The Sierra Singleaires
Hiking Information, March 2012

Stevens Creek County Park - Tony Look Trail  Mini Hike 1:00  4 miles, 300 feet elevation gain. Bring: lunch, binoculars, boots recommended. We'll eat lunch first, then hike by the reservoir and on the Tony Look Trail.

Directions: From the South - Take 85N, exit at Stevens Creek 1/2 mile before 280, left at Stevens Creek then left onto Foothill Blvd. (turns into Steven's Canyon Rd.) Go 1.2 Miles to Left into park. From the North - on 280 exit Foothill Expy. Go West toward mountains for 2 miles to L into park before the reservoir. Meet at the first parking lot ($6 parking or SCCP Senior Sticker).

Carpools:: Los Gatos 12:15, Palo Alto 12:15, Milpitas 11:55

Leaders:  

GPS: 37.306283,-122.074292

Pinnacles National Monument  1A 11:00 or a bit longer (1A+). We will hike about 5.5 miles starting at the Bear Gulch Trail head.  We may go thru the Caves if they are open at this time, so bring a flashlight. Then we will join the high peaks trail and hike to the top of the high peaks returning by an alternate route.  The views at the Pinnacles are spectacular and we will no doubt get a view of one or more California Condors. We will meet at the Store near the campground. If there is a demand we can have a 1B hike as well. If you have a Golden Age Pass to the National Parks, please bring it along for free parking. Bring Lunch, Water, comfortable hiking shoes and your camera. We will carpool from the Bay Area (about 50 miles) leaving at 9:30 AM. Directions to the park will be provided at that time to all drivers.

Directions: Driving on Hwy 101 south take exit #353 for CA-25 toward Hollister, take Hwy 25 Bypass around Hollister and continue 30.2 miles to a right into CA Hwy 146 for 2 miles to the Visitor Center.

Carpools: E. San Jose 9:15 (leader) to caravan (~70 miles) to Pinnacles

Leader: , Co-leader:   .

GPS 36.517897,-121.137038

Wilder Ranch State Park 2B 10:30 This park offers a unique experience of the past, from evidence of habitation by Native Americans, to an adobe building from the Spanish period, and houses & farm buildings from when the ranch was a dairy. A small visitor center is very interesting. We will hike up to the top on Eucalyptus loop and then hike back through different trails back to the parking lot. This is a State Park with entrance fees or bring your State Park pass. Hike meets in the parking lot at the bathrooms. Heavy rain cancels

Directions: Caravan from Los Gatos carpool location or take Hwy 17 south and then Hwy 1 north approx. 4.5 MI to Wilder Ranch parking lot on left.

Carpool : Palo Alto or East San Jose 9:20; Los Gatos 9:35. (Leader) Car pools should meet in Los Gatos by 9:35 in order to caravan to Wilder with Leaders. 

Leader: Coleader:

GPS 36.961577,-122.089090 

Walking The Great Spirit Path at Bayfront Park Mini Hike 1:00.  We will view the rock sculptures along the Great Spirit Path and then continue our walk by the dense tidal estuary and the barren salt flats of the bay. Fairly flat with gentle slopes. Bring water and a snack for this 2-hour hike.

Directions: From 101 take Marsh Road exit east. The Bayfront Park is at the end of Marsh Road (stay in left lane on Marsh Rd. to enter park). Meet at the restrooms about 3/10 mi from entrance.

Car Pools: None specified

Leader:

GPS 37.487152, -122.177539

Huddart County Park 2B 10:00

Carpools: Woodside 9:30; Palo Alto 9:15; Los Gatos 9 a.m.

Leaders: and

GPS 37.429453,-122.312546

Almaden Quicksilver Park 1A 12:45 This is a 5 & 5 hike, about 5 miles long and 500' elevation gain, depending on your GPS. This hike is timed for St Pat's potluck. There will be water breaks but no lunch stop, boots recommended, probably muddy in parts. Heavy Rain Cancels. There is limited parking at the trail head so we will meet at Old Almaden Plaza and carpool to the trail head.

