WEEKLY
WALKER
"A Challenging
Hike to Beautiful Redwoods"
Long Ridge Open
Space Preserve/Portola State Park
"Good company on a journey
makes the way seem the shorter." Izaak
Walton
Directions: On
Skyline Boulevard 24 miles south of Highway 92 and 1.7 miles north of Highway
9. Park at Gate LR-01.
Grade: Strenuous.
Distance: 15 miles.
Time: Eight to nine hours.
Special Conditions: Watch for poison oak at two
locations.
Elevation gain is 550 feet to Peter's Creek and 2,350 feet back to Skyline
Boulevard.
Pit toilet available at Trail Camp.
No dogs allowed on trail.
No safe drinking water.
Jurisdictions include Midpeninsula Open Space District (650) 691-1200 and
Portola State Park, (650) 948-9098.
This
hike is for those willing to accept a physical challenge in exchange for
nature's ultimate reward. The destination is Peter's Creek Grove--one of the
most beautiful old-growth redwood groves in the area. The hike starts on
Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35) in the Long Ridge Open Space Preserve. Along the
15-mile round trip, you will enjoy a rich assortment of wildflowers (blooming
late this spring), splendid views to the west, rushing streams, deep redwood
canyons, and the physical challenge that only 2,900 feet of elevation gain can
bring.
Arriving
at Peter's Creek, you will find one of the Bay Area's best examples of virgin
redwoods. This land was never logged, and some of the redwoods are true giants.
Fallen logs are where nature placed them. High water has scoured the creek beds
and piled up fallen wood to create small dams and holding ponds. Fields of
redwood sorrel (looks like a large three-leaf clover) cover portions of the
ground like a thick carpet. Plan to spend an hour or so exploring the Peter's
Creek Loop Trail.
On
a recent Sunday afternoon, Veralyn and I started this hike at Gate LR-01, which
is located on the west side of Skyline Boulevard, 1.7 miles north of Highway 9.
Limited parking is available at roadside. As you pass through the gate, the
trail marker reads 1.1 miles to Long Ridge Road and 3.2 miles to Grizzly Flat
parking. The trail leads uphill through a forest of pines, oak, and madrone. In
a matter of minutes, you've climbed to the ridgeline and a junction, where you
turn right and begin to enjoy the westerly views. The trail divides in 0.2
miles. Turn left, and walk along the grassy hillside with abundant wildflowers.
blooming in season. Ahead are rocky outcroppings that invite you to sit and
ponder the beauty of more distant places--Big Basin State Park, Butano Ridge,
and the Pacific Ocean. Continue around the knoll and into the forest to the
next junction. Turn left and gradually descend 0.3 miles to the intersection
with Ward Road. Turn left again and continue down Ward Road, past the Ranch
Spring Trail, and through the gate that divides Long Ridge and Portola State
Park. Watch for trail signs as you continue downhill. The trail moves in and out
of evergreen forest, along a ridgeline and continues downhill to an iron pipe
gate. Before the gate and to your right is a trail sign to Slate Creek and the
Portola Redwoods. At this point, you've lost 1,000 feet in altitude, and you
will lose another 650 feet by the time you reach Page Mill. The trail then
turns from an old ranch road to a single track, winding around old redwood logs
remaining from logging operations. Watch for poison oak through this area.
Approaching Slate Creek, you maneuver down steps out into the steep hillside,
cross the creek, and turn left onto a cool, pleasant, mostly level trail for
about one-half mile to Page Mill. Although there is no evidence of the mill,
this was the site of William Page's second mill, one of three in the area. It
is interesting to reflect on how he hauled logs out of this canyon.
Continue
on the Slate Creek Trail to the backpackers' Trail Camp. Then turn right on
Bear Creek Trail, pass the "caution" sign, and hike along the wide
trail that was probably an old service road or rail line to transplant logs
during the early 1900s. Continue gradually uphill, cross over a ridge, and soon
the trees and shrubs remind you that this is the exposed, sunny side of the
hill. As the trail narrows, you will pass through a field of periwinkle that is
overgrowing the trail. Shortly before the periwinkle, you may see on the down
slope an old wrecked car of the late '40s or early '50s vintage. Its location
suggests that this trail was passable some 40 to 50 years ago. Watch for poison
oak as you climb to the pine trees and ridge top ahead. The terrain is dry, as
the trail passes by an old outhouse and then quickly descends 700 feet to
Peters Creek and the magnificent redwood grove. The Loop trail will cross
Peter's Creek Trail twice, and there are many fine places to rest and enjoy the
pristine area. We
took three and a half hours to hike the seven-plus miles from Peter's Creek to
Skyline Boulevard, but recommend that you allow at least four hours. At times,
the uphill pace seems relentless, especially if the afternoon is hot. So don't
try this trip unless you're in good condition. Protect yourself from poison
oak. Carry plenty of water. Take your time, and remember that "Good
company. . .makes the way seem the shorter."
Written by Tom Davids