Hiking Around San Francisco Bay Area and Beyond

Hike Date: 11/20/11 Today I decided to hike in Alum Rock Park in northeast San Jose. I reached there by taking Route 680, Berryessa road exit followed by Penitencia Creek road. There is a free parking at the trailhead with approximately 25 cars capacity. Alum Rock Park is a historical park, being the first municipal park in state of California. The park entrance has a big rock at the entrance (largest meteor in the World?) weighing 2000 tons known as Alum Rock Meteor. The park had a train service going between Penitencia Creek and Alum Rock Avenue from 1896 till 1934. I started on Penitencia Creek trail from the main entrance. It starts behind the restrooms near the entrance. It was a cloudy day with temperatures in 50s. At the entrance there are lots nice flowers almost reminding of spring season but it is only a fall right now. The trailhead is at 253 feet elevation. After walking few hundred meters you meet a fork where I took a left and crossed the creek through feet deep wat

Hike Date: 11/13/11 Today I decided to hike in Saratoga Open Space Reserve. It is located at the intersection of scenic Skyline Boulevard (SR 35) and highway 9.  I reached there by taking Route 9 from Saratoga Avenue off highway 85. There is a free parking at the trailhead with approximately 20 cars capacity. It was a nice and clear day with temperatures in 50s.  I started on Saratoga gap trail. The trailhead is at 2730 feet elevation. Initial part of the trail goes on side of the Skyline Blvd. You can hear the traffic noise drift from the highway. Most of the trail is shaded with tall trees.  After walking for 1.7 miles you come to an intersection where Charcoal Road, Table Mountain trail and Saratoga Gap trail. I took the Table Mountain trail, which descends more than 1100 feet over 2.7 miles winding trail. On the way you cross multiple water streams. This part of the trail is in Steven’s Creek County Park. Elevation at the Table Mountain stands at 1730 feet. Last half mile of th

Hike Date: 10/23/11 This week we decided to hike Windy Hill Open Space Reserve. We reached there by Highway 280 taking Alpine Road exit to Portola Road. There is a nice parking lot accommodating 30 cars at the trailhead. The day was clear and temperatures in high 60s. The trail starts behind the restrooms. The trailhead is around 600 feet elevation. In 0.1 miles from the entrance we came across a nice and small Sausal Pond.  We took the Ridge Trail along the pond. In 0.6 miles you come across many forks on the trail. The trail does not gain much overall elevation change but goes up and down. We always kept the left and in 1.2 miles we merged into Eagle Trail, which ascends mildly. Eagle Trail goes along the Alpine Road for 0.7 miles along one side and a creek on the other side. At the end of Eagle Trail there is another entrance to the park. At this entrance we crossed the bridge on the creek and got on to Razorback Ridge Trail. This trail ascends very steep in the dense tall Redwo

Hike Date: 11/05/11 First time in last few months I did not have any company for hike as my friends were out of town.  Another friend of mine who was inspired by the hike we have doing decided to join me but only a day before he broke his leg in a freak accident. Anyway, I decided to hike alone to Sierra Azul Open Space Reserve near Lexington Reservoir on Route 17. The trailhead for this hike is near Alma Bridge road. Not knowing exact parking spot, I parked the car on the road near St. Joseph’s Hill Open Space Reserve and started hiking it. After quarter mile ascend I realized I was on wrong trail. I traced back my route and walked on the road till I found Priest Rock trail. The trailhead is at 725 feet elevation. You get a gorgeous view of the Lexington Reservoir. I saw few teams practicing rowing on the lake. Initial part of the Priest Rock Trail is a modest hike turning around a mountain. I saw few black spotted brown slugs on the way. After walking 2.5 miles you come to cros

Hike Date: 10/02/11 Summer has just ended and fall was just starting. We chose secluded Joseph D. Grant County Park in eastern San Jose for hiking. We took Quimby Road in Evergreen area towards the hills. It goes over the hills and meets Mt. Hamilton drive (Route 130), where we took a right towards the park. We parked our car at the big parking lot near the picnic tables. The day was warm with temperatures in low 80s. The park has many trails. We decided to do a long loop hike towards Eagle Lake and returning around the hills via Yerba Buena Trail. We started on Hotel trail and continued for next 3.2 miles. The park is little baron with no tree shade along the way. Most of the initial 1.5 miles walk is on a flat surface. After the Corral Circle, we crossed a dry creek. The trail starts ascending mildly around this place. We crossed a lazy garden snake that was sunbathing on the path. We reached the Eagle Lake in little over hour and half. Water was very quite and calm in the lake. W