Summer before last we sat here in mosquito-biting heat for an orientation to learn about Willow Creek and the responsibilities inherent in having a permit to hike the area. We were past due to hike, though we’d kept up on our permit. Something else always came up.

Willow Creek area is managed by LandPaths on behalf of the State. They are hoping to keep Willow Creek open to permit holders and run it on a Community Powered Park model. The 3400-acre park opened in 2005 to this kind of access with help from the Open Space District and Coastal Conservancy. It is part of the Sonoma Coast State Park.

It’s a walk in the woods. Unfortunately, for me it is a steep hike, too. While the marvelous trail names like Islands in the Sky urged me on, the up slope did not.

We stopped to judge the health of tan oaks. They seemed fine going uphill but on the downhill trek we noticed the sick ones have been cut down. (Sudden Oak Death leaves black spots on the trunk.) Redwoods and Douglas Firs loomed over us. It was quiet until we climbed high enough to hear Hwy 116 traffic. A creek gurgled far below us.

The trail split right and uphill to more Islands and left and flat to Box Springs (yes, box springs). We crossed a slippery bridge, with open slats that looked deceptively solid covered by leaves. The creek is the one we had been hearing. It didn’t prove very photogenic though. We walked on but the trail got muddier until we declared it unpassable.

Of course on our way back, several bicyclists sped by. They were giddy and said something about not needing mountain bikes.

They wouldn’t have heard the woodpecker, nor seen the blue sky through the tree tops nor finally identified the huckleberry bushes all around.

Back at the parking lot, Mike helped someone start his car. I interviewed a couple of bicyclists. Yes, if you make the Island loop or take other trails you can get a grand view of the ocean. I will drive almost to Jenner and go south along Hwy 1 for my view of the ocean. It’s great either way.

No dogs. No bathrooms. Get a permit from LandPaths and thank them mightily.

We did make a wildflower check at the ocean. Flax, Hairy Cat’s Ear, Seaside Daisy, Pearly Everlasting and Cow Parsnip. Not a shabby show for January.

See you on the Trail!

Lynn Millar

Photos by Mike Millar

As a travel agent she was frustrated with finding information for physically challenged individuals to explore this beautiful state.

A Wheelchair Rider’s Guide to the California Coast website had earlier incarnations in print guides. With the support of Coastal Conservancy, she has developed a site organized by County with information on how to enjoy the areas. The website has an impressive list of resources to help travelers from organizations, parks, trail and travel guides and where to find aids, like beach wheelchairs.

All information is subject to change. Sometimes there’s a change, when it makes no sense. Last year the State developed more wheelchair accessible trails on Bodega Head. A few months later, the State closed the easiest parking lot access to those trails.

The other site, Bonnie has helped develop is Access Northern California. This site covers lodging and all types of recreation from camping to swimming. Searches can be conducted by area or activity. Again there are many links to parks, trails, transportation and adaptive recreation.

Once again, you have no excuse for not having a good time. The links here are live and I’ve added the sites to Groups on the right-hand sidebar

Congratulations Bonnie.

See you on the trail!

Lynn Millar

Given that the state is cutting loose 70 parks – we thought we’d look at a place the state gave up in 1979. The State of California didn’t need all the space it had for a state hospital, so local citizens got together and with the help of the County of Napa established the park. The Skyline Park Citizens Association has successfully run it since 1983, with a few low money points at the beginning. It is possible.

New Year’s Day was a beautiful and sunny. I realize they’re all like that now, but the rain will come. On our way to Napa, we finally got to eat at Girl and Fig café in Sonoma. Great lunch, and we hardly touched the equity line.

After driving across Napa’s southern edge and not getting swept into the valley or the East Bay we found the park east of town. We paid a small fee for entrance and were told where the trailhead was and about a few of the park’s features. The place has something for everyone (see list below).

We made straight for the Martha Walker Native Habitat Garden. This will be worth a stop in flower season. I liked the informative signs about native plants and planting for wildlife.

I knew walking on the flat would be a challenge when just to get to the main trail, we had to climb steps. (The garden is set into a hillside.)

The Napa State Hospital is next door and so some land is enclosed by cyclone fence. An otherwise idyllic dam crossing between two ponds was lined with a chain link fence. A few gaping holes indicated less respect for those boundaries.

