Our Annual Hike to the Kings Mountain Fair

The Huddart-Phlegler Loop

Huddart County Park

Phlegler Estate (GGNRA)

"I will walk into the southwest or west. Eastward I go only by force, but westward I go free.”

-Henry David Thoreau

Directions: Through the town of Woodside to Kings Mountain Road. Continue about three miles to Huddart Park on your right.

Grade: Moderate, with a 1,500-foot elevation gain.

Distance: About nine miles round trip.

Time: About five hours with time at the fair..

Special Conditions: Most parts of the trail are open to equestrians. Check at the entrance gate for current park closing time. The entrance fee is $5, free for seniors during midweek. Huddart County Park is part of the San Mateo County Park System (650) 363-4021. Phlegler Estate is operated by the GGNRA. For information, call 650-556-8642.

This week's hike takes you on a loop through Huddart County Park and the Phlegler Estate with a stop at the Kings Mountain Art and Crafts Fair to do a little shopping.

I will lead this hike on Sept. 4, starting at 9 a.m. The hike is sponsored by the San Carlos Parks and Recreation Department. The cost is $5 per person. To register, call 650-802-4382.

From the entrance station off Kings Mountain Road, drive to the first intersection. Go straight (slightly left) a short distance to the next junction and turn right. At the lower end of the large Meadow Picnic Area is a small parking lot next to the restroom building. Park there and find the signed trailhead. Take the Zwierlein Trail (also marked for the Phlegler Estate) that begins a gradual descent to the junction with Richards Road in .7 mile. Don't go to Richards Road, but turn left at the Dean Trail (also marked for the Archery Range in 1.6 miles). Dean Trail continues west over mostly level terrain with several picnic areas on the left and McGarvey Gulch on the right.

As the trail climbs a bit, split rail fencing separates you from the forested picnic areas, and soon you will pass over an asphalt road that leads to the Toyan Group Camp area, a popular campout setting for youth groups. The trail crosses Toyan Road and continues uphill to Archery Fire Road. It levels out above and parallel to Kings Mountain Road. Soon Dean Trail switchbacks, climbs 100 feet, and re-crosses the Archery Fire Road. You are then hiking along the north side of the ridge high above McGarvey Gulch. One-eighth mile beyond Archery Fire Road is a junction with the Chinquapin Trail, which leads to the upper reaches of Huddart Park.

Our walk continues along the Dean Trail, which levels out and moves down into the gulch. This portion of the trail is an old logging road, and throughout the gulch are large stumps that remind us of the huge redwoods that grew in this area before the loggers came in the 1860s. Now the area is reforested with second-growth redwoods, and up into the gulch, big-leaf maples are taking hold.

The Dean Trail crosses to McGarvey Gulch, where the water rushes during the winter months. As you turn from the bridge, McGarvey Flat lies below. A sign reminds us that we are 1,380 feet above sea level and about 580 feet above our starting point.

Continue a quarter-mile along the narrow Dean Trail to the junction with Crystal Springs Trail. Turn left, and ascend through a mixed forest with a touch of chaparral. In 20 minutes you will intersect with Summit Springs Road. Turn right, and in a few yards, turn left on Richards Road. In .3 mile you will pass by Skyline Trail alongside Skyline Boulevard.

Hike along the Summit Ridge (or Skyline) Trail past the fire road entrance off Skyline Boulevard. You will notice a Phlegler Estate sign on the post at the junction. A short distance ahead is the high point of the trail--about 1,280 feet above the start point.

Continuing north, the trail leads through the site of the Kings Mountain Art Fair, where we will spend an hour or so before moving on. From the fair, cross the road to the fire department, turn right and find the trail, which parallels the ravine. Continue down until you intersect with another trail; turn left, and in a few yards you will spot the unique sign marked for Lonely Trail. This artistic signpost, including a Native American on horseback, is used throughout the park. At ground level is a park sign identifying this as the Phegler Estate, part of the GGNRA with no bikes, camping, fires, or dogs allowed.

The single-track trail descends through a redwood, fir, and tanbark oak forest and turns back on a wide horseshoe turn. The drainage ravine flows on your left, as the trail twists gradually down through madrone trees.

The trail levels out for a few feet, then heads down, crosses the gully, and continues along the opposite hillside. As the trail moves around the hill, it levels out again and drops into a wide ravine that is a major water carrier during heavy winter storms. As you walk across the ravine, you will see the first of two benches on your left. The area is filled with tall second-growth redwoods with signs that heavy logging impacted this area a hundred years ago. You have been hiking about 20 minutes from Skyline and have descended 500 feet.

In another 10 minutes, the trail drops another 120 feet to the second bench, which has a carved reminder: "Rest and be filled with the grace of the forest." This area is a different scene. Your view plane is much more limited with madrone and fir trees added to the forest mix.

The trail levels out a bit and soon meets a junction with Raymundo Trail to the left and Mount Redondo Trail to the right. Go left out to a ridgeline and then double back to the headwaters of West Union Creek. For the next mile the trail parallels the creek under tall redwood trees. At this time of year, the creek is mostly dry, but it is a different scene after heavy winter rains.

As you approach the bottom canyon, you will see a small wooden cabin-like structure that may date back to the mid-1800s. Around that time Willard Whipple built a lumber mill in this area. Follow the trail along the banks of West Union Creek, cross a bridge, then hike up to the junction at Mount Redondo Trail. Turn onto Miramontes Trail and walk along the dry hillside before turning down to the creek level. Soon you will exit Phlegler Estate and join Richards Road. Turn left and go down to McGarvey Gulch. Cross over and turn right at the heavy timber retaining wall. This is the Crystal Springs Trail. Stay on the trail, but don't cross the next bridge. Instead, take the horseshoe turn left and begin climbing back to the parking area.

Footnote: Your comments and hiking suggestions are always welcome. Email tom@tomdavids.com or check out our website at www.weeklywalker.com.