South Bay Ramblers Hiking Group

Distance: 8 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet

This is a lovely hike that has a lot of cover and 20 small bridge crossings.

There is a $6 entry fee and the park opens at 8 am. Meet in the Orchard Glen parking area, on the left about a mile from the entry gate. Bathroom available here.

Disclaimer: The South Bay Ramblers Hiking Group and its event organizers are not responsible for your safety. Outdoor activities are inherently dangerous. By signing up for these events, you agree to release the South Bay Ramblers Hiking Group and its event organizers from any responsibility, liability, or claim in law or in equity. If you don't agree to these terms, DO NOT join this meetup event. The South Bay Ramblers does not certify the expertise of its event organizers - we are all volunteers. You are responsible for yourself. Please come prepared with appropriate hiking shoes, gear and water.

YOU SHOULD KNOW: bikes like this preserve, so be prepared to share the trails. Because we are starting from Skyline, this has some uphill on the way back. There is one very steep uphill segment, about 600 feet over 0.6 mile. Restrooms are available at the parking lot.

For this hike we ditch the Tafoni formation and take Resolution Trail to El Corte de Madera Creek Trail after the break.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: Moderately strenuous, 10.5 miles, about 5 hours and 2,200 feet elevation gain, almost all shade. The hike will begin at the preserve parking lot. We'll take Sierra Morena Tr. to the preserve's old entrance. From there we'll take Oljon Tr., Steam Donkey Tr., Gordon Mill Tr., Crossover Tr., Crosscut Tr., and Timberview Tr. to visit a rare old-growth redwood tree. Our hike continues along Giant Salamander Tr. and then up Fir Tr. to our rest stop at the vista point picnic table. After the break we'll take Resolution Tr. to El Corte de Madera Creek Tr. to Sierra Morena Tr. to get back to the parking lot.

EXPOSURE and WEATHER:
The trails are mostly under trees cover.
For the latest weather forecast click here: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-122.32040405273436&lat=37.40343739941807#.XQLlxy2ZO3c

DISCLAIMER:
South Bay Ramblers Hiking Meetup Group assumes ABSOLUTELY NO responsibility, including but not limited to injury or loss of any kind/form due to the use of information, or participating in activities found on this group/site. Please keep in mind that YOU ALWAYS HIKE AT YOUR OWN RISK and that YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY. If you are not sure about the nature of a specific hike, contact the hike leader via the private message feature on this website. By becoming a member of the South Bay Ramblers Hiking Meetup Group and when you RSVP for this hike you are confirming your agreement to the rules and responsibilities of this group located here: https://www.meetup.com/SouthBayRamblersHikingGroup/

The parking lot can fill up quickly in the summer, so I've set the time for 8:15 instead of 8:30. Use the Google map pin to get you there - the parking lot entrance is tricky to find.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: We'll begin on Fall Creek Trail along the central canyon of the park and pass the Barrel Mill area. We'll climb the Big Ben Trail to the Big Ben tree for a rest break. Then we'll descend on the Lost Empire Trail, past the lime kilns using the Cape Horn and South Fork trails. Moderately strenuous hike of about 8.6 miles, steep in some areas, about 4-5 hours. Elevation about 1500 feet.
NOTE: there is a big shortcut that can save you 3 or 4 miles - and not much climb either.

DIRECTIONS: Head south on CA 17 towards Santa Cruz. In Scotts Valley, exit at Mt. Hermon Road. Drive northwest on Mt. Hermon (right turn after exiting freeway) about 3.5 miles to Graham Hill Road. Turn right onto Graham Hill and after just 0.1 miles the road ends at a light at Highway 9 in Felton. Continue straight across to Felton Empire Road. Drive about 0.6 mile and turn right into the poorly signed trailhead parking lot (please look carefully, easy to miss, especially if blocked by a parked car). NO facilities, go in Scott's Valley before you get here.

Disclaimer: The South Bay Ramblers Hiking Group and its event organizers are not responsible for your safety. Outdoor activities are inherently dangerous. By signing up for these events, you agree to release the South Bay Ramblers Hiking Group and its event organizers from any responsibility, liability, or claim in law or in equity. If you don't agree to these terms, DO NOT join this meetup event. The South Bay Ramblers does not certify the expertise of its event organizers. We are all volunteers. You are responsible for yourself. Please come prepared with appropriate hiking shoes, gear and water.