach. Weather permitting, we should have great views of Marin Headlands and Golden Gate Bridge. The walk is easy except for stairs to and from 2 beaches we’ll be visiting.
We will meet in the large parking lot at Merrie Way at 10:00 AM. Parking is free. To get there using Route 280, drive north into San Francisco and continue onto CA-1 N/Junipero Serra Blvd. Turn left on Sloat Blvd. Turn right when you reach Great Hwy and continue into Point Lobos Ave. Turn left at Merrie Way. Bring lunch and water, and remember to dress in layers as the weather can be cold and windy.Please send e_mail to Tom & Bev Higa at tom_s_higa@sbcglobal.net if you plan to join us and be sure to give us your cell phone number.
Contact: Tom & Bev Higa, 408-629-4323
Friday, April 15, 2011, 10:00 AM
We will meet on April 15th at 10:00 AM at the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve parking lot at the northwest corner of Skyline Blvd. and Page Mill Road (which becomes Alpine Road here). From the south, exit 280 onto El Monte to Moody Road to Page Mill. From the north, exit 280 onto Page Mill Road. Allow about half an hour to drive the twisty uphill road. Bring water, lunch, sunscreen and your sun hat.
Contact: Henry or Barbara Bender at (408) 225-3039.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area,
National Park Service, San Mateo County
Friday, March 25, 2011, 10:00 AM
This hike was canceled due to bad weather.
This 5.7 mile out and back hike is moderately easy, with about 600 feet in elevation change takes about 2.5 hrs. Sneath Lane Trail climbs steadily, with one short steep section. Sweeney Ridge Trail is nearly level.
Getting there & meeting spot: From Interstate 280 in San Mateo County, exit Sneath Lane (exit 43b). Drive west about 2 miles to the trailhead at the end of the road where there is a parking lot. Lock all valuables in your trunk. Bring a lunch and water. Read more at Trails.com: http://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/sb-sweeney-2008.pdf
Contacts: Bev & Jim Baker (408) 354-4850)
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Contact: Pat Falkowski (408) 972-2877 or Lize Johannes (408) 373-8181
St. Joseph’s Hill Hike
Friday, January 28, 2011 TAR = 5
We’ll meet at 10:00 AM in the Old Town parking lot on University Avenue in Los Gatos. You may want to park across the street in the underground lot, as there is a time limit in the University Avenue lot. To get there, take Highway 17 toward Santa Cruz. Exit at Highway 9, bearing right. When you get to University Avenue, turn left. Continue down University till you see Old Town on your left. Bring lunch and water.
Contact: Gil & Julie Feller, (408) 247-6769
Wilder Ranch State Park Hike
Friday, November 12, 2010 10:00AM
The longer hike is a loop that takes us over hills and valleys on the park’s inland side. You can find a detailed write up for the hike at the following link:
http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/wilder.html
The shorter hike will be on the coast side, and is about 2 miles round trip, but according to the park web site you can go farther if you like. The destination for this hike is Old Landing Cove. You can read further about the hike at:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=25126
Directions to trailhead: From Santa Cruz, drive four miles north on Coast Highway 1 to the signed turnoff for Wilder Ranch State Park on the ocean side of the highway. Follow the park road to its end at the large parking lot. There you will find restrooms and water. There may be a fee for parking. We’ll meet at the parking lot at 10:00 AM. Bring lunch and water. The long hikers will eat lunch on the trail.
Contact: Gil & Julie Feller, (408) 247-6769
San Francisco City Walk, (please call to sign up for this hike)
Thursday, October 21, 2010, 10:00 AM
We will meet in the Fort Point parking lot at 10:00 AM. To get there using Route 280, drive north into San Francisco and continue on 19th Avenue. At the 19th Avenue/25th Avenue split (in Golden Gate Park) , bear left on 25th, then right on Lincoln, and once under the bridge take a left on Long to get to Fort Point. Bring lunch and water, and remember to dress in layers as the weather can be cold and windy.
