The Trail Companion

Winter 2000

Theme: The Trail Center at the End of the Millennium

A Catalog of Trail Projects, 1983-1999

Related Stories

Alum Rock Park (City of San Jose)

Arguello Park (City of San Carlos)

Arastradero Preserve (City of Palo Alto)

Big Basin State Park

Butano State Park

Byrne Preserve (Town of Los Altos Hills)

Calero Lake Estates

Calero Lake Estates Trail Easement

(1997; proposed): 2700 ft. trail on easement in Calero Lake Estates subdivision, connecting Santa Teresa County Park and Lightfoot Stable Lands, with possible extension to Calero Reservoir and County Park. Due to environmental questions, subdivision (and trail) put on hold.

Castle Rock Trail

(1999-2000; 14 days; 209 vols.): Rock walls, more rock walls, and still more rock walls. The 0.7 mile-long reroute of the eroded and steep Castle Rock Trail features more rock walls per mile than any of our projects, including the Stiles Ranch Trail. We completed the first half with a grand celebration for National Trails Day with the help of Any Mountain Ltd. The second half is nearly complete will be open to hikers in February 2000.

Loughry Woods Trail

(1984; SCMTD; co-sponsored by SCMTA; 30 vols.): New trail construction on a 2-mile segment. Trail originally called Loughry Forest Trail.

[Reforestation project, Partridge Farm area]

(1985; proposed): Proposed tree planting and restoration in former Christmas tree farm.

Ridge Trail

(1995; 3 days + NTD; 85+): Rebuilt major portions of the Ridge Trail near Goat Rock; completed on National Trails Day.

Saratoga Gap Trail

(1985; SCMTD; cosponsored by SCMTA and Sempervirens Fund; 21 vols.): Maintenance and boulder removal.

(1995; 2 days; 50+ vols.): Trail repair, rebuilding and reroute of upper portion.

Skyline to the Sea

(1984; SCMTD; co-sponsored by SCMTA; 18 vols. + CCC crew): 7 miles of Waterman Gap to Saratoga Gap rebuilt.

Clarkia Trail

(1986; 1 day): Trail restoration.

North Fork Trail

(1984; SCMTD; co-sponsored by SCMTA; 27 vols.): stream crossing rerouted, 4 mi. of trail repaired.

Pine Flat Trail

(1985; SCMTD; cosponsored by SCMTA and Sempervirens Fund; 15 vols.): New trail construction.

[Unspecified trail]

(1984; SCMTD; co-sponsored by SCMTA; 55 vols.): 0.5 mi. of new trail construction

[Unspecified trail]

(1986; CTD, 81 vols.): New trail construction on 2-mile loop.

Seven Springs Loop Trail

(1986; CTD; 49 vols.): Tread restoration.

Pilarcitos Creek Trail

(1985; proposed): Unrealized trail project connecting City to beach.

Hakone Wilderness Trail

(1992-1993; 12 days; 266 vols.): We built a new quarter-mile long trail from Big Basin Way (Hwy 9) to the gardens in order to provide pedestrian access for Saratoga residents and others. Steep terrain, interesting drainage patterns resulting from road runoff and old skid routes made this a challenging project. Dedicated in 1993. Although most visitors arrive by car, the trail gets moderate use during the summer.

Chickadee Trail

(1987-1988; 7 days, incl. 1988 CTD): Assist County crews with finish treadwork and constructing handrails for new 3800-ft. wheelchair-accessible nature trail.

Dean Trail

(1984; SCMTD; co-sponsored by SCMTA and SMC Parks; 50 vols.): 25 ft. bridge constructed.

Redwood Trail

(1984; See Dean Trail, 1984): Bridge and steps constructed.

Skyline Trail

(1986; 1 day): Trail repair between Kings Mountain Rd. to Wunderlich Park.

(1989; 1 day; 25 vols.): Bay Area Ridge Trail pseudo-project photo opportunity for a National Geographic article on trails and greenways ("Greenways: Paths to the Future", June 1990, p. 77-99). 100 ft. of new trail built, but abandoned when County built Skyline Trail in a different location. Photos not used, either.

(1989-1990; 5 days; 107 vols.): Constructed approx. one mile of new trail at the west edge of Huddart Park, connecting the top of the Archery Fire Road (opposite Purisima Creek Road) with the top of Richards Road, traversing parallel to Skyline Boulevard through redwood groves and mixed forest. As far as Huddart's trail system goes, this trail is a long-cut, not an obvious choice for loop hikes from either top or bottom of park. It does provide a level route across the top of the park, which with the GGNRA's acquisition of the Phleger Estate, makes it an important route for longer loop hikes along Skyline and between the two parks.

