The Sierra Singleaires
Hiking Information, April 2012

Sunol Regional Wilderness 1A 12:00 3 miles, 200 ft. elevation gain. Join friends for a wildflower leisurely walk along the Alameda Creek "to Little Yosemite" . Heavy rain cancels. Pit toilets.

Directions: From Milpitas: On Hwy.680 at 237 go North 14 miles to "Calaveras Rd.-Sunol West" exit (not in Milpitas). Turn R onto Calaveras Rd. Go 4 miles to L on Geary Rd. to park kiosk. Meet at last parking area (trailhead gate) at end of Geary Rd. (bypass picnic area). From Dumbarton Bridge proceed on Decoto Rd. about 5.5 miles to end. Turn R on Mission Blvd. for 3 mi. At 4-way intersection (7-Eleven store) turn L on Niles Canyon Rd. Go 7.4 miles. Go under Hwy.680. Continue on Calaveras as above.

Carpools: PaloAlto 10:45. Milpitas: 11:15.

Leaders: &

GPS: 37.515309,-121.831856  Car GPS:1895 Geary Road  Sunol

Big Basin State Park 3C 10:00  Meet in front of the Park Visitors Center (Use your SP pass or $10, Senior $9 parking fee). We will hike the loop to Berry Creek Falls, 12+ mi., 2150 ft elevation gain. Six-hour strenuous hike! (We will likely be late returning for the potluck).Some slippery rocks, so bring good footwear and a stick or poles, lunch, extra water, & clothing for wind or rain. Light rain does not cancel; call any leader if unsure.

Directions: To BB Park Headquarters: Take Hwy 9 West from the City of Saratoga up 7 miles and cross Hwy 35 (Skyline Blvd.) After 6 more miles on Hwy 9 at stop sign, go straight onto Hwy 236 and go 8 miles to park headquarters. It is ~40 minutes from Saratoga.

Carpool: Los Gatos 9:15 (We will maximize our car pool use and leave sharply at 9:15)

Leaders:  ,    and  

GPS  37.172286,-122.2224

Meyers Garden and Dry Creek/Pioneer Park Mini Hike 11:00 in Union City ( So. Hayward area)Welcome to SPRING! Leisurely 1 hr. hike before lunch. Bring lunch to eat at picnic tables in Meyer Gardens at noon. Following option: to Starbucks two blocks away for a cup of your favorite. Hats & Boots needed. Pit toilet in Parking lot!

Directions: from South Bay --north on Hwy.680 take (2nd) Mission Blvd (238) exit in Fremont, turn L on Mission Blvd. for approx. 7 miles. R at May Rd. (Whipple Rd.) Proceed to end of road & meet in parking lot on your R. From West Bay & Dumbarton Bridge, drive east on Decoto Road about 5.5 miles to end--L on Mission Blvd. Go a couple blocks, then R onto MAY Rd. (Whipple Rd.)

Leadeers: &

GPS 37.607441,-122.017921  Car GPS: 1320 Garin Avenue,Hayward, CA

Los Gatos Creek Trail  Mini Hike 1:00 4 mile hike, on level paved trail. We'll eat lunch first then walk by the percolation ponds & follow the creek toward Vasona.

Directions: From Hwy 17S past Hamilton Ave. exit W on Camden/San Tomas Exp. and turn R. At the first opportunity exit R onto Dell Ave. Follow Dell Ave. for 1/2 mile, under the expressway and past Sunnyoaks stop sign, L at Los Gatos Creek County Park sign next to the first Percolation Pond on left. We'll meet in the parking lot just past the kiosk. $6 entrance fee or use your SCCP Senior pass.

Carpools: Palo Alto: 12:10, Milpitas: 11:55, Los Gatos: 12:45.

Leaders:  

GPS 37.268683,-121.952805  Car GPS: 1250 Dell Ave. Campbell, CA 95008

Pulgas Ridge OSP 1A 12:30 A moderately hilly hike of about 4.5 mi. Good views,mostly wooded and may include the Dusky-footed Wood Rat Trail. Late snack on trail. Bring water. (Not a doggie hike).

Directions: I-280 to Edgewood Rd, exit east, 0.7 mi to first left on Crestview Dr, then immediate left on Edmonds Rd. Parking in Pulgas Ridge OSP lot on right. Restroom.  MAP

Carpools: Palo Alto 12:00.

Leader:   (day of hike cell ).

GPS 37.474984,-122.282848

Calero Creek, Santa Teresa County Park 2A 11:30 Moderately stressful 6.4mi, 600' gain hike through orchards in blooming glory on the Calero Creek trail. We loop through Santa Teresa County Park stopping for lunch at the Pueblo Day Use Area. Light rain cancels (because the steep trails become slippery and dangerous.)

Directions: Hwy 85 to Almaden Expy S. L on Harry Rd. Park on street at end of Harry Rd.  MAP

Carpool: Cupertino 10:45

Leaders: , C and Barbara Dahl.

GPS 37.208781,-121.822831

Alviso Slough Mini Hike 12:00  This is an easy 3 mile hike that is flat and goes around the Alviso Slough. Bring a lunch and water. We will meet at the picnic tables near the parking lot, have lunch, and learn about the history and culture of Alviso. Then we will hike around the Slough.