Call Gil & Julie at (408) 247-6769 if you plan to join us and be sure to give us your phone number.
To get to the park, take highway 680 north and exit at Alum rock Avenue, turning right. After about 2 miles, you will come to Mount Hamilton Road, where you will make another right. Continue on Mt. Hamilton Road for 8 winding miles, when you will come to the park entrance on your right. Drive into the park until you see the Stockman picnic area, where we will meet at 9:30 AM. Please note that there is an entrance fee per car, unless you have a County Parks sticker. Bring lunch and plenty of water.
Contact: Gil & Julie Feller, 247-6769, giljulief@gmail.com
Coal Mine Ridge Hike
Friday, August 27, 2010, 10:00 AM
Directions to the hike: from Interstate 280 in San Mateo County, exit Alpine Road. Drive southwest on Alpine Road about 3.6 miles (past the junction with Portola Road), to a small roadside pullout on the right side of the road, just before Willowbrook. If there are no spaces available, turn right on Willowbrook and park on the roadside.
Contact: Gil & Julie Feller, 247-6769, giljulief@gmail.com
2010 South Tahoe Big Hike
July 25 - July 30, 2010
The 2010 Big Hike will be based in South Lake Tahoe.
The trip consists of 4 days of hiking, with several choices of hikes of varying length and difficulty each day.
Rancho Canada Del Oro Hike
Friday, June 4, 2010, at 9:30 AM
To get to the preserve: from Highway 101 or Highway 85, turn west onto Bailey Avenue. At the intersection with McKean Road turn left. Where McKean Road becomes Uvas Road, turn right onto Casa Loma Road. Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve is near the end of the public access portion of the road. There is a parking lot with a restroom on the left.
Contact: Gil & Julie Feller, 247-6769, giljulief@gmail.com
Pinnacles Hike
Friday, May 14, 2010, at 10:00 AM
Directions to the Visitor Center can be found on the following link – use directions to the EAST entrance.
http://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/directions.htm
Contact: Gil & Julie Feller, 247-6769, giljulief@gmail.com
Santa Teresa Park Hike
Friday, April 23, 2010, 9:30 AM
We will meet at a parking area on Fortini Road at 9:30 AM. To get there, take Almaden Expressway south until it dead ends at Harry Road. Go right on Harry Road and then left on McKean Rd. About a mile or so you'll see the sign and left turn lane for Fortini Road. Take Fortini until it ends (at San Vincente) and go left. You'll see the dirt parking area almost immediately on your left. Bring lunch and water. See you there!
Contact: Gil & Julie Feller, 247-6769, giljulief@gmail.com
Uvas Canyon Hike
Friday, March 26, 10:00 AM
At the trail junction, those preferring a more difficult hike (translation – hilly!) can continue with the hike leader on the Contour and Alec Canyon trails. Manzanita Point along the Alec Canyon trail offers a great view. Total distance is about 4.5 miles for the more difficult hike.
To get to the park, travel south on Almaden Expressway and turn right onto Harry Road. Almost immediately, turn left onto McKean Road. McKean turns into Uvas Road after about 6 miles. Continue on Uvas for about 3.5 miles, and turn right onto Croy Road. Drive a little over 4 miles to the park entrance at the end of the road. About 0.4 miles before the entrance you will pass through Sveadal, a Swedish vacation retreat. Note that the speed limit is only 5 miles per hour on this narrow road. You’ll have time to look at the quaint little cottages where Swedish flags still fly and you are reminded to look out for the trolls!
We will meet at 10:00 AM at the day use parking area. After going through the entrance ($4 fee unless you have a county parks sticker) drive up the road a bit and look for the “day use parking†sign on the right side. There are restrooms available near the lot. Bring lunch and water.
Contact: Gil & Julie Feller, 247-6769, giljulief@gmail.com