Outdoor Activities Spring 2020
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Outdoor Activities SPRING 2020 | March – April – May MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT GENERAL INFORMATION ith this newsletter in hand and a sense groups. Please arrive a little early to ensure Monte Bello Open Space Preserve W of exploration in mind, we invite you to a prompt start for each activity. The activities enjoy the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space are FREE; some require reservations. District preserves. These 26 extraordinary All activities are developed and led by Docent preserves include nearly 65,000 acres of Naturalists who have completed an extensive permanently protected open space, from training program. These docents volunteer their redwood forests to bay shoreline. We time to share their knowledge of natural and encourage you to participate in the wide cultural history with you. For more information variety of adventures offered inside Outdoor Activities about the volunteer docent program, visit the . The activity durations listed are District’s website at openspace.org, or phone averages based on our experience – always the District at 650-691-1200 weekdays, allow extra time in your schedule for unusual 8:30am to 5:00pm. circumstances, or the slower pace of some Karl Gohl ACTIVITY GUIDELINES Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve To Ensure Your Experience is Enjoyable, Please Review this Information • For all hikes, wear boots or sturdy walking • Participants are encouraged to make shoes appropriate for rugged trails. Dress personal decisions on comfort, safety, in or bring layers (T-shirt, long-sleeved and willingness to drive or hike in stormy shirt, sweater, and/or jacket). The weather or threatening weather conditions. can be unpredictable. No matter what • For a mountain bike or horseback ride, season it is, be prepared for rain, wind, heavy rain within two days prior to the fog, or sun! activity will cancel it. • Carry ample drinking water with • Equestrians must provide their own horses you – water is not available on (no stallions). Lead lines are required and preserves. Bring sun protection (hat, breast collars are recommended for all sunscreen) and consider insect repellent. horses, and helmets must be worn by all • If you have internet access, you are advised riders under age 18. Karl Gohl to check the District website – Outdoor • Hikers yield to horses; Activities and Trail Conditions – for bicyclists yield to hikers Special Note possible notifi cations before heading and horses. Observe trail out to a docent-led activity. Occasionally If you have a group of 8 or more speed limits (15 mph max; people who would like to attend activities must be cancelled or trails 5 mph when passing). closed with little notice. a docent-led activity listed here, • Please be courteous, stay alert, and make please contact the Interpretation • Heavy rain cancels hike activities unless your presence known to other trail users and Education Program Manager to otherwise noted in the description. If well in advance, particularly when discuss in advance at 650-625-6536 there is light rain or the threat of rain, approaching from behind. or [email protected]. Other go to the meeting place. Docents will • Restrooms are not available at all arrangements may need to be plan to meet participants and discuss considered for your group. hike options – route or duration may preserves; please plan accordingly. be altered due to weather and • Please carpool if possible. Parking is Header photo: Picchetti Ranch Open trail conditions. limited in many locations. Space Preserve by Jack Gescheidt 3 RUSSIAN RIDGE WHERE TO MEET Meet at the main Preserve parking lot on the northwest corner of the Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35) and Page Mill/ Directions to preserves featured in this season’s schedule of Outdoor Activities are listed below. Some preserves have more than one access point. Some activities meet Alpine Road intersection (across Skyline at different locations than where the activity will actually occur. If an activity does not Blvd. on the right). Those traveling from meet at the preserve listed, or if there is more than one preserve access point, the I-280 on Page Mill Rd. should allow alternate meeting location will be indicated in italics on a separate line following approximately 40 minutes travel time. the preserve name as part of the activity header. (For example: Skyline Ridge Mindego Gateway parking lot: Continue Meet: Russian Ridge or Russian Ridge Meet: Caltrans vista point). If no information follows the preserve name, then refer to the detailed directions for the preserve or on Alpine Road past the main Preserve alternate meeting location listed below. parking lot for another 1.5 miles. The