|
|
The Trail Companion
Spring 2000
Theme: San Francisco Bay Area Wildflowers
Six Sure-Fire Wildflower Hikes
...continued
San Pedro Valley County Park
(San Mateo County)
From the parking lot and visitors' center, cross
the bridge toward the picnic area. Walk past the
horseshoe pits, cross over a gravel road, and turn
uphill on the Valley View trail. Going up the hill,
watch for blue eyed-grass (Sisyrinchium
bellum) and sun cups (Camissonia
ovata).
|
| White 'bluedicks' (Dichelostemma), San Pedro |
Photo by Tim Oren
|
Near the last westward switchback, we have sometimes
noted an apparent white variant of 'bluedicks'
(Dichelostemma capitatum) - see if you can
find it! As the trail leaves the open stand of
eucalyptus, you'll be exposed to any fog or wind from
the Pacific. Coming up to the back of the ridge above
open meadows, there are clusters of intensely blue
central coast iris (or Rocky Mountain iris) (Iris
longipetala) and great views back to the
Pacifica beaches. As the trail reaches its high point
and undulates eastward, look for displays of red and
yellow Franciscan paintbrush (Castilleja
subinclusa ssp. franciscana) - the best
we've seen in the Bay Area. The Valley View trail now
falls in switchbacks down the ridge. The fast changes
of climate between sunny switchback and shaded gully
give a good chance of seeing many different
species.
When you reach the
road again, turn right to return to the parking lot.
 |
| Franciscan paintbrush, San Pedro |
Photo by Tim Oren
|
Or, for a longer hike, turn left along the meadow,
cross the creek and turn uphill on the Hazelnut trail
(labeled Big Canyon on some maps) to the right. This
trail switchbacks up through tall, lush coastal scrub
- and is often a bit overgrown. At this time of year,
the coastal blueblossom ceanothus (Ceanothus
thyrsiflorus) should be in bloom. Also, watch
low along the trail edge for Pacific starflower
(Trientalis latifolia) and fringe cups
(Tellima grandiflora). This side of the
valley seems to be more variable depending on the
rainfall and temperatures of the year, but there's
always something. Unfortunately, the downhill return
of the loop lies largely through a stand of
eucalyptus that offers less variety. It brings you
down behind the visitor center, where useful displays
and helpful rangers can help you identify what you've
seen.
Getting there: From Highway 1 at
the south end of Pacifica, turn east onto Linda Mar
Blvd and drive to its end at the park entrance.
Hike distance and elevation change:
2-mile loop, 600' (5.4 mile loop, 1400' total on
alternate extension)
Best time for flowers: early to
mid-April
On the Web:San Pedro County Park on the San Mateo County
Parks site or on the Portolá site
<== Back 2 of 7
Next ==>
Related Stories
-
-
Six Sure-Fire Wildflower Hikes
-
Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve
-
Wilder Ranch State Park
-
Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve
-
Joseph D. Grant County Park
-
Sunol Regional Wilderness
-
A Few More Wildflower Tips
-
Identifying the Mystery Plant
-
Wildflower and Plant Guides - Web and Electronic
Resources
Copyright ©
Trail Center. All rights reserved.
Please contact the Web
Manager for corrections or comments.
|