[Unspecified trail(s)]

(1985; SCMTD; cosponsored by SCMTA and Sempervirens Fund; 85 vols.): Trail maintenance.

(1986; see Skyline Trail, 1986): build 1/3-mile horse trail connecting to Woodside equestrian trails; construct 350 ft. of split rail fence to prevent switchbacking.

Trail 1 (Short Creek)

(1998; 4 days; 58 vols.): Slide repair and brushing.

Trail 2 (Long Creek)

(1998; see Trail 1, 1998): Reroute of trail above slide.

Trail 2 extension (Long Creek)

(1998-1999; 3 days; 36 vols.): Reopening abandoned trail; large amounts of poison oak removed.

Trail 3 (Woodland)

(1998; see Trail 1, 1998): Brushing and minor treadwork.

Trail 4 (Blue Oak)

(1988; see Trail 1, 1998): Brushing.

Trail 6 (Rocky Road)

(1998-1999; see Trail 2, 1998-1999): Short reroute out of gully.

Trail 7 (Hillside Lab)

(1998-1999; see Trail 2, 1998-1999): Drainage and brushing.

Trail 9 (Chaparral)

(1998-1999; see Trail 2 , 1998-1999): Brushing.

Trail 10 (Teasel)

(1998-1999; see Trail 2 , 1998-1999): Brushing.

Trail 11 (Fringe Pod)

(1997; 5 days; 75 vols.): Brushing.

Trail 12 (Mapache)

(1995-1996; 12 days; 190 vols.): Siltation above Searsville Lake and in the lake itself, resulting in rising water tables, had forced winter closure of the trail. We rerouted of 4 sections of trail to raise it above swampy areas. Included 2125 ft. of new trail construction, 450 ft. of maintenance, a 24 ft. bridge and an 80 ft. bridge/boardwalk. Since neither bridge was near a road, we had to haul in prodigious amounts of lumber and a generator. The project was featured on a short segment of a TV program.

(1997; see Trail 11 , 1997): Brushing, reroute of 150 ft.

(1999; 1 day; 19 vols.): Short reroute of a section built in 1996 that was in danger of washing out. The creek shifted dramatically after storms in 1997/1998. (See Trail Center Notes, this issue)

Trail a (Contact Trail)

(1998-1999; see Trail 2 , 1998-1999): Small plank bridge over a gully; tread maintenance.

Trail b (Garrya Trail)

(1998-1999; see Trail 2 , 1998-1999): Brushing, treadwork.

Trail c (Wislenzenii)

(1998-1999; see Trail 2 , 1998-1999): 1000 ft. of brushing and minor treadwork.

Junipero Serra Park Trail

(1986; 1 day): Drainage and trail repair.

Quail Loop Trail

(1986; see Junipero Serra Park Trail, 1986): Drainage and trail repair.

[Unspecified trail(s)]

(1985; SCMTD; cosponsored by SCMTA and Sempervirens Fund; 40 vols.): Trail maintenance.

Peters Creek Trail (Jikoji Cutoff segment, aka Bohdi Cutoff)

(1988-1989; 4 days; 76 vols.): 3300 ft. Bay Area Ridge Trail segment connecting existing ranch road/trail at Jikoji Pond with Hickory Oaks Ridge Trail. MROSD later built a bridge across spillway and widened a few sections of trail.

(1992; CTD; 20 vols.): Maintenance between Grizzly Flat trailhead and to Peters Creek bridge.

[Trail to Vista Point (unnamed trail)]

(1988; CTD; 30 vols.):1/4-mile new side trail to vista point in Hickory Oaks Ridge portion of preserve. Intended to block steep, informal bicycle trail. Great views of Butano and the Pacific Ocean.

[Ward Road Link]

(1984; SCMTD co-sponsored by SCMTA and MROSD; 19 vols.): 1/4-mile new trail construction; now part of Bay Area Ridge Trail.

Frampton Court Trail

(1993; 5 days; 102 vols.): 1200 ft. long new trail on public easement, connecting Frampton Court (off Magdalena Ave.) and Fernhill Dr.).

[Francemont Trail]

(1994; proposed): Reroutes and improvements to existing dirt road to create loop in LAH open space; possible connectors to Black Mountain Trail in Ranch San Antonio Open Space Preserve (MROSD).

