Upcoming GLS Outings
All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. For more information about any of the following outings, contact the listed leader or our Outings Chair. You can check back on this page for any last minute updates, and join our electronic listserv. Hikes are rated for elevation gain, distance and terrain. The Wild Side newsletter lists full contact information for all events. We do not list phone numbers or addresses online.
Saturday, July 12, 8:45-6:00
BERRY CREEK FALLS IN BIG BASIN STATE PARK
Rating: 3B2
Join us at Big Basin Redwoods State Park for what CALIFORNIA HIKING calls the number one hike in the Bay Area. At this time of year, the falls should be at their best. Our looping walk will include the Sunset and Skyline-to-the-Sea trails. Tall trees, a trio of colorful waterfalls, deep woods, and drier exposed ridges make this a memorable walk. Meet at the Tamien Park-and-Ride in San Jose at 8:45am, leaving at 9am. Alternatively, meet the group at Park Headquarters by 10:30am, and let us know to expect you there. Bring plenty of water, lunch, and sturdy boots. Rain cancels.
LEADERS:
Sunday, July 20, 2:00pm-5:00pm
GLS PICNIC IN CAMPBELL
Rating: Fun!
Optional Hike Rating: 1A1
We'll be firing up the BBQ, cooking veggie burgers, and cow burgers, for you. We'll also provide the drinks and fine china. Bring yourself, a friend, and a side dish to share. The picnic will be in Campbell in our chair's wonderful backyard. We'll soak in the sun and enjoy chatting about hikes and anything else. New members and prospective members are especially welcome! Contact Lynne for directions to the picnic. Cost: $5 for non-members, free to GLS members.
There will be an easy hike led by Cathy before the picnic at Fremont Older for those that want to work up an appetite. Meet at 12:15 p.m. at the park-n-ride lot at Stevens Creek and Wolfe Road in Cupertino for car pooling to the hike. The hike will be three miles long with about 300 feet elevation gain. Bring water and sun protection.
LEADERS:
Saturday, July 26, 9am-7pm
ARROYO SECO RIVER HIKE-SCRAMBLE-SWIM
Rating: 2A5
Not just a hike, but an adventure. This hike starts on a fire road in full exposure for 3 miles. Then we’ll drop down to the river, and follow it upstream. The trail is the river itself so we’ll be scrambling over wet rocks and walking in the water as well. As we continue upstream, we will reach deeper and deeper pools. The final portions of the hike are swimming through the gorge with steep rock cliffs rising up on both sides. The turn-around will be a small waterfall. Because this hike is off trail and involves scrambling and swimming, space will be limited. RSVP to the hike leaders to reserve your spot. Preference will be given to GLS members. Participants will need to be strong enough swimmers to swim with clothes and shoes, as well as comfortable scrambling along the wet rocks of the river. Bring: Sunscreen, water, lunch, snacks and a floatie. Shoes for river walking/swimming and drybags or ziplocks for keeping your stuff dry.
LEADERS:
Saturday, August 2, 9:00am-5:00pm
BUTANO STATE PARK HIKE
Rating: 3B2
Join us for an eleven mile hike at Butano State Park . We'll do a loop on the Jackson Flats, Canyon, Indian, Doe Ridge, Goat Hill, and Ano Nuevo trails. Butano State Park is a redwood park located north of Santa Cruz and south east of Pescadero in the Santa Cruz Mountains . It is more off the beaten path than most parks and well worth a visit for a nice day hike in its lush central canyon. Poison oak and ticks abound so dress appropriately. Bring plenty of water and lunch. Meet at the Tamien Park-n-Ride in San Jose at 9am or at the Woodside Park-n-Ride at Woodside Road (Hwy 84) and 280 at 9:30am to car pool. Otherwise, meet at the park at 10:00am.
