“A Walk through a National Parkland”

The Phleger Estate

"REST AND BE FILLED WITH THE GRACE OF THE FOREST"
-Inscription on a bench next to Lonely Trail

Directions: The Phleger Estate is located adjacent to and north of Huddart Park and east of Skyline Boulevard. Trailheads are located on Skyline Boulevard, adjacent to the Kings Mountain Fire Department (site of the annual Kings Mountain Fair during Labor Day weekend) and at an intersection with Richards Road Trail in Huddart County Park. Parking is available in Huddart Park and limited roadside parking on Skyline Boulevard, near Kings Mountain Fire Station. Huddart Park is located on Kings Mountain Road 3.2 miles from the Woodside commercial district.

Grade: Strenuous, with a 1,400-foot elevation gain from Richards Road to Skyline Boulevard.

Distance: Approximately nine miles round trip, returning on the Crystal Springs Trail in Huddart Park.

Time: Four hours.

Special Conditions:

Watch for poison oak at trailside.

Trails are open to hikers and equestrians.

The park is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (650) 556-8642.

Finding the Phleger Estate is your first challenge. It is not marked on Skyline Boulevard in order to discourage excessive roadside parking. The recommended access is through Huddart Park, which is located on Kings Mountain Road, 1.5 miles past the intersection with Woodside Road. After passing through the entry station (the day use fee is $4 per car), turn left at the first intersection, then bear right to the base of the large Meadow Picnic Area. At the restrooms, turn right and park.

On the east side of the lot are two trailheads. The Zwierlein Trail makes a quick quarter-mile descent to Richards Road, where you turn left to reach the Phleger Estate in about a mile. We recommend the Crystal Springs Trail (also marked for the Phleger Estate), which follows a gradual downhill slope for .7 mile to the junction with Richards Road. Then turn left and follow the road around a sharp hairpin curve, walk uphill for a short distance, and watch for the Miramonte Trail and the entrance to the Phleger Estate on your right.

A large sign marks the entrance to Phleger Estate--home of giant redwoods, rushing streams, sword ferns, redwood sorrel, and large yellow banana slugs slowly making their way to a place they call home.

The Miramonte Trail (note the unique trail sign with an Indian on horseback on top of the sign pole) quickly joins West Union Creek and runs parallel to it for about a mile. The creek, which runs high during heavy winter storms, beckons you farther into a canyon as the trees thicken and provide a shade canopy from the warm afternoon sun. A half-hour of steady hiking brings you to a fence and a switchback leading up the hill and away from West Union Creek. You may wish to stop here and retrace your steps if your time is limited or enjoy reflective time in this serene forest setting.

Otherwise, continue your hike past the curve and uphill for 10 minutes to a three-way trail junction. Raymundo Trail continues to the right, rejoins West Union Creek, and continues up a gulch toward Skyline Boulevard. Mount Redondo Trail goes left along a tributary to West Union Creek through a beautiful stand of second growth redwoods. After 30 minutes of hiking (.8 mile), Mount Redondo Trail meets Lonely Trail and the west end of Raymundo Trail. Continue on Lonely Trail 1.5 miles to a point a few hundred feet below the Kings Mountain Fire Department (site of the King's Mountain Fair) and Skyline Boulevard. Midway on this trail are two benches, on one of which is carved our quote for this walk: "Rest and be filled with the grace of the forest." How true.

The trail continues east of and downhill from the fire station to an intersection with the Richards Road Trail. Take Richards Road past the Skyline Trail for .4 miles to a junction with Skyline Trail. Turn right for a few hundred feet, then left on Crystal Springs Trail. The trail gradually descends for two miles through remarkably different plant communities. At the higher elevation, oak, madrone, and California laurel trees share space with shrubs such as manzanita, chaparral, and chamise, forming a thick, almost impenetrable mass of brush. Watch for the first trail intersection, and turn right on Dean Trail. This is a pleasant segment restricted to hikers only (no horses) that traverses the hillside until crossing McGarvey Gulch, then meanders through the forest--crossing several trail intersections, so watch the signs--until you hear the traffic on Kings Mountain Road.

Soon the trail skirts the picnic areas and eventually intersects with Crystal Springs Trail. Turn right, and in less than one-half mile you're back at the parking lot.

WALKS COMING UP:

American Heart Walks - Sept. 23 Coyote Point to raise funds to benefit American Heart Association. For information, e-mail Pamelaf@heart.org

"Walk for the Gold 2001" benefiting Special Olympics of San Mateo County - 10 a.m., Sat., Oct. 13, Bay Meadows. A non-competitive, fun walk. Each walker asks 10 people to donate $10 to sponsor. Includes barbecue lunch, prizes for all. Call Carol Plecas, 415-552-2662, ext. 22, for information.

"Light the Night" Walks for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Northern California on Friday evening, Sept. 22 in downtown San Jose and on Saturday evening, Sept. 23, in downtown San Francisco. Call 415-625-1100 for information.

"America's Walk 2000 for Diabetes" on Sunday morning, Oct. 1, starting at El Camino Park across from Stanford Shopping Center, for 6.2 miles through beautiful and historic areas of Palo Alto. Call 1-800-254-WALK for information.

"Make a Difference Memory Walk" for Alzeimer's Disease on Oct. 7 on Treasure Island. For information, call 1-800-660-1993 or e-mail: memorywalk@alzsf.org.

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation "Race for the Cure," with a one-mile Fun Walk (tagged onto the race) starting at 8:45 a.m. on Oct. 15 at Sharon Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Call 415-677-2222 for information.

Second annual "Walk for AIDS" on Oct. 22, starting in downtown San Jose. Call 408-451-WALK for information.

Your comments and hiking suggestions are always welcome. Fax to the Independent at (650) 692-7587, or e-mail to: trekertom@aol.com Also check out our Web site at www.weeklywalker