Mt. Ellen Trail

(1990-1991; 10 days; 215 vols.). Reroute of ¼-mile trail to the top of Mt. Ellen and tread maintenance on existing trail.

[Bella Vista Trail]

(1992; proposed): Trail Center proposed constructing a trail connecting the Canyon Trail with Montebello Road in a different location than the one ultimately constructed by MROSD.

[Overlook Rd. connector]

(1992; proposed): New trail would have provided access to Preserve, but TC surveyors recommended against project due to unstable hillside.

Parker Ranch Trail

(1998; proposed): Reroute of major portions of Parker Ranch Trail, leading to Fremont Older Open Space Preserve; would have addressed 2 large slides and an extremely steep part of the trail.

Star Court-Diamond Oaks Trail

(1998, 3 days; 48 vols.): Reroute on a 400 ft. trail to make it useable year-round.

Heritage Grove Trail

(1986; 1 day): Drainage and trail repair; step construction.

Shaw Flat Trail

(1984; SCMTD co-sponsored by SCMTA and SMC Parks; 13 vols.): Cleared 1 mile of trail.

[Unspecified trail(s)]

(1985; SCMTD; cosponsored by SCMTA and Sempervirens Fund; 22 vols.): Trail maintenance.

Upper Coyote Ridge Trail

(1992-1994; CTD (all days); 73 vols.): New trail construction on trail linking Tar Water Gap trailhead (Pescadero Creek) and Coyote Ridge Trail (Portola Redwoods State Park). Proposed as a project in partnership with Hewlett-Packard, but ultimately self-funded as California Trail Day projects. Most of trail within Portola constructed by CCC crews in 1994.

Bay Area Ridge Trail route

(1999; proposed): Alternate RT route from Kings Mountain Community center to northwest corner of park, paralleling Hwy 35.

Lonely Trail (and others)

(1997; proposed): Trail maintenance and drainage work.

Upper Coyote Ridge Trail

(1992-1993; 1995; see Pescadero Creek County Park, Upper Coyote Ridge Trail, 1992-1993; 1995)

Polly Geraci Trail

(1988-1989; 11 days; 156+ vols.): Constructed 1.3-mile new trail ascending through oak woodlands to top of brushy knoll. Named by MROSD for a prominent open space activist killed in an auto accident. MROSD later constructed bridge across creek at bottom of trail. One of the best trails around for giant trillium and fetid adders tongues in early spring.

Redwood Trail

(1986; 6 days): TC volunteers constructed the base tread for the 0.25 mile whole-access Redwood Trail, which travels through redwood groves off Skyline Blvd to two accessible picnic table and accessible restroom. An MROSD contractor finished the job with a layer of polymerized decomposed granite and guide rails.

Ravenswood Trail

(1985; 5 days): 5400 ft. long trail construction atop a levee. Construction consisted primarily of spreading gravel for tread surface. First major TIVC project.

Wildcat Loop Trail

(1988; CTD; 3 vols.): Restore trail intersection with High Meadow Trail.

Sanborn Trail

(1984; SCMTD; co-sponsored by SCMTA; 9 vols.): 1/4 mile reroute.

(1998; 5 days; 80 vols.): Tread restoration, water bars and a 200 ft. reroute.

Skyline Trail

(1989; CTD; 16 vols.): Short reroute, culvert installation and maintenance.

(1990; CTD; 45 vols.): Maintenance and restoration.

(1993; 1 day; 9 vols.): Maintenance.

(1998; see Sanborn Trail, 1998): Tread restoration; drainage work.

Skyline Trail to Lake Ranch

(1986; CTD [proposed]): A 2.5-mile extension of the Skyline Trail was planned, but carried out.

[Unspecified trail(s)]

(1985; SCMTD; cosponsored by SCMTA and Sempervirens Fund): Trail maintenance.

[Unspecified trail]

(1984; SCMTD co-sponsored by SCMTA and SMC Parks; 2 vols.): 1.4 mile of rocky trail repaired

Bay Trail

(1997; 4 days; 108 vols.): The paved Bay Trail runs along a levee in San Mateo-TC volunteers built a parallel alternative with a dirt and wood chip surface next to a tidal canal for wilder experience. The flat 0.7 mile long trail connects Ryder and Harborview Parks and is semi-accessible for wheelchair users (due to uneven surface).

(1998; 1 day; 10 vols.): Woodchips spread over half the length for improved accessibility during wet months.

