Skyline Ridge: Horseshoe Lake Stevens Creek Nature Trail 6.5 Mi Moderate Hike
Details
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CARPOOL REQUEST COMMENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED DUE TO THE LARGE SIZE OF THE GROUP. Please read below how to carpool.
Level: Moderate
Total Distance: 6.5 miles
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Elevation Change: 1089 feet.
Parking fee: Free.
Official Trail Use: No dogs.
Shade: Don't forget your sunhat for your own personal shade. Shade does not matter if you have your sunhat. I never leave home without it.
Facilities: Toilets are at the end of road on the right side of the roundabout. The hike starts in the parking lot on the road on the left side of the roundabout. If needed, please use the restroom before proceeding to the parking lot (otherwise, it is a long walk from the parking lot to the restrooms).
Please read our tutorial for hiking in the sun:
https://www.sleeplateandhike.com/tutorials/how-to-hike-in-the-sun/
PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO GO BEFORE YOU ARRIVE SO WE CAN START ON TIME.
MROSD Permit: 48739
Permit limit is 49 people. Therefore, please be considerate and update your RSVPs at least 24 hours before the event start time, to give someone else a reasonable amount of time to make it. I have limited the RSVPs to 90, as I expect some individuals not to show up.
Recommended Map:
https://www.openspace.org/sites/default/files/maps/map_MB.pdf
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
• Please use the Google Maps link above to familiarize yourself with the trip and explore various route options from your home. Zoom in all the way.
• The GPS locations below and the map link above are accurate enough to find us by looking around with your eyes when you get there.
(Most Cars) GPS Degrees Minutes Seconds Format:
37°18'36.1"N 122°10'19.3"W
(Google Maps) GPS Degrees Decimal Format:
37.310037, -122.172036
Nearest street address:
22200 Skyline Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 95033
DO NOT GO TO 22200 SKYLINE, LA HONDA, CA.
The Google Waze app will route around "restricted access" roads, unlike the Google Maps app, using the same map data as Google Maps. Therefore, Waze is recommended over the Google Maps app for your phone.
If you have the Waze app installed on your phone, click this URL:
http://waze.to/?ll=37.310037,-122.172036&navigate=yes
• As always, it is good practice to confirm the night before that any app you use takes you to where you expect by comparing the destination with what is posted above on your PC/Mac.
• Most street addresses provided away from civilization are approximate, and may be up to a couple of miles from the hike location. Use GPS coordinates when driving, if possible.
PARKING DIRECTIONS:
Do not take the first right and end up at the small parking lot with no space.
MEET US IN THE BIG PARKING LOT ON THE LEFT.
Plan to arrive 10 minutes early to find parking, and walk to the trail head.
CARPOOLING DIRECTIONS:
We will use this link for carpooling:
https://groupcarpool.com/t/no0m8s
Please sign up here.
CARPOOLING MANNERS:
Please refrain from trying to negotiate your carpool in the comments, as it is equivalent to sending multiple "Reply All" emails to everyone.
Please start your carpool quest, by first adding yourself to the carpool link above.
Then, use the contact info provided by the driver or rider in the link above to contact them directly and privately.
Please be considerate of others and resist the urge to "Reply All".
Thank you for understanding.
SUMMARY:
We will start from Skyline Ridge Open Space Reserve and hike to Russian Ridge Open Space Reserve in mostly a loop.
HIKING DIRECTIONS:
-> Take short trail next to trail sign in the parking lot
-> turn left at the first junction onto Horseshoe Loop Trail
-> Turn left onto Tree Farm Trail for a short distance then turn right onto Fir Knoll Trail
-> Turn Left onto Tree Farm Trail
-> Turn Left onto Horseshoe Loop Trail
-> Turn Right at the next junction to stay on Horseshoe Loop Trail
-> Walk through the parking lot and turn left onto Sunny Jim Trail
-> Turn Right at the roundabout onto the road the turn left and cross Skyline Blvd onto Skid Road Trail. LOOK BOTH WAYS AND BE CAREFUL CROSSING SKYLINE BLVD!!!
-> Turn Left onto Lower White Oak Trail
-> Turn Right onto Upper White Oak Trail
-> Turn Right onto Stevens Creek Nature Trail. If you turn Left, there is a restroom close by.
-> Turn Right at the third junction to stay on the Stevens Creek Nature Trail
-> Turn Right onto Skid Road Trail
-> Turn Left at the next junction to stay on Skid Road Trail
-> Cross Skyline Blvd onto Skid Road Trail. LOOK BOTH WAYS AND BE CAREFUL CROSSING SKYLINE BLVD!!!
-> Turn Right onto the road, then Left at the roundabout, and then Left onto Sunny Jim Trail
-> Turn onto the left side of the Disabled parking lot then turn left onto Horseshoe Loop Trail
-> Turn Left at first junction to stay on Horseshoe Loop Trail
-> Turn Left at the next junction to stay on Horseshoe Loop Trail and follow trail back to the starting point
PLEASE READ THE EVENT DESCRIPTION ABOVE BEFORE POSTING A MESSAGE.