San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club

(This event is sponsored by the Sierra Singles Section)

A moderately paced hike in Redwood Regional Park in the Oakland hills. We will cover mostly shaded trails with some hilly sections on the French trail. Our lunch stop has rest room facilities. We will be covering about 6 to 7 miles. Suitable footwear is recommended. We will stop for lunch about halfway**.**

Level: Moderate(2B)

Additional Directions: Skyline Gate staging area. Take Highway 13 from Highway 24 if you are coming from the Walnut Creek-Berkley area , or Highway 580 coming from Hayward. Take the Park Bl exit, and turn left onto mountain Bl. At the second light, turn right onto Snake Rd at the traffic light and continue straight ahead onto Shepherd Canyon Rd. Once at the top, turn right at Skyline Bl and continue for about 1/2 mile. The parking lot is on the left.

Event Organizers:

John Murrell
kiwijm1@gmail.com
(510) 390-4863

Join Steve Bakaley on a leisurely - moderately paced day 8 mile hike through the Redwood Grove Loop to Cathedral Grove and the Observation Deck. We'll be going out one side of the Redwood Grove Loop and returning on the other, so we'll get to experience all of it. It contains a number of very impressive sequoia sempervirens specimens.

From the Redwood Grove we'll be taking the River Trail, the Big Rock Hole Trail to Cathedral Grove, then backtrack to the Ridge Fire Rd, which isn't really a road on our route, the Ridge Fire Rd to the Observation Deck for lunch, then down the Pine and Eagle Creek trails to the River Trail with a side trip down the Columbine Trail, then back through the Redwood Grove. Note that the River Trail becomes a steep uphill after Cable Car Beach and the uphill continues on Big Rock Hole to Cathedral Grove. Near the top of the Ridge Fire Rd we will be hiking uphill in loose sand. So this is not an easy hike for beginners and those out of shape.

If you wish to hike fast and return early, this is probably not the hike for you. Mellow tolerant hikers welcomed.

Distance: 8 miles

Elevation Gain: Nearly 1000 ft.

Meet: 10:30AM in the main parking lot close to the new bathrooms

Directions: From the Bay Area, take Ca 17 to Mt Hermon Rd in Scotts Valley. Take Mt Hermon Rd through Scotts Valley to its intersection with Graham Hill Rd. Go right on Graham Hill Rd to Ca 9 and turn south (left) on Ca 9 to the park entrance which will come up quickly on your left.

Level: Moderate(2B)
Cost: $10 parking fee
Bring: Lunch, snacks. layered clothing, and liquids. There is no potable water on the route.

Leader: Hike Leader is William Yragui, wyragui@missionpeakconservancy.net, 650-642-5150 cell

Synopsis: Hike from lower Vargas Plateau to upper Vargas Plateau. If the night sky is clear, we have access to a telescope to view the planets and moon.

We will hike into the park via the Cliff Trail, Deer Gulch Trail, Upper Ranch Trail, Golden Eagle Trail to the Vargas Plateau staging area and then exit down Morrison Canyon Road. Total distance is 7.5 miles with approximately 1,240' of elevation. Headlamps or flashlights are recommended for short sections of the trail but the objective is to enjoy hiking at night with no or very limited artificial illumination. Level: Moderate ++ (2C) - Not a beginner’s hike as this hike may be difficult for new hikers, hikers out of shape, or those with phobias about hiking at night. We will stop on a regular basis but must exit the park by 10 p.m.

Dress with layers as gazing at the stars can lead to being cold from standing around while the telescope is reoriented to new planetary or star systems. Warm liquid and or snack food will ease the time waiting for the telescope direction to be changed.

Estimated Distance of Hike: 7.5 miles or thereabouts.

Gross Elevation Gain: 1,240 ft.
Parking: Park on Maar Place or Canyon Heights Drive. This is a neighborhood so be respectful. Loud sounds carry, so talk softly.

Bring: Two liters of water, lamp, snack, face mask, layered clothing, and enthusiasm. Recommend well-fitting boots for traction and ankle support. Hiking poles are helpful, especially when going downhill.

Cancellation: Activity is held in rain or cloudy weather, but may be altered due to snow or hail. Telescope viewing is dependent upon the lack of any clouds. The hike will still happen but if clouds are present, the telescope will remain packaged.

Sierra Club - Signature of a Liability Waiver is required for participation in Sierra Club outings. If you need an advance copy of the waiver, email wyragui@missionpeakconservancy.net.

Meet: We will meet at the intersection of Morrison Canyon Road and Canyon Heights Drive.

Directions: From 880. Exit Mowry Blvd. and head east to Mission Blvd. Turn right on Mission Blvd. and then left on Morrison Canyon Road for .3 miles to Canyon Heights Drive. Turn left and park in the neighborhood (Marr Place or Canyon Heights Drive). We meet at the intersection of Morrison Canyon Road and Canyon Heights Drive.

Trail Map https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/vargasplateau_brochure_map.pdf