LEADER:
Sunday, August 3, 2008 9:15am-3:00pm
PURISIMA CREEK REDWOODS
Rating: 2B2
Join us for a moderate 7 mile hike in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. This is a join GLS SF Bay & Loma Prieta Chapter hike. Starting from North Ridge Parking lot, we will take Harkins Ridge trail. Continuing on Harkins Ridge trail, we will descend about 1400 ft and reach Higgins-Purisima Road parking lot. Our lunch spot will be near the creek. Then we will ascend back up by Whittmore Gulch trail. The views of the ocean from this hike are spectacular. North Ridge Parking lot is located 4.5 miles south of Highway 92 on Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35). Bring lunch, water, layers, a hat and sun protection. Total elevation change on this hike will be around 2800 ft with couple of strenuous uphill switchbacks, so you should be in reasonably good shape. For carpooling, San Francisco hikers meet under the Safeway sign on Market & Dolores at 9:15AM, leaving sharply by 9:30AM. Loma Prieta chapter hikers, wishing to carpool from Peninsula and South Bay can meet at Edgewood Park & Ride in Redwood City at 10:00AM. You can also meet us at the trailhead around 10:30AM.
LEADER:
Wednesday, August 13, 6:30pm-9:30pm
MISSION PEAK SUNSET AND FULL MOON HIKE
Rating: 2B2
Come join us for a lovely 5.5 mile hike that climbs 1700 feet up Mission Peak , located behind the city of Fremont . With a peak 2,517 feet above sea level, the hike provides views of Mount Hamilton, Mount Diablo , and the Silicon Valley . We will be leaving promptly from the Stanford Avenue trailhead at 6:30pm to hike up the Peak Trail. Bring dinner/snack, plenty of water, warm clothes and windbreaker (it can be quite cold on top, but the view can be well worth it), and a flashlight. Twilight starts at 8:30; the full moon will rise around 6:30pm. There is a chance that the park could be closed due to fire danger. The hike leaders will send out an email by noon of that day if that is the case; you can also check by call (510) 544-2222 for fire danger park closures. Park website: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/mission
Directions: Take I-680 or I-880 and go east from the first Mission Blvd exit. Turn right on Stanford Avenue (look for Mission Peak Regional Preserve sign), and drive to the end. Parking is free. To carpool, contact the leaders.
LEADER:
Sunday, August 17, 8:45am–6:00pm
PORTOLA STATE PARK : PETER'S CREEK
Ratings: 3B2 (13 miles, 2000 feet)
Portola State Park has a rugged, natural basin forested with coast redwoods, Douglas fir and live oak. It is in southern San Mateo County near La Honda between Skyline Road and the ocean. We'll hike to a wonderful pristine redwood grove at Peter's Creek. It's a long but beautiful hike with a couple of hill climbs. Bring a lunch, plenty of water, and money for the park entrance fee. Wear long trousers if you are sensitive to poison oak as there is a lot of it in this park. Meet for car pooling in San Jose at Tamien Park-n-Ride at 8:45am and at the Page Mill Park-n-Ride lot off 280 at 9:10am.
LEADER:
Saturday, August 23, 2008 9:30am to 1:00pm
WUNDERLICH COUNTY PARK
Rating: 1A1 (5 miles with about 800 foot elevation change)
Wunderlich is a fabulous park with well-maintained trails, varied terrain, and no bicycles! Kind of a hiker's dream come true (well, except for the horses). Much of the park is well-shaded, so it's a good choice on a hot day. We will start on the Alambique Trail. Alambique Trail leaves the pure stands of redwoods and climbs through a mixture of many trees and shrubs we continue on Bear Gulch Trail to the Meadow Trail, Redwood Trail, Madrone Trail then circle back to the Bear Gulch Trail for a lovely 5 mile loop.
Bring water, sun screen, and snack for this morning hike. Meet at the Page Mill Park and Ride ( Page Mill Road off the 280) at 9:30am or the trail head at 10:00am. Read about this hike in more detail and view photos at
http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/wunderlich.html
LEADER: