Hiking in Ohlone Regional Wilderness – Rose Peak

Signpost for Ohlone Wilderness Trail

The 28-mile Ohlone Wilderness Trail has two sections. The first section is 20 miles long: from Del Valle Regional Park to Sunol Wilderness Preserve. The second section is 8 miles long: from Sunol Wilderness Preserve to Mission Peak Regional Preserve. In the middle of the first section lies 3,817-foot Rose Peak, just 32 feet lower than Mount Diablo. So there are two different out-and-back 20-mile day hikes to Rose Peak, one starts at Del Valle, the other starts at Sunol. The trail is well-maintained and well-marked by frequent signposts.

Information: Website — Yelp Reviews.

Weather: 10-day forecast for Sunol, CA.

Best Time to Visit: Winters, especially after rains when hills are green. In March—April timeframe, wildflowers are in full bloom.

Permit: The “Ohlone Wilderness Regional Trail Hiking Permit/Map” is required for day use and camping. It is available for $2 per person per year at the Sunol and Del Valle entrance kiosks (don’t forget to check when the kiosks open). You may purchase the permit online.

Trail Map: No good trail map is available online. The Ohlone Wilderness Permit has a high quality large-sized trail map.

Rose Peak (from Sunol Wilderness Preserve) Length: 19.6 miles     Elevation Gain: 4100+ ft     Photo Album Elevation profile (click to enlarge) Address: Visit the Sunol Entrance kiosk (website) at 1895 Geary Rd, Sunol, CA 94586 Tel: (925) 862-2600. Directions: From Fremont: Drive north on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road. Turn right on Calaveras and proceed to Geary Road, which leads directly into the park. From Oakland/Berkeley: Drive east on I-580 to the junction with I-680 in Pleasanton. At the junction, go south on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of the town of Pleasanton. Turn left onto Calaveras Road and proceed to Geary Road, which leads directly into the park. From Walnut Creek/Danville: Go south on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of the town of Pleasanton. Turn left onto Calaveras Road and proceed to Geary Road, which leads directly into the park. Parking: Paid parking ($5 in Jan 2010) at Sunol. Pictures: Photo Album.
Rolling hills are visible throughout the hike.	You are likely to meet plenty of cows.	A creek close to the 3-mile mark.
A tiny lake.	My long hikes partner.	Rolling hills all the way.
A tree hollow.	Along McCorkle Trail	Close to Rose Peak.
Tree silhouette I.	Tree silhouette II.	Tree silhouette III.
Trail Details: From Sunol parking lot, follow Canyon View Trail, then McCorkle Trail. After 3 miles, you shall reach a camping area with restrooms and drinking water. Thereafter, follow signs for Ohlone Wilderness Trail until you reach Rose Peak, which reached by a short side-trail (see map). Rose Peak offers excellent 360-degrees views. At signpost number 26, which is about 1 mile before Rose Peak, we saw that ‘Potable Water’ was available at ‘Doe Canyon Horse Camp’ (0.16 miles off Ohlone Wilderness Trail). We had enough water, so we did not visit this campsite. You may wish to confirm with the park ranger that drinking water is indeed available here.

Hiking in Brushy Peak Regional Preserve

Brushy Peak in Livermore is an open space preserve with unshaded trails. It’s best to visit in winters, especially after rains. Rolling hills carpeted by fresh green grass are a treat to watch.

Park Information: Website — Trail Map and text — Yelp Reviews.

Directions: 3894 Laughlin Rd, Livermore, CA 94551 (Google Map).

Weather: 10-day forecast for Livermore, CA.

Parking: Free.

Notes: On 24 January 2010, there were no maps available at the park entrance. There was no large-sized map on display either. So you should print your own maps or have a smartphone with yourself.

Brushy Peak Loop (Photo Album) Length: 4.8 miles      Elevation Gain: 970 ft Elevation profile (click to enlarge) Route: From parking lot, go along Brushy Peak Loop Trail. Take right on West Side Loop Trail and return to parking lot. See Trail Map. Notes: After rains, the trails were muddy but lush green meadows and views of silicon valley in the distance were breath-taking! Plus, we got to say ‘Hi’ to cows grazing on hills — sometimes, they are found partying on hiking trails.