Directions: From Hwy 85 take Almaden Expy exit, go South on Almaden 1.3 mi to a right turn into the Old Almaden Plaza at 5925 Almaden Expy (Immediately after the McAbee Rd intersection). Meet leader in the parking lot, at far left corner of the Plaza (along McAbee Rd side of lot), to carpool to the trail head. Rain cancels.

Carpool:  See Directions

Leader:

GPS (car pool) 37.235708,-121.873798

Almaden Quicksilver Park 2B 10:00 (8mi - 1600ft) This hike starts at the Mockingbird Hill entrance. The first mile ascends quite steeply (poles recommended). Heavy rain cancels. Light rain is OK.

Directions: From Hwy 85 take Almaden Expy exit, South on Almaden. Continue onto Almaden Rd., proceed 0.5 miles and turn right on Mockingbird Hill Ln. Drive up the hill to the parking lot on your left.

Carpools: Palo Alto 9:10. Los Gatos 9:30

Leaders:   and   :

GPS 37.193663,-121.836733

Stanford University Campus Mini Hike 10:30  This is a 3.4 Mile Flat walk. No classes are being held and many students are away from the campus. It is the best time to do this! On this walk we will start at the Cantor Museum, walk to view the new Graduate Business school and the Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden. Then to the Student Union for a lunch/brown bag/coffee/snack before heading back. This hike is over by 1 PM.

Directions: From El Camino Real in Palo Alto take exit to Palm Dr /University Ave, toward Stanford University, go 0.6 miles on Palm Drive and turn right onto Museum Way. Park on Museum Way and meet at the Rodin Sculpture Garden of The Cantor Museum.

Carpools: Palo Alto 10:15 Los Gatos 9:45.

Leaders: and

GPS 37.432762,-122.169515

San Francisco Presidio 1A 11:00 (approximately) Hike through the history of the Presidio. See the renovation progress, discover the secrets of Lover's Lane and walk inside a 1906 earthquake shack. This is a 5.5 mile 800 foot moderately strenuous hike. We'll stop at Inspiration Point Overlook for magnificent views of SF bay and lunch. Light rain cancels.

Directions: Meet the leader in the parking lot behind the Pioneer Hotel at 9:45 on the corner of Hwy 84 and Whiskey Hill Rd in Woodside. Then we’ll carpool to the trail head in SFO.  The hike will start about 11:00 at the flag pole in Pershing Square near the main parade field.

Carpool: Woodside 9:45  Leader (See directions, Map to Pioneer Hotel)

Leaders:  , cp  and Barbara Dahl.

GPS (car pool) 37.428508, -122.250499 (trail head) 37.798529, -122.458917

Mt Diablo State Park 2B 11:00 Take this loop trail to the summit of Mt Diablo using the Juniper & Summit trails. The trail is steep in places with loose shale. Wear hiking boots & long pants. On a clear day it provides unrivaled 360 degree views including the Bay Area, Central Valley & the Sierra Nevada. Heavy Rain Cancels.

Directions: from Interstate 680 in Danville take Diablo Rd/Danville exit #39  Follow Diablo Rd 3 miles east to Mt Diablo Scenic Blvd. .Turn left this soon becomes South Gate Rd go 3.7 miles to the entrance station. This is a fee area $9.00 day permit seniors or use your state park pass. Continue another 3.2 miles to Park Headquarters & turn right on Summit Rd. Go 2.3 miles to Diablo Valley Overlook & a large parking lot at the entrance to Juniper Campground. This takes about 1 hour from Fremont.

Carpool: Fremont Park & Ride 9:30 by McDonald’s, North Mission Blvd exit & 680 Mission Rd.

Leaders:  and   .

GPS (Fremont Park & Ride) 37.540239, -121.923394