Directions: From 880, take 237W, exit First St.N, R on Gold St.  From Hwy 101, take Hwy 237 (Mt. View-Alviso Rd.) East. Take exit #6 to Lafayette/Gold St. Turn left onto Great America Pkwy then immediate right on Gold St.connector, left on Gold St. Road bends left becoming Elizabeth St.and right on Hope Street, Enter the no fee parking lot. 

Carpool: None specified.

Leaders;: &  

GPS 37.429342,-121.9791692.

Niles Canyon Wild Flower Train Ride to Sunol 1A or 1B 10:00. Hike Niles (1A) Or Pleasanton Ridge(1B). Meet at the Sunol train station. Take a trip back in time on the route of the 1st Transcontinental Railroad. Train ride about an hour, expected donation seniors 62 & over $8 adults $10 Trains run rain or shine. Lunch in Sunol Park or Niles 1A Hike in Niles & surrounding park flat. 1B Hike at Pleasanton Ridge overlooking Kilkare Canyon. Steep & could be muddy.

Directions: from Hwy 680 toward Pleasanton, take Calaveras exit for Hwy 84 west (Paloma Way) at 1 mile turn right on Main St to Kilkare Rd to Railroad ave. to the Sunol train station.

Carpools: allow about an hour from all locations 9:00 AM.

Leaders: and

GPS 37.594014,-121.8891

Pillar Point Bluff  Mini Hike 1:00 For animal lovers 3 mile, 100ft. uphill. POST's 119-acre Pillar Point Bluff property, located on the west side of Highway 1, between the communities of Moss Beach and El Granada. This is a popular destination for hikers and sightseers on the San Mateo County coast. Optional, bring your favorite animal on a leash with cleanup tools to this 3 mile walk. Be prepared for high winds and great views of the sea and wildlife. Eat before you come so you can last till the potluck starts.

Directions: From the intersection of California Hwy 92 & California Hwy 1 in Half Moon Bay head north on CA-1 for 5.9 mi. then left onto Cypress Ave at the Historic Distillery sign. In 0.3 mi Cypress Ave turns left and becomes Airport St. Destination parking will be on the right at 1.0 mi. just before the first building you see at 850 Airport St., Moss Beach, CA 94038.

Carpool: Palo Alto 12:15

Leader:

GPS  37.511834,-122.500842

Edgewood SM County Park 1A 12:00 This is one of my favorite flower friendly forays. We should see many spring flowers. We will have lunch before the hike. Meet in the park and look for us at one of the picnic tables. An option if you like, you can also park along Edgewood Road.

Directions: From Hwy 280 take the Edgewood off ramp east. The park is on the right just a little ways east of Hwy 280.

Carpools: Palo Alto, 11:15, Los Gatos 10:45

Leader:

GPS 37.474007,-122.278331

Priest Rock and Limekiln OSP  2B 10:00 (Heavy rain cancels). This is a tour of the Los Gatos back country starting at Lexington Reservoir and ending at Lexington Reservoir. An 80% loop. Explore two Creeks, one that is a trickle but never dries up. Nice views, canopy, critters, fauna and flora.

Directions: Meet at and leave from the Los Gatos Car Pool at 9:45. Parking is limited at the Lexington trail head so we will use car pools packed in like clowns. Please don't park at the trail head.  There will be no hiking sign-in at the trail head.

Carpools: Los Gatos 9:45 (leader) Palo Alto 9:20.

Leaders: and  

GPS 37.200225,-121.980212

Bayfront Park, Menlo Park Mini Hike 1:00 Close to the bay, open to the sky. The first half of the hike will be level, the second half, we will climb up and walk around this area. Windy, so bring a hat and jacket. Bring a friend and water.

Directions: Going north on 101, take the Marsh Road exit, go right on Marsh Road toward the Bay. Continue straight into Bayfront Park. Go to the last parking lot near the rest rooms.

Carpools: Los Gatos: 12:15

Leaders:   &

GPS 37.488787,-122.177546

Fremont Older OSP  1A, 1:00 Leisurely hike past vineyards, stables, beautiful oaks, redwoods, & madrones with incredible vistas overlooking most of the Bay area. Bring binoculars. Very limited parking at the trail head so plan to carpool. Heavy rain cancels as it will get too muddy!

Directions: From Hwy 85 going south take DeAnza Blvd Exit 16. Turn right onto S De Anza Blvd, go 0.4 mi to a right onto Prospect Rd. You will have to make a L turn when the road turns into Stelling, and then cross the railroad tracks. All carpools will meet at the junction of Stelling and Prospect just past the rail tracks (parking on the road shoulders) to caravan to the trail head.

Carpools: Palo Alto 12:15; Los Gatos 12:30

Leaders: , C and   C

GPS,Trail Head: 37.285971,-122.055118  Stelling and Prospect meet: 37.293947,-122.040425

Castle Rock State Park 2B 10:30 Interesting rock formations, largest black oaks in Santa Cruz Mountains, Interpretive area, great views. Moderate hike. Short sections of trail rocky and rough. Boots and hiking sticks are advisable. Trail on sheer cliffs and narrow at some points. Heavy Rain cancels.

Directions: From Highway 85 take the Saratoga Ave West exit straight through the city of Saratoga (Big Basin Way): go 7 miles west on Highway 9, at stop sign go left on Skyline Blvd (Hwy 35) 3 miles to Castle Rock park entrance on R (parking fee) or park for free on the shoulder.

Carpools:: Los Gatos 9:45, Palo Alto 9:30.

Leaders; C Co Leader C

GPS 37.230533,-122.095357