Another avid hiker is Karen Pogue. Karen hikes three times a week and also manages to lead the monthly tours at Gilroy Hot Springs. Karen is retired but worked for the City of Gilroy in engineering and administration for twenty-seven years. Her love of hiking was born about thirty years ago when she joined the“ Gilroy Outing Club.” Today several member of that club, as well as Karen, sill hike in
peak can be treacherous and vehicles over 25 feet are not recommended. There is a park telescope on top and many local astronomers congregate there on clear evenings.
Karen says that when she just wants to get in some exercise and needs to stay close to home, the 2.5 mile cross-country course at Gavilan College is the perfect solution and an invigorating hike. Entrance: Go to Gavilan College south several options to get to the trail from the lake. Entrance information noted earlier.
At Calero County Park, Karen likes the Javelina Loop, just a great mild hike. Entrance: West of Highway 101 Bailey to McKean to the entrance of Calero Park.
Up the hill to Mount Madonna, another of Karen’ s“ faves” is the Bay View Trail for some spectacular views down towards Watsonville and a variety of different environments. There are several options back to the entrance or rangers station but Karen prefers the Blue Springs Trail. Entrance: Highway 152 West with the trailhead on the left side of the road near the entrance.
Notable is the Rancho Cañada del
Oro near Calero. Karen really likes the Mayfair Ranch Trail and if you have the time and energy she agrees with Ron that the Bald Peaks Trail is well worth the effort. Entrance: West of Highway 101 Bailey to McKean to Casa Loma Road.
If you want an easy start and something unusual and local, wonder over to Uvas Canyon County Park for some spectacular waterfalls this time of year. The Waterfall Loop is only about a mile but offers some wild and wet adventures. This lushly wooded park of 1,133 acres, is on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. This mountain park offers hiking, camping and picnicking opportunities. Entrance: Uvas Road to Croy Road west to the park entrance.
Photo of Uvas Canyon Courtesy of Karen Pogue
and around Gilroy. Some of Karen’ s“ faves” not mentioned by Ron are:
Fremont Peek State Park, located just outside of Hollister, offers some 360-degree views and spectacular star watching and is only 15 miles from Gilroy. Fremont Peak State Park is only 159 acres. The road up to the 3,169-foot entrance and park near the football field. Walk the track to the southwest for the trailhead. Go left for a steep hill climb; go right for a more gradual climb.
The Calaveras Trail in Coyote Lake – Harvey Bear Ranch is a great wild flower adventure in the spring. The trail runs parallel to the lake and there are
Some helpful resources:
• Santa Clara County Parks, Hiking
• Pine Ridge Association, Henry W. Coe Park
• State of California Parks Henry W. Coe Fremont Peak Pacheco
• Pinnacles National Park
Check out our website, gilroytoday. com for more photos and website links.
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