Grand Loop Length: 6.0 miles      Elevation Gain: 1000+ ft Route: From parking lot, go along Laughlin Ranch Loop for 1.56 miles, then Tamcan Trail for 0.80 miles. Take right on Brushy Peak Loop Trail and walk 2.51 miles. Take right on West Side Loop Trail and walk 1.13 miles to reach parking lot. See Trail Map.

Hiking in Uvas Canyon County Park

Uvas Canyon County Park offers a combination of challenging hikes, creeks, plenty of waterfalls, tall trees and well-maintained trails. A short 1-mile “Waterfalls Loop Trail”, close to the main parking lot is the only one of its kind in the bay area.

Park Information: Website — Trail Map — Yelp Reviews.

Directions: 8515 Croy Road, Morgan Hill, CA 95037-9131. Tel: (408) 779-9232.

Weather: 10-day forecast for Morgan Hill, CA.

Best Time to Visit: Winters, after rains, when the creeks are flowing with water.

There are hikes for everybody at Uvas Canyon, ranging from a short 1-mile hike (Waterfalls Loop) to a challenging 9-mile hike with 3300+ ft elevation gain.

We visited Uvas Canyon on 23 January 2010, soon after two weeks of steady rainfall. No trails were muddy. On the whole, it was one of my most pleasant hiking experiences in the bay area.

Waterfall Loop — Knobcone Point — Contour Trail (Photo Album) Length: 3.6 miles     Elevation gain: 1100+ ft. Elevation profile (click to enlarge) Route: From the parking lot, follow Waterfall Loop Trail to Knobcone Point. Then return by Contour Trail and Alec Canyon Trail. See Trail Map. Notes: A very pleasant hike, one of the best in the bay area. In winters, soon after rains, the waterfalls have plenty of water. Along Waterfalls Loop Trail, there are many different waterfalls (Granuja Falls, Black Rock Falls, Basin Falls and Upper Falls):
The hike along Contour Trail is single-track and shaded. It reminded me of equally pleasant hiking trails in Huckleberry Botanical Regional Preserve (Orinda, CA) and Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve (Oakland, CA).

Knibbs Knob (Photo Album) Distance: 3.6 miles     Elevation Gain: 1600 ft Elevation profile (click to enlarge) Route: From the parking lot, find the trailhead for Knibbs Knob. Then follow Knibbs Knob Trail. Return by same route. See Trail Map. Notes: Steady climb, sometimes steep, along a wide multi-lane hiking trail, mostly in the open. Even after two weeks of rain in January, the trail was not muddy. We came across patches of snow at the top. The trailhead is about 0.2 miles away from the main parking lot, making the hike 4.0 miles long with 1700 ft elevation gain.

Alec Canyon Trail — Triple Falls Length: 3.0 miles     Elevation gain: 900+ ft. Route: From the parking lot, follow Alec Canyon Trail with a side trip to Triple Falls. See Trail Map. I have not done this hike yet.

Combination Loops 5.6 miles 1500+ ft Combine “Waterfalls Loop — Knobcone Point — Contour Trail” with a hike to “Alec Canyon — Triple Falls”. 6.6 miles 2500+ ft Combine the hike to Knibbs Knob with “Alec Canyon — Triple Falls”. 7.2 miles 2700+ ft Combine the hike through “Waterfalls Loop — Knobcone Point — Contour Trail” with a hike to “Knibbs Knob”. 9.2 miles 3100+ ft Combine all the hikes: “Waterfalls Loop — Knobcone Point — Contour Trail” with the hikes to “Knibbs Knob” and to “Alec Canyon — Triple Falls”.

Nearby Parks: Calero County Park, which is famous for wildflower displays in spring, and Mount Madonna County Park.

Hiking in Alum Rock Park

Alum Rock Park in north San Jose is close to Alum Rock exit on Highway 101. Most hikes are in open, so it is best to avoid summers. In winters, meadows become green after rains. October thru March are great months for hiking here.

Park Information: Website — Brochure — Yelp Reviews

Maps: Trail Map — Boccardo Trail Map — OpenCycle Map

Directions: 15350 Penitencia Creek Rd, San Jose, CA 95127.

Weather: 10-day forecast for San Jose, CA.

