WEEKLY

WALKER

By Tom Davids

The Crown Jewel of Peninsula Park

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. Park in Huddart Park or roadside parking on Skyline Boulevard, near Kings Mountain Fire Station.

Grade: Moderate with a 1,380-foot elevation gain from Richards Road to Skyline Boulevard.

Distance: Approximately seven 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.

After years of local fund-raising and political encouragement, another jewel has been added to the wilderness crown of the Peninsula parks, and this one could be the crown jewel. The Phleger Estate is now officially a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and open for public use. The park covers 1,257 acres of forestland bordering Huddart Park on the north between Skyline Boulevard and West Union Creek.

On a warm Sunday afternoon last October, Veralyn and I set out in search of the Phleger Estate. Finding this park is your first challenge. The recommended access is through Huddart Park, which is located on Kings Mountain Road in Woodside. After passing the entry station (the day use fee is $4), park in the main lot and follow signs to Phleger's boundary. We took the Zwierlein Trail head located near the restrooms at the lower end of the large lawn area. The Zwierlein Trail passes over a series of short switchbacks for one-quarter mile to Richards Road Trail. Turn left and continue on Richards Road, past the Crystal Springs Trail on your left to Miramonte Trail.

A 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 quickly joins West Union Creek and runs parallel to it for about a mile. The creek, still running high from last year's heavy winter storms, beckons us 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 through this magical place. Historians tell us this land was the former site of Whipple's Mill and the town of Union Creek, and before that, an Ohlone Indian settlement. In 1990, the heirs of Herman Phleger, founder of a San Francisco law firm, agreed to sell the property to the Peninsula Open Space Trust. The trust sold the Phleger mansion to help complete the transaction.

Our hike continued through the hairpin curve and uphill for 10 minutes, when we came to a three-way trail junction marked by a signpost topped by an Indian on horseback. Raymundo Trail continues to the right, rejoins West Union Creek, and continues up the gulch toward Skyline Boulevard. Mt. 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), Mt. Redondo Trail meets Lonely Trail and the west end of Raymundo Trail. We continued on Lonely Trail 1.5 miles to a point a few hundred feet below the Kings Mountain Fire Department 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. You can continue this hike on the primitive trail east of and downhill from the fire station or on Skyline Boulevard to the Richard's Road trail head. Then continue east for half a mile to a junction with Crystal Springs Trail and on to the junction with Dean Trail. Turn right, and in two miles you will return to the parking lot.

The Phleger Estate was dedicated as a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area on April 29, 1995. Guided tours are available by calling the Visitors Center at 415-556-8642.