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, May 3, 10:00-2:00
PT LOBOS SEAL PUP HIKE
Rating: 1A1
This is the time of year to catch the Harbor Seal pups playing in the waves along the shores of Pt Lobos State Reserve located in Monterey. We'll start our hike at Piney Woods and follow the coast North past the information station. From there we'll follow the North shore trail to Whaler's Cove. This trail winds through shrub and forested areas along the coast offering frequent and spectacular views of the rugged coastline. Overlooks of small, protected beaches offer excellent opportunities for viewing sea mammals, including the chance to see the young Harbor Seal pups. After reaching Whaler's cove we'll return along the same trail back to the information station. Then we'll take the short 1/4 mile Sea Lion Point Trail loop and follow it back to our starting point by exploring the tide pools along this stretch. Afterwards we'll enjoy lunch at the picnic area back where we started. This hike is 4 miles with some rock scrambling along tide pool area. Hike and picnic is from 10:00 to 2:00 not including travel time. For more info on the park, go here
Bring: Wind proof jacket and layers of clothing, sturdy walking shoes, sunscreen, water, snacks, lunch (you don't have to take lunch on the hike), optional: camera, binoculars
Note: The Big Sur marathon does not conflict with this hike
Rain in Monterey cancels
This park does not allow dogs
Carpool option: Santa Cruz civic parking lot at 8:30 or Carmel & Monterey meet @ the intersection of Rio Road and
Highway 1 in Carmel in front of Black Bear Diner 9:30
LEADERS:
Note: hike leaders not available by e-mail on weekends
Sunday, May 4, 9:00AM-5:00PM
Henry Coe State Park: Vasquez Peak Loop
Rating: 3D2 (13 miles, 2700 feet elevation)
The steep and rugged southern part of Coe is known for its sweeping vistas and abundant wildflowers in spring time. Starting at Hunting Hollow, we'll hike up to Steer Ridge and then make our way over to Vasquez Peak for lunch. After lunch, we'll return by the Long Dam and Phegley Ridge Trails. Bring lunch and snacks, sun protection, and three quarts of water. Expect lots of sunshine in this hike across open meadows and grasslands. In years with plenty of rain, there are several creek crossings, but in this dry year, the creeks are quite dry. Meet at Tamien Park-and-Ride at 9 am or at Hunting Hollow at 10 (contact hike leader for directions). Rain cancels.
LEADERS:
Sunday, May 11, 11am-4:00pm (includes travel time from carpool locations)
Redwood Regional Park Dog Hike
Rating: 2A2 (6.5 miles, 800 feet total elevation gain)
Many from the south bay have not discovered this wonderful dog friendly park tucked in the Oakland hills. This hike is for humans and their well behaved dogs as this park allows dogs off leash. We will do a loop hike taking us from Dunn, to Graham, Madrone, French, Fern, Baccharis, Monteiro, Spike Golden, then back to Dunn Trail. Bring a snack, layers, sun protection, and plenty of water. Map of the Redwood Regional Park is located at http://www.ebparks.org/parks/redwood Hikers, wishing to carpool from South Bay can meet across the street of the Hamilton Light Rail station at 11:00am in the parking lot of the office building at 900 E. Hamilton Ave. Hikers wishing to carpool from farther north can meet at the Target (Bridgepoint Center) on the West side of the store pk lot which is off Hwy 92 in Foster City at 11:10am. Please remember to share the cost when taking advantage of the carpool and chip in for gas/tolls/prking, … If you want to meet at the trail head meet in the parking lot of Redwood Regional Park (11500 Skyline Blvd, Oakland) at noon.
LEADERS:
Sunday, May 18, 8:50am-5:30pm
Sam McDonald/Pescadero Creek County Parks
Rating: 3B2 (11-12 miles/1300 foot gain)
Together, these two San Mateo county parks comprise some 7500 acres in the drainage basin of Pescadero Creek, into which flow 19 streams tumbling down from the steep sides of ridges. Join us on our walk to the magical confluence of Pescadero, Towne, and Jones Gulch Creeks deep in a redwood canyon. Our journey will be through an area that represents what the Santa Cruz Mountains are really all about, as evidenced by gorgeous ridge-top views, climbs and descents through dense forest of old redwoods, Douglas fir, and tan and live coast oak, as well as the sound of numerous bubbling streams. Meet at the Tamien Park-and-Ride in San Jose at 8:50, leaving at 9am for the drive to La Honda. Alternatively, meet at Sam McDonald County Park by 10:20am. Please note that there is a nominal day use fee at the park. Bring plenty of water, lunch, sunscreen, and sturdy boots.
