Santa Cruz Mountains

Hike Name: Santa Cruz Mountains Location: central CA Length: 30 Submitted by: rick Thurber Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more California trail reviews California national parks California state parks
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Description
Looking for variety, solitude, beautiful scenery, something different? We backpacked in Mid-February across public parklands in the Santa Cruz Mountains from the base of the Santa Clara Valley west to the Pacific Ocean. Starting early from Hidden Villa Ranch Hostel it was sunny and cool, we climbed Monte Bello Ridge to camp at a established campsite with runny water and outhouse that overlooked the urban lights of the Santa Clara Valley and open parkland on the other. Set up tent - rained overnight.

Next day the sun was out, everything damp from the rain, we descended through grassy slopes to a beautiful forested valley and the flowing waters of Steven Creek. There we crossed the San Andreas Fault and climbed about 900 feet to the main ridge. Crossed the north – south running Skyline Blvd., views extended to San Francisco Bay on one side and to west across emerald green slopes and redwood and fir forests to the blue Pacific. Descending again we dropped into Portola State Park past old growth Redwoods spending our second night at Tarwater Trail Camp in Pescadero Creek County Park, an established campsite with runny water and outhouse. Slept under the stars.

Up early to climb Butano Ridge. Fog dripped like rain from the trees and foliage, wind and 44-degree temperature chilled our bodies. Finally reached China Grade we headed west along a trail easement through private forestlands, eventually entering Butano State Park. Around three we arrive at the established trail camp with a critical task of finding drinking water. Assembling canteens, purifying pump and map we hiked about an eighth of a mile till we heard a trickle of water and a teeny stream emerging from the earth. Set up tent, it rained overnight.

After breakfast we headed west on Indian Trail pasting charming creeks and petite waterfalls. Stunning old-growth redwoods towered vertically through the forest, attractive under story of flora, colorful flowers, newts and banana slugs. Emerging from the trees at Butano State Park Visitor Center then hiking south several hundred yards on paved Cloverdale Road to the first fence on the west, which we hopped and continued along a dirt road to the northwest. We had entered the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) Cloverdale Ranch property, which was still closed to the public. Having securing special permits and maps we continue past a marsh and several long muddy lakes. Charcoal gray clouds filled the sky. It began to sprinkle and then rain as we climbed a steep ridge. Reaching the top we viewed several miles of coastline. Soon Pigeon Point Lighthouse loomed along the coast, by 1:30 we were standing at the Lighthouse gate tired, cold. We spent our last night in the Hostel.

Directions to Hike
Behind Palo Alto is Hidden Villa Ranch and the trailhead lead upto Monte Bello Ridge.

Contact Information
Look up details on internet:
Hidden Villa Ranch, Peninsula Regional Open Space District, Potola State Park, Pescadero Creek County Park, Butano State Park, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel

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