Weekly

Walker

By Tom Davids

The Headwaters Loop

Monte Bello Open Space Preserve

"Most streams appear to travel through a country with thoughts and plans for something beyond."John Muir

Directions: Take Highway 92 west to Skyline Boulevard, then go 20 miles south to intersection with Page Mill Road. Turn left for one mile, and look for parking area on your right.

Grade: Moderate on the Stevens Creek Nature Trail Loop. Strenuous up Indian Creek Trail.

Distance: 5.2 miles for complete loop.

Time: Three hours.

Special Conditions: Toilet facilities at trailhead. No dogs allowed on trails. Horses and bicycles allowed on all trails except the Stevens Creek Nature Trail. No drinking water. Preserve is managed by Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District phone: (650) 691-1200; e-mail: mrosd@openspace.org

This week we return to the south Skyline region for a hike in the 2,758-acre Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, one of the Open Space District’s best-known preserves for wildlife and ecosystem diversity. The Headwaters Loop takes you through the upper Stevens Creek watershed, down to the Canyon Trail, and up to the start of Indian Creek. The loop begins at an elevation of 2,200 feet, drops to 1,800 feet, then climbs to 2,600 feet before heading back.

Dairy ranches once populated this area, and much of the trail system is on old ranch roads. Several trails in Monte Bello connect to neighboring preserves, including Table Mountain Trail and Grizzly Flat Trail to Long Ridge, Old Skid Road to Skyline Ridge, and Bella Vista Trail to Rancho San Antonio. The White Oak Trail connects to Coal Creek, and the Canyon Trail connects to Los Trancos. This connecting trail system makes your hiking trip options in the south Skyline area nearly limitless.

Start this hike at the south end of the parking lot at the trailhead for the Stevens Creek Nature Trail. At the first junction, turn right, but first stop and enjoy the view to the south, to Mount Umunhum and Loma Prieta, the epicenter of the 1989 earthquake. A bench commemorates Frances Brenner of Palo Alto, who was active in the movement to preserve these lands as open space. The nature sign describes the view and the four types of ecosystems you will find in the preserve. As you continue along the trail, take a moment to read the signs and learn more about bobcats, poison oak, edges (a new term), decomposers (an old term), newts (they always return), Western fence lizards (watch for the blue patch), grass spiders (and those familiar funnel webs), the food chain (guess who wins), and succession (from sag pond to a forest in only a few hundred thousand years), raptors, and wildflowers. The single-track trail gradually switch backs to Stevens Creek and meanders through oaks, fir, and big leaf maples with an abundance of ferns and streamside plants.

Along the way, you will cross two wooden bridges and step over Stevens Creek on small logs and stones. Since Stevens Creek is spring-fed, it flows year-round, producing an oasis of sorts during hot summer and fall months.

The trail starts to gain elevation as it continues on the west side of the creek, past an eroded part of the trail (stay on the trailside of the caution tape). At the next junction with Skid Road Trail, go left over a third bridge and begin to climb past a closed livestock gate to a sunny meadow and the next trail junction. If you’ve had enough and want to avoid the 800-foot climb to Indian Springs, turn left on Canyon Trail and follow the signs to the parking lot.

Else continue by turning right on Canyon Trail for 0.2 mile, then left on Indian Creek Trail. You quickly start climbing, but the ever-expanding views equalize the physical challenge. As you gain altitude, you will hear Indian Creek off to your right. Near the top of the ridge, you will notice a level area and secondary trail on the right. Below is a metal-covered cistern and beyond it a flat turnaround area. The trail continues laterally along the hillside; soon you are close enough to scamper down to Indian Creek. This time of year, the green grass and active water flow make it a pleasant rest stop. Retrace your steps to the main trail and into the junction. Turn left to Black Mountain Backpack Camp. Four single campsites and a group area are available, subject to a permit from the District office. Call 650-691-0485 for more information.

The hike back to the trailhead continues on the west side of the ridgeline to the next junction, then left on Old Ranch Trail to the next junction, and then left on Bella Vista Trail. The views from the ridge are spectacular. To the west is Skyline Ridge (notice the Christmas tree farm) and Russian Ridge. North is Mount San Bruno and to the east is the San Mateo and Dumbarton bridges. Eventually the Bella Vista Trail intersects with Canyon Trail. Turn right, and continue past the sag pond. ("All plant communities are at some stage of succession.") Turn left at the next intersection onto the nature trail. Notice remains of a walnut orchard planted in the early 1900s. Continue uphill to Frances Brenner’s bench, and return to the parking lot. During our hike early in March, we saw a coyote run across the trail and up the hill behind the parking area. A fitting close to a beautiful hike through one of the region’s premier wilderness areas.

Your comments and hiking suggestions are always welcome. Fax to the Independent at (650) 692-7587, or e-mail to: trekertom@aol.com.