Mindego Gateway parking lot is on Note: Restrooms are not always available; please plan accordingly. the right. Allow 45 minutes travel PLEASE CHECK THE LISTED DESCRIPTION TO MAKE SURE YOU MEET YOUR time from I-280. ACTIVITY LEADER AT THE CORRECT LOCATION. SIERRA AZUL Jacques Ridge parking lot: Meet at the parking lot located near the intersection DANIELS NATURE CENTER PICCHETTI RANCH Park at the Russian Ridge Preserve parking of Hicks Road and Mt. Umunhum Road From the intersection of I-280 and Foothill in San Jose. Exit Highway 85 at Camden lot on the northwest corner of the Skyline Expressway, go 3.5 miles southwest Boulevard (Highway 35) and Page Mill/ Avenue. (From northbound Hwy. 85 turn (toward the mountains) on Foothill left on Branham Avenue and then turn left Alpine Road intersection (across Skyline Boulevard/Stevens Canyon Road. Turn Blvd. on the right). Walk to Alpine Pond at on Camden Ave. and from southbound right on Montebello Road. The Preserve Hwy. 85 turn left on Camden Ave.) Travel Skyline Ridge Preserve by going through is 0.5 miles up Montebello Rd. on the left. the tunnel under Alpine Rd. The Nature on Camden Ave. about 1.6 miles. Turn Center is a small gray building on the PULGAS RIDGE right on Hicks Rd. and travel for about east shore of Alpine Pond. From I-280, exit Edgewood Road. Drive 6.3 miles. Turn right on Mt. Umunhum Rd. 0.75 miles on Edgewood Rd. toward San The Preserve parking lot will be on the right. EDGEWOOD COUNTY PARK OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES • SPRING 2020 Carlos/Redwood City. Turn left (north) on SKYLINE RIDGE Meet at the parking lot for Edgewood Crestview Drive, then immediately turn left Meet at the Preserve parking lot on County Park on Old Stage Coach Road. on Edmonds Road. Follow Edmonds Rd. Exit I-280 at Edgewood Road. Head east Skyline Boulevard located one mile south to the Preserve parking lot entrance on of the Skyline Blvd. (Highway 35) and on Edgewood Rd. for about 1.0 mile to the right. the park entrance on the right. Page Mill/Alpine Road intersection. After PURISIMA CREEK REDWOODS entering the Preserve, turn right and go LONG RIDGE Purisima Creek Road entrance: From the to the farthest parking lot. Those traveling Peters Creek Trailhead: Meet at the Highway 92 and Highway 1 intersection from I-280 on Page Mill Rd. should allow roadside pullout area on the west side in Half Moon Bay, travel south on Hwy. 1 approximately 45 minutes travel time. of Skyline Boulevard, 3.6 miles north of approximately 4.3 miles. Turn left on Equestrian parking lot: After entering Highway 9 or 3.3 miles south of Page Verde Road. After turning on Verde Rd. the Preserve, proceed to the farthest Mill Road. If you are coming from the and traveling 0.25 miles, continue straight parking lot on the left. Those traveling north on Skyline Blvd., the pullout is just to remain on what becomes Purisima from I-280 on Page Mill Rd. should allow past Portola Heights Road on the right. Creek Road. (Verde Rd. splits off to approximately 45 minutes travel time. From the south, the pullout is near the the right.) Travel approximately Palo Alto city limits sign on the right. 3.7 miles on Purisima Creek Rd. There is additional parking across to reach the Preserve. Skyline Blvd. at the Grizzly Flat trailhead (Santa Clara County Park). LOS TRANCOS Meet at the Preserve parking lot on Page Mill Road (across from Monte Bello Preserve), 7 miles west of I-280 or 1.5 miles east of Skyline Boulevard. Those traveling from I-280 on Page Mill Rd. should allow approximately 35 minutes travel time. Matthew Findling MONTE BELLO Meet at the Preserve parking lot on Page Mill Road (across from Los Trancos Preserve), 7 miles west of Long Ridge Open Space Preserve Libbi Wu I-280 or 1.5 miles east of Skyline Boulevard. Those traveling from I-280 on Page Mill Rd. should allow approximately 35 minutes travel time. Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve 4 ST. JOSEPH’S HILL THORNEWOOD THORNEWOOD (continued) Lexington Reservoir Dam: Meet at the From I-280, take the Highway 84/ Alternatively, from the junction of County boat launch parking lot next Woodside Road exit. Follow Hwy. 84/ Highway 35 (Skyline Boulevard) to the Lexington Reservoir Dam. From Woodside Rd. through Woodside and and Hwy. 84 in Sky Londa, take southbound Highway 17, take the Bear then to a junction with Portola Road Hwy. 84/La Honda Road north Creek Road exit, cross over the highway, at 3.3 miles. Bear right to stay on 1.9 miles and turn right at the brick and go 0.4 miles north on Hwy. 17 to Hwy. 84, now La Honda Road. At wall marked 895-897. Alma Bridge Road. Follow Alma Bridge 4.9 miles from I-280, turn left at a brick Rd. over the top of the dam. Continue wall marked 895-897; look for the District beyond the dam as the road jogs to the sign just inside this gate.