NAMI Walks – National Alliance on Mental Health – Urban Hike
Posted on 4 May 2010 | No responses
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Time: 9:00am – 11:00pm
Location: Speedway Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
This is a fundraising Urban Hike that benefits the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Free registration; however, any donations should be made to NAMI – Solano www.nami.org/namiwalks10/sfo/walkersofhope.
By registering as the Walkers of Hope, 90% of the proceeds will come back to Solano County to fund programs for our local mental health receipients.
This is a 5K walk (3 miles) rain or shine. All walkers must register for the walk, although there is no walker registration fee. Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged.
This is a great opportunity for the Solano Hiking Club to participate in a urban hike that will directly benefit our county.
www.nami.org/namiwalks10/sfo/walkersofhope
Rockville Regional Park Wrap Up
Posted on 4 May 2010 | No responses
What a wonderful day to hike this park. Rockville Regional Park has approximately 330 acres of beautiful hiking and biking trails. There is a slight elevation of approximately 400′ that leads to one of the two lakes at the summit.
This is a dog friendly park and very picturesque. There are small footpaths, to wide walking areas and some paved trails. We hiked around the lake where the dogs had a chance to frolic in the lake. Along the way, we saw awesome views, Canadian geese, an egret, and little tadpoles. There are caves and a second lake in this scenic and serene natural treasure.
Rockville Regional Park – Fairfield
Posted on 26 April 2010 | No responses
May 1, 2010
Time: 9:00 – 11:00
Location: Rockville Regional Park – Fairfield – Rockville Road entrance
Trail Distance: Approximately 3.8 miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Change: Approximately 400′ total elevation change
Children: Dirt Path
Dogs: Dogs Allowed – Leashed and Clean Up
Cost: $3/person $1/dog
http://www.bahiker.com/eastbayhikes/rockville.html
* Be sure to check weather (sufficient apparel); bring water; try to carpool; allow travel time
Tomales Point – Tule Elk Reserve – Point Reyes Wrap Up
Posted on 18 April 2010 | No responses
What a magnificent day to hike this trail. Tomales Point is a Tule Elk Reserve and there are numerous herds of Elk that meander and graze throughout the hike. This is one of the longer hikes. The distance is just under ten miles with approximately 1300′ of elevation changes. The trail is flanked by the Pacific Ocean to the west and Tomales Bay to the east. The hike to the point is where the two meet and it is stunning.
Springtime on this hike is glorious. Wildflowers and wildlife abound. We were fortunate to see all of nature’s beauty on display. This is an in and out hike, so if you just want to build stamina, you can travel as far as you are comfortable, then turn around; however, making it out to the actual point is worth the effort and tired feet.
Tomales Point – Tule Elk Reserve – Point Reyes
Posted on 4 April 2010 | No responses
April 17, 2010
Time: 9:00 – 2:00
Location: Tomales Tule Elk Reserve – Tomales Point – Point Reyes
This fantastic trail has the Pacific Ocean to your left and Tomales Bay to your right. The hike leads to the point where the two meet. There are several herds of Tule Elk – It is amazing.
Trail Distance: Approximately 9.5 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate to Hard – Mostly rolling dirt path – Considered Hard because of the distance. It is an in and out trail, so if it becomes too difficult, you can turn around.
Elevation Change: Approximately 1100′ total elevation change
Children: Dirt Path
Dogs: No Dogs Allowed
Cost: Free
*Note: Mountain Lions have been seen on this trail, but no record of an attack. Not recommended for hiking alone – always have a hiking buddy.
Directions: From US 101 in Marin County, exit Sir Francis Drake/San Anselmo. Drive west on Sir Francis Drake about 20 miles, to the junction with CA 1, turn right, drive 0.1 mile, and then turn left onto Bear Valley Road. After about 2 miles, Bear Valley Road ends at Sir Francis Drake; turn left. Continue on Sir Francis Drake about 5.5 miles, then turn right onto Pierce Point Road. Drive about 9 miles on Pierce Point Road to the signed Tomales Point Trailhead, a short distance from McClures Beach, at the end of the road. Keep going. The road will be long and winding – you are not lost – continue to the end until you find the white barn and parking lot.
* Be sure to check weather (sufficient apparel); bring water; try to carpool; allow travel time
http://www.protrails.com/trail.php?trailID=272
Lake Hennessey Trail Wrap Up
Posted on 3 April 2010 | 2 responses
A spectacular trail, good company, and great weather created a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with each other, make new friends, and explore the glory of nature. Lake Hennessey is a beautiful reservoir tucked in Napa County, close to St. Helena.
The trail head is a little difficult to find, but worth the effort. This is an easy hike with minimal inclines. There is a tree-lined comfortable footpath flanked with budding flowers and an array of wildlife. It is a dog friendly trail. The serene beauty of the trail curving around the tranquil lake offers respite to body and soul. The lake was bountiful with ducks, geese, tadpoles, and a diverse population of swallows, red feather blackbirds, and turkey vultures.
There is a second trail on the far side of the lake that we hope to explore soon. Nature offers many blessing to our spirits and our bodies. We are so fortunate to have such beautiful trails so close to home.
Lake Hennessey Hike – Napa County
Posted on 28 March 2010 | No responses
April 3, 2010
Time: 9:00 – 11:00
Location: Lake Hennessey – Napa County
Trail Distance: Approximately 2 – 3 miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy – Mostly rolling dirt path along the Lake
Elevation Change: Minimal.
Children: Dirt Path
Dogs: Dogs allowed on leash
Cost: Free
Directions: Highway 29 to Pope Street (turn right on Pope), left on Silverado Trail, right on Howell Mountain. Continue on Howell Mountain until it turns into Conn Valley Road. Follow Conn Valley until road ends. The Howell Mountain Road and Conn Valley Road will be long and winding – you are not lost – continue to the end of Conn Valley Road.
* Be sure to check weather (sufficient apparel); bring water; try to carpool; allow travel time
Muir Woods – Bootjack Trail Wrap Up
Posted on 28 March 2010 | 1 response
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” John Muir….
It is fitting that this glorious National Park is dedicated to John Muir. Tucked in a quiet basin in Marin County, this park embodies all of the beauty, grace, serenity, and tranquility that makes a hike memorable. The Bootjack trail is a moderate trail that leads to a branching of multiple trail heads. We elected to follow the TCC, then down the Ben Johnson trail. The elevation is approximately 800′ up the Bootjack. The TCC is a comfortable ridge trail with the descent down the Ben Johnson. The babbling creek and waterfalls sing their song while we hiked under the canopy of centuries old Sequoia trees. Beautiful flowers and ferns flanked the footpath while we enjoyed the natural beauty along with the occasional banana slug. This park is open year round and has multiple trails with different elevations. Look to the link and trail map for directions. This is definitely a park that we will hike again.
Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve – Solano County
Posted on 21 March 2010 | No responses
Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve is a popular and beautiful hiking site. This land is part of the Bureau of Land Management and under the diligent care of UC Davis. Snuggled between Yolo and Napa County, this reserve, also known as the Putah Creek Wildlife Area, and is right off of Highway 128, below Berryessa Dam. Shortly after crossing the bridge, you will find a couple of dirt parking areas. Across the bend in the road are two gated entrances.
One entrance will lead you to a fork of two trails. To the left is the dog friendly in and out Pleasants Ridge Trail. The elevation is steep. It begins around 200′ and immediately ascends to 1656′. The trail to the right of the fork is known as the Homestead Trail. This trail runs parallel to the creek and a one point, you will need to cross the shallow creek across rocks and boulders. The initial trail is easy to traverse. If you continue to hike up to the ruins of an old homestead, the elevation will rise to 1114′. The trail to the homestead branches off the main trail to a little in and out crossing the creek once again.
The Blue Ridge Loop entrance is approximately 25′ to the right from the first gate. The gate is tucked adjacent to the mountain and is absolutely beautiful. There are switch backs that lead you to the ridge overlooking Berryessa.
Avid hikers will enjoy continuing along the Homestead Trail as it merges into the Blue Ridge Loop Trail after the Homestead site. The highest elevation along the Blue Ridge Loop is at 1535′, but it has panoramic views of Lake Berryessa and the surrounding mountains. If you follow the Blue Ridge Loop, prepare to navigate about a half mile of rocks. They can be demanding. This is a stunning trail and UC Davis hosts docent lead nature outings that are interesting and informative. They also feature Nature’s Theater – a special program to engage children with stories and history of the park and indigenous floral and animal species.
Look to the Link and Map pages for more information about this special reserve and their calendar of events.
Muir Woods Bootjack Trail
Posted on 14 March 2010 | 2 responses
Date: March 27, 2010
Time: 8:00 – 12:00
Location: Muir Woods – Marin County
Trail Distance: Park Boardwalk – 1 mi; Bootjack Trail to TCC then down Ben Johnson Trail 6-8 miles
Level of Difficulty: Boardwalk Easy – Mostly level path; Bootjack Trail – Moderate.
Elevation Change: Boardwalk – Minimal; Bootjack trail has approx 800 feet incline
Children: Strollers/wheelchairs okay on boardwalk; Bootjack has footpath/elevations – no strollers
Dogs: Dogs are not allowed.
Cost: Free before 9:00; after 9:00 $5.00
Directions: Highway 101 West to Highway 1 North. Follow sign to Muir Woods.
* Be sure to check weather (sufficient apparel); bring water; try to carpool; allow travel time
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