Parking: There is a small free parking lot outside the main entrance. Paid parking inside park: $6 in Jan 2010. You may also enter the park via the Alum Rock Ave entrance: free parking but you’d have to walk a mile within the park to reach Youth Science Institute (see Trail Map).

Notes: You may combine the two hikes below to get a 10+ mile hike with 2000+ ft elevation gain.

Boccardo Loop (Photo Album) Elevation profile (click to enlarge) 5.7 miles, 1300 ft elevation gain: Start at Youth Science Institute parking lot. Go along North Rim Trail, then turn right on Todd Quick Trail. Then loop around Boccardo Trail. Return via Todd Quick and North Rim trails. Beautiful views of Silicon Valley and hills, especially on a foggy day.
Pictures taken on 9 Jan 2010, a foggy day:

South Rim Trail / Penitencia Creek Trail Trail Map (Click to enlarge) 4.5 miles, 700 ft elevation gain: Start at Youth Science Institute parking lot. Go up South Rim Trail (in August 2009, the signpost for this trail was missing — use your judgment or ask a fellow hiker). Continue along Penitencia Creek Trail. Most of the hike is a single track dirt trail. Partly shaded. Thanks to Tom Mangan for the Trail Map.

Hiking in Death Valley National Park

In Dec 2009, I hiked in Death Valley National Park with three friends. We stayed at Stovepipe Wells. There was no cell phone coverage but pay phones were available. An excellent book that I highly recommend is Hiking Death Valley — A Guide to Its Natural Wonders and Mining Past by Michel Digonnet (2004, 542 pages). Most hikes in Death Valley are along natural pathways like canyon floors. At many places, there are side routes or bypasses marked by cairns (piles of stones). All of these are amply described in the book.

Badwater Basin (Photo Album) At 282 ft below sea level, Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America. One can walk for several miles away from the parking lot, on flat ground.

Golden Canyon (Photo Album) A short gorge carved through sandstone, very bright in the sun. About 1.25 miles into the gorge lie red hued sandstone cliffs called “Red Cathedral”. Along the main route, there are several side canyons that you may explore.

Sand Dunes (Photo Album) We walked about 2 miles on sand dunes, barefoot. Sliding down the steep dunes is a lot of fun. Plenty of kids around the dunes.

Mosaic Canyon (Photo Album) Within half a mile of Stovepipe Wells lodging area, Mosaic Canyon is an exceptionally beautiful hike. The canyon is full of dolomite and marble. We returned from the 1.7 mile mark, which is almost 1000 ft above the starting point.
At the 1.4 mile mark, there is a 18-ft slanted wall, which may be climbed. However, there is a bypass. If you go back several feet, it is possible to climb up the right side of the canyon. Look for cairns for guidance.
At the 1.7 mile mark, there is a 25-ft vertical fall. Dichel Digonnet describes a bypass route in his book Hiking Death Valley. Had we familiarized ourselves with the bypass before starting the hike, we might have attempted it.
Inside the canyon, you get to see a wide variety of rock formations:

Corkscrew Peak (Photo Album) A sign on Daylight Pass Road, just past Hell’s Gate, points to Corkscrew Peak, which lies 4.5 miles away. A park ranger told us that there are no marked trails to the peak. So we just marched straight on!
Progress became increasingly difficult, especially during the last one mile in a canyon. We started scrambling, holding on to rocks and crags with our hands. There was plenty of loose gravel, especially on higher elevation, slowing us down. Cairns guided us intermittently. We turned back at 3pm, around 30 minutes away from the top. We hiked the last half hour using flashlights. During this hike, I slipped and fell two times. Luckily, on both occasions, I was not hurt seriously. Overall, I had a fair number of bruises and cuts on both arms and legs. Gloves and flashlight with spare batteries recommended.

Four Triangular Prisms by Daniel Kwan

Two views of the same model:

Number of Units: Four prisms of different colors. Each prism is made of three 2×1 pieces and six 1×1 pieces.

Instructions: Part I — Part II — Part III — Part IV.

Notes: The model is very sturdy. Assembling the last the units of every prism was a little challenging. I modified the folds slightly for easier fitting. Daniel Kwan has published Diagrams and Notes for other models designed by him. You may visit his Flickr collections of Tessellations and Modular Origami models for some excellent pictures! You may also want to check out the article How To Make Intersecting Wireframe Models.

