Every winter, the shoreline at Año Nuevo State Natural Reserve becomes jammed with amorous elephant seals. They’re all gone by spring but in the summer a few of the males return to shed their hide, which comes off in large…
California state parks
Latest hike: Timms Creek Trail at Big Basin Redwoods State Park
by tom • June 9, 2009 • 1 Comment
Timms Creek Trail connects the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail and the Sunset Trail at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. It’s a quiet, secluded, rarely used trail that offers a great escape route if you feel you’re not up for the whole 12…
Skyline-to-the-Sea trail blockage update
by tom • June 8, 2009 • 7 Comments
UPDATE: This blockage has been cleared. (The following is out of date; it’s remaining posted for historical reasons). Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail is blocked about a half-mile west of the headquarters of Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Fortunately there’s a simple detour:…
Latest hike: Henry W. Coe State Park from Dowdy Ranch Visitors Center
by tom • May 25, 2009 • 4 Comments
I had crazy-great weather — sunny and clear with cool breezes — for Sunday’s hike at Henry Coe State Park’s Dowdy Ranch Visitors Center. The trails near Dowdy Ranch, which opened two years ago, are classic Coe: straight up and…
Crazy Hat Days at Henry Cowell State Park
by tom • May 19, 2009 • 0 Comments
Mountain Parks Foundation organizes this shindig on Father’s Day at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Here’s the scoop: A fun-filled weekend is in store as we celebrate Father’s Day Weekend. Events include classic cars, arts and crafts booths, food booths,…
Great route at Henry Coe from the Coyote Creek entrance (updated with pictures)
by tom • April 27, 2009 • 4 Comments
Winehiker Russ broke out his absurdly huge Henry Coe State Park map and found this untried route from the Coyote Creek entrance: Typically I figure folks can find their own way if they use common sense and grab a map…
Latest hike: Montara Mountain/McNee Ranch State Park
by tom • March 30, 2009 • 8 Comments
Bring a windbreaker. Leave your expectations of what a state park oughta be at home. McNee Ranch State Park has perhaps a half-dozen picnic tables, a similar number of dedicated parking spaces, one porta-potty, a couple old fire roads for…
Castle Rock never gets old
by tom • November 23, 2008 • 3 Comments
I couldn’t wait to get in among the trees to test my new GPS unit. Castle Rock State Park has abundant tree cover, though nothing as thick as, say Big Basin Redwoods, which is back in the rotation again (though…
Mount Sizer in Henry Coe: Among the best hard hikes in the Bay Area
by tom • October 20, 2008 • 6 Comments
What makes Mount Sizer a must-see? Check out Baychic’s pictures from Saturday. She went with a group that put in a 16-mile version of the Sizer loop (just about any Sizer hike is a minimum of 12 miles, all of…