The main trail goes to the left and starts climbing to Lake Marie over 2 miles away, reportedly at a 7% grade. I think that’s an average – as in now “it’s flat and now it’s steep”. I knew that a warm windy afternoon after eating a gigantic crab sandwich was not going to get me all the way out and back. We’d hardly crossed a contour line on the map and there were 2-3 more to cross and recross.

Besides trying to climb a hill, I did look around at the oak woodlands. The views up the Napa Valley with layers of mountains was great. It reminded me that not all landscape has to be vineyards even in Napa.

Raptors were yelling and soaring and our fellow walkers were friendly. Manzanitas were in bloom.

Coming back from our 1 mile jaunt, I felt in sync with a young horse who kept stopping. His rider explained he was new to the trail and wasn’t sure of himself. I have plenty of experience and slippery dirt and gravel roads do not instill confidence in me. I gave him a quick nose rub and went ahead for a while. Finally, his pride took over as he was not to be beat downhill by an old walker.

See you on the trail! Well, maybe not this one. I’ll be in the garden.

Lynn Millar

Photos by Mike Millar

Amusements: Archery, disc golf, dog run, RV and tent camping, horse arena, hiking, bicycle and horseback riding trails, picnicking, and native habitat garden.

Bathrooms: At parking lot. Showers available for campers.

Hikers: This is really your place. Park is part of Bay Ridge Trail and links to Napa Solano Ridge Trail. It also connects to River to Ridge Trail to the JFKennedy Park along the Napa River.

Directions: 2201 Imola Ave. Napa, CA

Don’t forget our next walk. Saturday, January 21st at 10am. Up Brush Creek and back. Start at the Carrillo Adobe at corner of Montgomery and Hartley Dr. About 4 miles. Sorry, no horses or dogs.

Salt Point in Spring

Here are my suggestions for gifts for yourself, family or friends to enjoy the great outdoors.

Free: (Yes, Free!)

• Join me on a monthly walk sponsored by the Sonoma County Family Y. Our walk on Saturday, December 17 at 10 am starts at Shell Beach. We’ll walk along the coastal bluffs, north via the Kortum Trail. Click for more information.
• If you don’t already subscribe, please do. Or sign up a friend for a free subscription – you’ll have to tell them so when WordPress sends an email, he or she say will say, “Yes”, I want this subscription
  

  Armstrong Woods

 $3.50 – 125 (What a Deal!)

• Sonoma County Regional Parks gift card $69 for 49 parks or 9000 acres & other goodies http://www.sonoma-county.org/parks/giftcard.htm If buying for yourself – and 60+ for $39. or permanently disabled for $23.
• California State Parks have a number of pass offers. Basic pass is $125. But there are a number of options on their website. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1049

Lake Suttonfield

$1 – a gazillion (Do you have that much?)

A number of fine organizations help provide access to parks, maintain trails and have numerous educational opportunities. Some have membership dues. All could use your volunteer efforts and money donations.

• Coastwalk: http://coastwalk.org/join-us/ Coastwalk membership $30-200
• CA State Parks: Save our State Parks – $0-??? Or time to help. http://www.savestateparks.org/
• Creek Stewards: http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/departments/utilities/stormwatercreeks/steward/Pages/default.aspx
• Laguana Foundation: http://www.lagunafoundation.org/ 
• Landpaths: http://www.landpaths.org/
• Sonoma Land Trust: http://www.sonomalandtrust.org/
• Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods: http://stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.org/
• To help keep Jack London State Historic Park open Redwood Writers (Jack was a founder of the parent organization, California Writers Club) is raising funds through the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation. Visit Redwood Writersto read about the park and make a donation.

Ellis Creek Petaluma

Thank you for your time and your generosity.

Season’s Greetings.

Lynn Millar

Photos by Mike Millar

Jack London State Historic Park

The park is 208 acres of oak woodland with several ponds leftover from when the area was a ranch. Foothill became a regional park as mitigation for the Foothill Oaks housing development in Windsor.

The main entrance at 1351 Arata Ln. has a small parking lot with a few spaces for horse trailers. Most people park on the street outside. It’s possible for disabled people to park uphill between ponds B and C. (More on ponds later.)

We took the slow way up the hill on a wide dirt path. We found a gentler descent on the way back. My suggestion is when you pass the bathroom and follow the path to the right, find a narrower trail that goes along the park border fence.

