Hike: 5.0 mile loop around Stebbins/Cold Canyon, via the Homestead Trail to Blue Ridge and then back down to the lot. Steep, clambory (more than expected), but fun.
Weather: perfect hiking weather for the valley--cool, bright, clear, no wind. Perhaps mid-50s/low 60s.
Stats: 30 mins from home; hike is 5 miles long--about 2.5 hours to complete with a few photo stops.
The hike starts off at a moderate grade following the (currently dry) stream bed in the canyon. No rattlers today, which was nice; they must be hibernating (or thinking about it) by now. Lots of interesting rocks on the trail, which eventually led us to the abandoned homestead at about 1.0 miles.
We continued further up the trail; take the steps off to the right, opposite the first homestead ruins you see to find the Blue Ridge trail. This trail is pretty steep in places, with 'elevation assists' (otherwise known as stairs--over 200 of them, I've heard) and plenty of switchbacks.
Periodically, the trail appears to disappear, but just look carefully, even up over rocks, to find it continuing its ascent towards the Blue Ridge peak.
Bring your climbing shoes--hiking boots with good grip a must for the rock clamboring necessary to reach the peak from the Homestead side. Poles are helpful too.
Below: the views of the surrounding hills are stunning; hard to believe I haven't been here yet lived in the area so long.
Below: A view of Lake Berryessa from the Blue Ridge peak:
Below: A sampling of the trails: hard packed dirt mixed with large boulder size clamboring rocks: pretty interesting, quite technical in places.
Overall: a fun, local, easily accessible trail day. I was pleased to be able to explore finally the upper echelons of the Cold Canyon area. It's well worth exploring again.
Learn more about the trail: http://www.berryessatrails.org/guide/trailguide/coldcan.htm
(UC says the trail is five miles; the berryessa trails site says four. You choose.)
No comments:
Post a Comment