Stile Ranch Trail

(1990-1991; 12 days; 1346 vols.); New Bay Area Ridge Trail segment across IBM easement, connecting Fortini Rd. and Mine Trail in Santa Teresa County Park. Massive rock walls at switchbacks built under direction of former Peace Corp road engineer Don Axtell can be easily seen from the air. Portable jackhammers were used in some areas. Dedicated in September of 1991.

(1992-1993; 1 day + CTD (1993); 45+ vols.): Tread maintenance and restoration. Adobe soil badly damaged by heavy equestrian and bicycle traffic.

[Connector trails to Skyline Trail, Wunderlich/Huddart County Parks, La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve and El Corte de Madera Open Space Preserve]

(1992; proposed): Trails primarily for use by the resort, but with public access.

[Unnamed trail] (Bay Area Ridge Trail segment)

(1989; CTD; 8 vols.): Restoration and maintenance on a short RT connector.

Saratoga Gap Trail

(1993; CTD; 9 vols.): Trail repair.

Ridge Trail (Hiking route)

(1991; 4 days; 113 vols.): Fully construct half of hiking alternate for Bay Area Ridge Trail on ridge south of Horseshoe Pond; complete tread and finish work on remainder (cut by trail machine).

Stevens Creek Trail (aka Lower Stevens Creek Trail, REI Trail, Stevens Canyon Trail)

(1986-1987; 400+ vols.) New two-mile long new trail connects the Old Canyon Trail with the Stevens Canyon. REI provided BBQs throughout the project. Dedicated in May 1988. Longest new trail in TC history.

(1988-1990; CTD (1988, 1989) + 2 additional days; 54 vols.): Winter storm, slide damage repair; tread restoration.

(1998; 1 day + NTD; 92 vols.): Major restoration effort with several large retaining walls, slide cleanup, steps, a plank bridges and tread work to repair El Nino storm damage.

(1999; proposed): Bridge, step and boardwalk to replace creek crossing expected to fail with next heavy winter.

Stevens Creek Trail extension

(1988-1990; see Stevens Creek Trail, 1988-1990): Connector trail between Stevens Creek Trail and Lookout Trail/Madrone Group Area.

Sweeney Ridge Notch Trail

(1992; proposed): Bay Area Ridge Trail segment; not built due to environmental impact and planning considerations.

Alternate Trail

(1991; 1 day; 5 vols.): Brushing, light treadwork. One of only two workdays held on snowy trails.

(1992; 6 days; 60+ vols.): Trail maintenance and reroute of two steep sections a 2-mile, lightly-used, lightly-built trail which descends from Skyline Boulevard to Table Mountain parallel to Charcoal Road.

Stevens Canyon Trail

(1990; 4 days; 100+ vols.): Repair 1/2 mile of narrow but popular trail so County would agree to keep it open to bikes. We widened sections of the trail, and rerouted 1/4 mile of steep trail just south of the Table Mountain Trail and relocated the junction 100 yards up the canyon.

Bay Area Ridge Trail

(1991; see Alternate Trail, 1991): Tread maintenance and brushing.

Stevens Canyon Trail

(1991; CTD; 47 vols.): Maintenance work on connector between Lower and Upper Stevens Creek County Parks.

Table Mountain Trail

(1994; 4 days, 62 vols.): Repair 1.1 mile existing trail descending from Table Mountain to junction with Canyon Trail at Stevens Creek.

[Connector to Spring Ridge Trail]

(1992; proposed): Trail would have replaced existing social trails cutting near inholdings between Corte Madera Creek and Spring Ridge Trails.

[Unspecified trail]

(1984; SCMTD co-sponsored by SCMTA and MROSD; 19 vols.): 100 ft. new construction and loop trail brushing.

Alambique Trail

(1984; SCMTD co-sponsored by SCMTA and SMC Parks; 16 vols.): 1 mile of trail repair.

Bear Gulch Trail

(1985; 5 days): Trail restoration over 2.46 miles between park headquarters and The Meadows.

(1986; 1 day): Trail repair; construction of 400-ft. log fence in The Meadows for revegetation.

(1988; CTD): Tread restoration.

(1989; CTD + 1 day; 17+ vols.): General trail restoration-brushing, drain dips, etc.

(1990; CTD; 28 vols.): Tread restoration.

Skyline Trail

(1986; see Huddart Park, Skyline Trail, 1986): Trail repair.

(1989; CTD; 13 vols.): Finish work prior to dedication.

[Unspecified trail(s)]

(1985; SCMTD; cosponsored by SCMTA and Sempervirens Fund; 77 vols.): Trail maintenance.

     Thanks to Ben Pease for the initial work on this catalog and the accompanying map.

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