Rocky Ridge Trail Notes

The Rocky Ridge trail has been on my "to do" list for a while.  Certain parts are quite remote, but it offers beautiful views and a stunning grove of twisted and contorted Oaks.  

• Location: East Bay Mud South Watershed
• Route: From Rancho Laguna Park, go through the gate on the right side of the parking area, facing away from the lot. Follow the signs to the Rocky Ridge Trail, to your right. 
• Mileage: 6.01 miles, 1200' elevation gain
• Difficulty Level: Moderate to strenuous. The entire loop hike is 11.2 miles. Hike as far out as you choose, but realize that you have to return the same distance. Turn around while you still have strength in your legs. 
• Description: Notes below
• Trail Map
• Trailhead and Parking:

 

There are a lot of cows in this hike.  Starting out at Rancho Laguna Park, sign in at the station before the hike. Click on the Permit link to get a permit from East Bay Mud.  

You'll hike up to see some peaceful rolling hills, usually dotted with cows.  Follow the signs to the trail.  At .40 miles you'll come to a split where King's Canyon Loop Trail and Rocky Ridge meet, so keep to your left and hike along the fence.  You may see these trail sentries:

At .77 go through gate and get past this group of cows.  You'll enter in to a beautiful grove of Oaks.  In the winter, this next section has a nice stream through it.  This area is particularly lush during the winter and spring. 

At 1.14 miles, you'll leave this part of the forest and get on to a ridge trail.  There will be some nice climbing in this area.  You'll end up going through another cattle gate, and start a descent in to a valley.  

At 1.84 miles, you'll see where the trail leads to your left, on to a fire road type trail.  As you hike on this trail, you'll come to this sign:

It's confusing here.  The sign looks like it's pointing to stay on the fire road, but it's actually indicating a trail off to the right.  So stay to your right.  Not knowing this, I enjoyed a little detour up this trail to a locked gate, then doubled back to this point.  

I continued on this trail for just over 3 miles.  At that point, I took out a few slices of pizza and an ice tea and watched the hawks circle lazily above me.

I returned back to Rancho Laguna via the same route.

Don't let the remoteness of this trail scare you away.  It offers nice views,  some great Oak forests and a wide variety of wildlife.  

Have Fun!

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Alton Baker Park and Pre's Trail

Steve Prefontaine was an American middle and long distance runner, who inspired millions with his efforts and successes.  He won the NCAA Division 1 cross country championships three times, and made the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was just 19.  

While travelling in Europe, he was inspired by the style of the trails, and encouraged local officials in the University of Oregon college town of Eugene to build a similar trail.  The trail was finished just 4 months after his early death in a car accident.  His legacy continues on this beautiful trail, which is a must visit for any runner going to Eugene.  

Official Website of Alton Baker Park

The trail is located in Alton Baker Park, next to the University of Oregon's Autzen stadium.  Much of the trail is covered in bark chips, and winds through the beautiful forests around the stadium.  As you run on this trail, you'll notice how pleasant and soft the trail feels on your feet, and it gives a surprising bounce to each step.  

If you have the good fortune to be visiting Eugene, take some time to run on this trail.  It's a very rewarding experience. 

• Location: Alton Baker Park, Eugene, Oregon
• Route: 
• Mileage: 4.07 miles
• Difficulty Level: soft, easy level surface makes you feel like you're floating as you run
• Description: The bark mulch surface softens the trail, generating less impact on the joints as you walk or run. Enjoy the experience of this trail and meet many friendly runners and walkers looking for the same thing.   
• Trail Map
• Trailhead and Parking:

 

Pre's Trail

Alton Baker Park

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Trail Images:

Hike to Brittle Leaf, Anthony Chabot Regional Park

The hike to the Brittle Leaf Trail takes you to a nice bench among the Manzanitas, and a beautiful view of an Oak filled canyon.  

• Location: Bort Meadow Staging Area, Anthony Chabot Regional Park
• Route: From the staging area, follow MacDonald Trail 1.14 miles to Broken Leaf Trail. Take a right on Broken Leaf Trail, and walk through the forest .14 miles to the bench, and enjoy soaring birds and the view. 
• Mileage: 2.6 miles round trip, 804 feet elevation gain
• Difficulty Level: East, some climbs on a wide fire road. Brittle Leaf is a short single track trail. 
• Description: Nice lazy day hike for conversation or solitude. Runners, hikers and bikers abound on this trail. 
• Trail Map
• Trailhead and Parking: Bort Meadow Staging Area

From the Bort Meadow staging area, take the MacDonald Trail, off to your right as you face the valley.  Before you start, look up over the valley and you'll probably see hawks circling, looking for their next meal.  The valley below contains the Bort Meadow/Big Trees group camp, which is used by groups for picnics and overnight camping.  

Go through the gate and start your hike. 

The MacDonald trail is a wide, fire road trail, popular with mountain bikers and trail runners.  It's got some ruts and minor channels from past rain runoff, so be careful with your steps.  

As you hike, you'll notice some nice clusters of Oaks on your right.  

At about 1.23 miles, you'll reach the Brittle Leaf Trail, on your right.  

You'll have a very short little hike down a narrow path to the end of the Brittle Leaf Trail.  No bikes are allowed on this trail (it's very narrow and a bit overgrown).

At the end of the trail is a bench, with beautiful views across and oak studded valley.  

You'll be sitting in a Manzanita grove, so take some time to look at these unique and beautiful shrubs.

When you're ready, head back up the Brittle Leaf Trail to the MacDonald Trail, and take a left.

Follow the MacDonald Trail downhill back to the staging area.  About half way back, you can sit on this bench and watch the hawks over the valley.

Going to Brittle Leaf Trail is uphill, and the return trip is all down hill.  This hike won't take you long, especially if you run it.  But it's a perfect Sunday morning stroll, especially if you get there early.  Enjoy!

Hike to Brittle Leaf

Anthony Chabot Regional Park

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Images

Road Trip, Eagle Rock, Lake Tahoe

Eagle Rock offers a beautiful view of Lake Tahoe.  Until recently, the only way to get to the top of Eagle Rock was to climb up steep, random trails created by hikers.  However, this past summer, the California Tahoe Conservancy spent $100,000 and enlisted volunteers to build a new, meandering trail up to the top.  It's an easy climb, and when I visited, the trail was busy.  You'll see a variety of trees, and shrub, including manzanita.  The rock at the top is lava rock, and you'll find ample supplies to build little zen rock towers, if you're so inclined.

• Location: Eagle Rock, Lake Tahoe
• Route: From the parking area, follow the signs to the peak. 
• Mileage: 1 mile total, 250 feet climb up switchback trails
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Description: Short, steep climb to a panoramic view spot on Lake Tahoe's western shore. 
• Trailhead and Parking

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Eagle Rock

Lake Tahoe

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Portola Redwood State Park Highlight Reel

This video showcases the beauty of some of the trails at Portola Redwood State Park.  Even in late summer, the streams were clear, and the vegetation was lush.