The path is called Three Lakes Trail that goes around 3 ponds. Lakes, ponds or large watering holes for the cattle who used to roam here, they are not very large and they vary in size. The loop paths are narrow and uneven but there’s not much up and down. Three Lakes are creatively named Ponds A, B and C and each have a loop trail. Or Pond Bloop as it seemed one sign indicated for Pond B.

Each loop is dominated by a different type of oak. Live and black oaks surrounded the first pond. Coots favored the waters. Oregon oaks thrived in the area around Pond B and blue oaks and willows liked Pond C. Beautiful manzanitas were prolific and added texture of tiny leafs and twisty smooth trunks with sprouting silver-green lichen in the rougher crevasses of the trunk.

The trail after Pond C is not clearly marked – not that you’ll get lost. At one point Mike thought I could leap across a U-shaped cement culvert. I extended my walk a little and met up with him to surround the last pond on the lake trail. Mid-way around this pond is access to more uphill trails, but we returned to where we started the hike.

I’m glad I did it, since my last time to the park was a sweltering day when my son ran a cross country race. It’s a nice neighborhood park for Windosr, but I’m finding elevations changes more and more challenging.

But buy a pass for all 49 Regional Parks. $23-69. And if you have a permanent disability placard, you can purchase an electronic pass.

Bathroom is flush and with a cold water sink at park entrance. Benches near ponds and picnic tables at Pond C.

Dogs on leash, horses with riders.

See you on the trail!

I know it has been a while since we’ve posted a walk. But we’ve been out there: Pt Reyes, Cloverdale, Jack London, Salt Point and Colgan Creek. We’re starting to visit the places that might close. Alas, Sugarloaf State Park is closed for the winter. This is a new step and does not bode well for the State parks.

Lynn Millar

Photos by Mike Millar

We approached China Camp State Park from the North on N. San Pedro Rd in Marin County. This 1600-acre park is situated on San Pablo Bay. Wetlands, beaches and hills come together in a gorgeous setting.

The day was calm and warm. We passed a campground near the entrance that will only be open on the weekends after November 1. There are trails just above the road and more near and at the mountain ridge. We stopped briefly at Bullhead Flat.

Coast Miwok populated the area until the mission system and a Spanish land grant took the land from them. As grants go, the land was given and sold. For many years, part of the land was a dairy with grazing land owned by the McNear family. (A County Park just to the south bears their name. That’s the park we visited when we lived in San Francisco.)

Above Rat Rock Cove is a picnic ground, with interpretive signs about the area. Surrounding the cove was a Chinese village in the 1800s.  The view is across San Pablo Bay from the Richmond Refinery to Marin and Sonoma County. It was like a view of our lives. Also, I fell in love with Rat Rock Island.

On a road downhill from the picnic grounds, is the area of China Camp Village and several remaining buildings that include a museum. When this village of 500 was at its height, it was only accessible by water.

The Chinese grew vegetables and fished for shrimp in the bay. They used huge nets from their stable junk-style boats and processed the shrimp on site, sending most to China. Due to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prohibiting more Chinese laborers from arriving (the railroads were built and the gold rush was over) the population declined. Later the nets they used were outlawed and switching to new net design was not enough to sustain the village.

Today the cove provides swimming, picnicking and boat launch for kayakers and other small boats. We had lunch at the rustic café owned by the last Chinese resident.

We drove back along the water and stopped at Turtle Back Hill. A nature trail and some of the Shoreline Trail across the road are relatively flat and are marked wheelchair accessible. The nature trail is a loop less than a mile and is packed sand and dirt with a boardwalk section.

Following the trail to the right is a view of a wetland area. A hundred acres of the park are made up of this important area to the bay’s health. Coyote bush line the trail with a few coast live oak. Uphill are more valley and black oaks, manzanita, Madrone and bay trees.

About halfway on the loop, is a boardwalk close to the wetland filled with pickleweed. Then the trail goes uphill through a forest of Madrone and Manzanita. It looks like many trees have recently been planted on the hillside. Pavers cover the trail in one area to prevent erosion.

Perhaps the calm warm day made me feel more peaceful, but that is the sense of the place that I came away with. Between a beautiful natural place and the now almost ghostly village, it relaxed me. The only eagerness I felt was to return again.

