WEEKLY

                                                WALKER

                                               By Tom Davids                   

 

Horseshoe Lake and Lambert Creek Trail

Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve

 

"The promised land always lies on the other side of a wilderness."

                                                                                    Havelock Ellis                                                                                      

Directions: Highway 92 west to Skyline Boulevard, south 20 miles to intersection with Page Mill and Alpine roads. Continue on Skyline another mile, and turn right into the Skyline Ridge parking lot.

Grade: Easy around Horseshoe Lake. Moderate down the Lambert Creek Trail, with elevation loss of 400 feet.

Distance: About 1.5 miles around Horseshoe Lake. The Lambert Creek Trail is one mile round trip.

Time: Two hours.

Special Conditions: Toilet facilities at trailhead. No dogs. Horses and bicycles allowed on the Lambert Creek Trail but only on portions of the Horseshoe Lake Trail. No drinking water. Preserve is managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District650-691-1200.

During the past few weeks we have explored the Russian Ridge and Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserves. This week we will visit two trails at Skyline Ridge–one obvious and the other quite remote, one we have visited often and the other for the first time.

            The loop hike around Horseshoe Lake is a familiar and easy, but satisfying hike for the whole family–young or old. On the west side of the lake is a whole-access trail suitable for wheelchairs, strollers, wagons, and trikes. The trail is close to the water’s edge so that youngsters can get a close-up view of the water life. But note that fishing and swimming are not allowed. The inside of the "horseshoe" has some beautiful specimens of Canyon Oak, and two picnic tables are only a short distance from the parking lot.

For those who want to stretch their legs and breathe heavily for a half hour, the short trip into the Lambert Creek watershed is a nice way to round out your hike.

            The Lambert Creek Trail starts at the south end (or head end) of Horseshoe Lake. Near the trail junction is a wide wooden bridge passing over the outflow from Horseshoe Lake, which feeds Lambert Creek. A short scramble trail from the bridge leads to the creek-side, which is a pleasant picnic spot.

From the junction, Lambert Creek Trail climbs briefly on an old ranch road through oak and bay trees, levels off, and then begins its steep descent into the canyon below.

The trail passes through a sunny, grassy hillside, then switchbacks down to the streambed. Soon the trail stops at the creek. Notice some large timbers with steel cables attached, the remains of an old road that probably ended in the Portola State Park area. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the remote area that nature has reclaimed from the commerce of yesterday. The dense tree canopy, bright green ferns at trailside, and filtered sunlight make this an ideal spot for a warm spring afternoon getaway.

If you prefer a sunny, grassy hillside with good views to the west, retrace your steps from Lambert Creek to the switchback, and take the unmarked trail a short distance along the hillsides to an operating water storage tank. The grassy hillside above the trail is a good place to soak up the warm afternoon sun.