All models: here.

Kusudama of Flowers by Makoto Yamaguchi

Number of Units: 60 — each flower has 5 units.

Instructions: In Kusudama: Ball Origami (amazon) (76 pages, 1990) by Makoto Yamaguchi. Paper that is colored on both sides is recommended for this model. Otherwise, individual flowers look very pretty but the whiteness that shows in the kusudama is jarring (as in the picture above).

All models: here.

Spiked Pentakis Dodecahedron from Sonobe Units

Here are two different projections of the same model:

Number of Units: 60

Instructions: Sonobe units by Dave Mitchell: Part I and Part II. To assemble 60 such units, see Instructions for Assembly with Sonobe units (PDF) — this is a free chapter from Meenakshi Mukerji’s book: Marvelous Modular Origami (amazon) (2007, 92 pages). I had to spend some time figuring out what the instructions meant.

All Models: Here

Hiking in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

On 27 November 2009, I hiked 13+ miles with Anurup and Prasad in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. The park is about nine miles east of Crescent City, CA. It has quite a few hiking trails next to creeks and amid tall redwoods.

Information: Park Website — Trail Map — Google Map

Weather: 10-day forecast for Crescent City, CA.

Nearby Parks: Dave Baselt maintains an excellent website RedwoodHikes.com for hiking in various Redwood parks in California. Check out a map of Redwood Forest Locations for other Redwood parks nearby. During Thanksgiving weekend in 2009, we visited Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (trip report) and Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park (trip report) also, both of which are excellent Redwood parks close to Jedediah Smith.

Pictures: The entire album for our hikes in Jedediah Smith is here.

Stout Grove (Details — Trail Map) A short 0.6 mile hike on level ground — trailhead on Howland Hill Rd — river access — has some large redwood trees — connects to River Trail.

Boy Scout Trail (Details — Trail Map) Length: 5.3 miles. Elevation gain: 750 ft. A scenic trail amid old-growth redwoods. Clearly marked trailhead on Howlands Hill Rd, a single-lane unpaved road. There is a short unmarked side-trail (see map) leads to Boy Scout Tree, a giant double tree (picture below). The trail terminates in Fern Falls.
We decided to clamber up along what appeared to be an unmaintained trail, right next to the falls. And we reached another fall about 0.1 miles away.
On the way back, we walked on a fallen 100+ ft tall tree. The return through redwoods was pleasant:

Mill Creek Trail (Details — Trail Map)
Length: 7.4 miles. Elevation gain: 250 ft. We hiked the southern section of Mill Creek Trail along Howlands Hill Road in the morning. There was a sign informing us that a bridge was missing. Upon reaching the creek without the bridge, we crossed by walking through some bushes and over a fallen redwood tree.
The hike after the bridge was particularly scenic.
Just before Nickerson Ranch Trail reached Howlands Hill Rd, we had to cross a small rivulet barefoot.
We hiked the northern section of Mill Creek Trail between Howlands Hill Road and Smith River in the evening. The trail is particularly beautiful, taking you through tall redwoods and through flat sections next to Mill Creek.
Mill Creek Trail terminates at Smith River. In summers, a bridge over the river connects the trail to Park HQ. Earlier in the day, we had made the mistake of starting the hike at Park HQ, only to discover that the bridge had been pulled off!

List of Trails: See Dave Baselt’s web page for Jedediah Smith. We did the first three hikes listed below:

Distance	Elevation	Trail
0.6 miles	40 ft	Stout Grove — Trail Map
5.3 miles	750 ft	Boy Scout Trail — Trail Map
7.4 miles	250 ft	Mill Creek Trail — Trail Map
4.3 miles	360 ft	Hatton Trail — Trail Map
0.9 miles	20 ft	Simpson Reed Trail — Trail Map
2.0 miles	330 ft	The Leiffer and Ellsworth Loops — Trail Map
4.4 miles	420 ft	Hiouchi Trail — Trail Map

Six Intersecting Squares by Robert Lang

Number of Units: 24

Instructions: Free diagrams by Jorge C Lucero. An article for assembly of other intersecting wireframe models.

Video Instructions: at WonderHowTo.com and at OrigamiNut.com.

All models: Here