Parking lots and bathrooms are frequent along the main road. We have a day-use pass. Parking is $5.

On the Nature Trail – no dogs and no bikes.

Now for a plea. China Camp State Park is one of many state parks slated for closure due to California State Parks. Please donate to the Parks Foundation. Or donate to your favorite park.

Mine is Jack London State Historic Park. As a member of Redwood Writers, we are on a campaign to save the park. Please visit our website or my guest blog on the Press Democrat’s Trailhead.

A short (1/4 mi.) walk on a road and across the railroad tracks, we got to a trail on the levee. It separates the Bay’s wetlands from the agricultural fields.

We were expecting another sparse area, because of the harvested fields and the harsh wetlands – but we were pleasantly surprised. The Bay Institute with STRAW (Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed) have worked hard to bring native plants to the banks of the levee.

While much of the area  sports coyote bush, mustard and anise, the restored area was filled with blooming monkeyflower, rose and poppies. Healthy hedges of yellow flowered gumweed bordered the plantings. Hummingbirds were happy.

We don’t often see animals on our morning walks, just their droppings. But we saw many rabbits and ground squirrels at the beginning of the walk.

Farther along the trail the star thistle, Italian Thistles and wild radish predominated. Periodically, there were benches for resting with a view to the water, but they were in a bit of disrepair or overgrown with plants.

About a mile and a half out the levee, the distance from Hwy 37 was greater and so road noise decreased. A sign marked the end of the trail and stated more of this Bay Trail will be continued in the future. There were other tempting places to walk but we restrained ourselves.

It must have been the wrong time for the birds to enjoy the wetland, but a few willets squawked in flight and some avocets and egrets worked the mud. In the distance over the bay several buses of birds (Canada geese?) flew west.

I wished that we could have been closer to the bay. Not willing to wait for the tide to come in, I was glad for a view of the bay, the San Rafael/Richmond Bridge and the gorgeous Mt. Tamalpais.

I’m glad that the Bay Institute, other organizations and many people have worked to restore the wetlands of the bay.

Open sunrise to sunset. Dogs on a leash – like most places in Sonoma County. Bikes okay, though it’s too short to be much of challenge – unless you like to take on Hwy 37.

For our last walk by the bay, click here.

See you on the trail!

Lynn Millar

Pictures by Mike Millar

Don’t forget our next walk with the Y.  Saturday, Oct 15th, 10am. Meet at 2319 W Third, Santa Rosa, Place to Play at the west end near the pond . It’s 4.4 mile flat walk along Santa Rosa Creek. Bring water.

We picked up the trail by the museum (and gift shop) and headed east. For about a ½ mile the flat path is arrow straight through open meadows.

A short detour took us to General Vallejo’s house. Built in 1858 by a spring, many fruit trees were planted around this beautiful Victorian house. The brick warehouse nearby currently houses a museum and interpretive center.

Back on the main trail, the path goes between houses. This is a convenient bike path for the casual bicyclist, increasing safety, but with stops at each street. It’s a short stretch so walkers won’t be run over by the more intense rider who prefers the long ride.

Just off the trail is Olsen Park, a small green spot in the neighborhood. One man was setting up a croquet course for adding entertainment to the park’s basketball court and playground. Picnic tables were laid out in party décor. There are benches in the park and also along the trail, if you need to stop, rest and pet a dog.

It’s another ½ mile to Hwy 12. Be careful crossing the busy road to Maxwell Farms Regional Park.

We walked back and then drove to this small regional park. Small but packed. It has several athletic fields, skatepark, tennis courts, playground and gigantic Boys and Girls Club building.

This is the first time I’ve walked most of this trail. Mike used to ride his bike on it when we lived in Sonoma. While a bit toasty on a summer afternoon, it’s a fine relief from the crowds on the Plaza.

Other nearby walks:

Sonoma Overlook is north of Depot Park and the cemetery. See our visit there by clicking here.

Other nearby attractions:

Besides Vallejo’s house, several buildings on the Plaza are part of the Sonoma State Historical Park. For only $2 you can visit all of these historic buildings and Vallejo’s summer digs at the Petaluma Adobe. (Visit soon, since it is slated for closure.) Vallejo lived on and wrote extensively. He apparently knew everyone and how to get along with them.

Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma is off the northeast corner of the plaza and is the northernmost Californian mission.

In the northeast corner of the park in Sonoma Plaza, is a statue to the Bear Flag Republic. Taking Sonoma from Vallejo and the Mexican government for a couple of weeks in the summer of 1846, they raised the flag and then gave it up to the US Government.

Depot Park Museum is in the park north of Sonoma Plaza in the city’s Depot Park. This is the site of the former Northwestern Pacific Railroad depot and land. The park has picnic areas, playgrounds, ballparks and bocce courts. There are other playing fields along the trail.

See you on the trail!

Lynn Millar

Photos by Mike Millar

Don’t forget to join us on Saturday, Sept 17th, 10 am at the corner of Santa Rosa and Sonoma Avenues by the big fish. We’ll be walking along Santa Rosa Creek and through historic Railroad Square.

Please join us for some of my favorite flat walks. Our first walk is August 20th, 2011. That’s Saturday at 10am. We’ll meet at the Sebastopol Community Center.

Walk through the Laguna de Santa Rosa enjoying the shelter of trees along the creek and the open meadows with views of mountains. This 2-mile walk crosses a summer bridge. Most of the trail is grass or hard-packed dirt. While a little uneven, it is flat. Come see this key environmental location to Sonoma County, while enjoying the company of others.

Wear sturdy shoes, put on your sunscreen and a hat. Bring some water and let’s go for a walk.

August 20th – Laguna de Santa Rosa – meet at Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol.

Choose a walk or come every month.

Sept 17th – Santa Rosa Creek – meet at Sonoma and Santa Rosa Aves, by the fish. 2-3 miles.

Oct 15th – Santa Rosa Creek – meet at Place to Play, 2375 W Third St, Santa Rosa. 3-4 miles.

For our walk last fall in the Laguna, please visit by clicking here.

See you on the trail!

Lynn Millar

Photos by Mike Millar

One of our favorites is at Kendall-Jackson off of Fulton Rd, north of Santa Rosa. Formal gardens with fountains, lawn and roses are near the building. A Culinary Garden flourishes with flowers, small beds of herbs, and rows of vegetables.

Flowers or vegetables grew in a profusion of colors. Purples, oranges and reds vibrated in a flower bed. Garish purple lettuce matched up against yellowish green leaves. Beyond this garden is a grove a walnut trees. I find it a peaceful spot, even with Hwy 101 nearby.

They have a tomato festival on September 10^th (tomato plant sale in the spring) and a farm stand open August to early October.

In the Sonoma Valley is Chateau St. Jean nestled at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains. While a large lawn and picnic area stretches out to the vineyards, courtyards hold charming eating spots. Formal hedged gardens and lush shaded sitting areas between the buildings beckoned to me to sit and relax.

There is a labeled sampler vineyard in one courtyard so I could have studied how to tell the look of a Chardonnay from a Merlot vine. Players on a bocce court behind a tall hedge cheered.

Over the mountains in Bennett Valley is Mantanzas Creek Winery. While there are steps through the lavender, it is worth a visit in June-July. When we were there recently, they had started to harvest the lavender. Round mounds of different purples and whites still made for a picturesque image and kept hundreds of bees very busy.

Uphill by the tasting room under gigantic oaks, is another sitting area with koi pond.

Another favorite garden is at Ferrari-Carano Winery in Dry Creek Valley near the Warm Springs Dam. A formal entrance to the tasting room features a tidy lawn and flower-lined walkway and a huge sculpture of a boar. It honors the one who dug up the garden on the owners’ first planting attempt.

Protected behind a gate is a lush garden of trees, bushes, flowers, ponds, streams and gazebos. This completely created refuge manages to alternately awe and soothe me.

Honorable Mention (not included above only because it is not flat): Korbel Winery near Guerneville along the Russian River. Beautiful flowers shine by the parking lot. Huge redwoods shade the tasting room and marvelous café and patio. Uphill is a garden begun in the 1880s with over 250 varieties of roses. Take a tour from mid-April to mid-October.

Visit your neighborhood winery. You might find a garden to suit your taste. Of course, there’s wine to taste, too. Take a tour,  picnic or play bocce. Some of their websites only let you visit if your over 21.

See you on the trail! At any age.

Lynn Millar

Pictures by Mike Millar