Leader:
Sunday, June 1, 9:30 - 3:00
El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve
Rating: 2B2 (8 miles, 1500 feet)
Join Paul, Cathy and the 2B2'ers for a traipse around the El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve, just a ways up Route 35 off the 280 Freeway. We'll start the hike with a quick homage to the Methuselah Tree, estimated at 1,800 years old. We'll take the Timberview Trail to Manzenita Trail to the Fir Trail up to Vista Point. We'll lunch at this 4-mile point, and then continue our meandering journey on Resolution Trail to the Tafoni Trail, with a very short side trip to view the Tafoni Sandstone Formation. We'll then wind down the loop via the Tafoni Trail to the Sierra Morena Trail. This loop will be uphill, downhill, uphill, downhill. Bring water, lunch, sunscreen, hat, layers, and good humor. Chocolate encouraged but not madatory.
Here’s the official web site for the Preserve: http://www.openspace.org/preserves/pr_ecdm.asp Meet at the Woodside Road Park and Ride (280 Fwy Exit Woodside Road) at 9:30 a.m. CARPOOLING GREATLY ENCOURAGED. Parking is limited to just a few vehicles at the Methuselah Tree. If you insist on meeting us the trailhead, be at the tree at 10:00. Questions? Call or email one of the leaders:
Leaders:
Saturday, June 7, 9:15 - 3:45
Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve Hike
Rating: 2B2 (7 miles, 1000 feet)
The Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is located on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking Half Moon Bay. We'll hike in the cool moist Purisima Creek Canyon and see redwoods, ferns, wildflowers, tanoak, madron, and douglas fir. We will be doing a hike of about seven miles on the Purisima Creek, Soda Gulch, and Harkins Ridge trails. If its a clear day, there will be wonderful views of the coast from the Soda Gulch trail. Bring a lunch, plenty of water, sun protection, and warm layers in case the fog rolls in. Meet at 9:15 a.m. at the Page Mill Park-n-Ride for car pooling to the park. The parking is very limited at our trail head so we strongly encourage car pooling. If you must meet us at the trail head, contact Cathy for directions.
Leaders:
Sunday, June 15, 10:00 to 1:00
Pogonip, Santa Cruz
Rating: 1A2
Here is a nice, shorter hike that will still leave you a good part of your day. We will hike a 3 mile loop through Pogonip Park. We will start at the Spring street entrance. Parking is very limited here, so please meet at the Santa Cruz government parking lot to consolidate cars. We will travel along the Spring trail to the limekiln trail. We will pass the lime kilns and the goldfish pond. Then we will drop down on the Haunted Meadow trail , cross the meadow and climb back up the lookout trail, returning to the Spring trail. We will be in both exposed and covered areas. Bring sunscreen, water, snacks and sturdy hiking boots. Carpool: 9:30 at the Santa Cruz Government buildings. Please note: Hike leaders are not available by e-mail after Friday
LEADERS:
Saturday, June 21, 9:00am-5:00pm
Marin Headlands Hike
Rating: 2B2 (8.3 miles, 1000 feet elevation gain)
Join us for an 8.3 mile hike at the Marin Headlands. We'll do a loop on the Miwok, Coyote Ridge, Middle Green Gulch, Coastal, and Tennessee Valley trails. We'll start in Tennessee Valley and hike up first and then descend past the Green Gulch farm and have lunch at Muir Beach. Then we'll hike back up the coast and down to Tennessee Valley to complete our loop. Bring lunch, layers, sun protection, and plenty of water. Map of Marin Headlands trails located at http://www.nps.gov/applications/parks/goga/ppMaps/map-mahe.pdf.
This is a joint GLS Loma Prieta and SF Bay chapter hike. GLS Loma Prieta chapter hikers, wishing to carpool from Peninsula and South Bay can meet at Edgewood Park & Ride in Redwood City at 9:00am. San Francisco hikers will meet under the Safeway sign on Market & Dolores at 9:30am. You can also meet us at Tennessee Valley parking lot at 10:15am. To get to Tennessee Valley parking lot, take the Highway 1/Shoreline Highway exit on 101. After about 0.5 mile, turn left onto Tennessee Valley Road. Go about 1.5 miles to the parking lot at the end of the road.
LEADERS: