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03.15.07

Rangers Know Best

Who really knows the best places to go in our state and national parks? The resident rangers, of course. We met with some of Northern California’s finest to tell us about their favorite springtime hikes, trails, and scenic overlooks.

John Golda Point Reyes Park Ranger

Mammal Action

It’s spring break for Northern California’s marine mammals, and party central is Point Reyes State Park. Ranger John Golda presides over the party of elephant seals and gray whales here. A seven-year park veteran, Golda says the best views of the frolicking mammals are from Chimney Rock Trail, a 1.6-mile round-trip hike through gorgeous wildflowers. On Saturdays and Sundays binocular-toting docents staff the Elephant Seal Overlook. But bring your own lenses to spot the migrating whales from Chimney Rock—53 of the leviathans showed up last weekend. The park's breeding colony of elephant seals can best be observed from Elephant Seal Overlook above Drakes Bay. One tip: “Be sure to get here early to avoid the crowds,” says Golda. “The first bus to the trailhead leaves at 9 a.m.” Party bus!

The park operates a $5 round-trip shuttle bus system to the trailhead from the Drakes Beach parking lot on fair-weather weekends and holidays through mid-April; Sir Francis Drake Blvd. is closed to other vehicles from South Beach to the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock areas during these times. More information.

Activity
Hike, Water, Relax
Region
North Bay
Presidio Park Rangers Marcus Combs, Cidney Webster, Will Elder

Presidio Trio

Presidio National Park Rangers Marcus Combs, Cidney Webster, and Will Elder love their office. Their top recommendation is the multifaceted Ecology Trail: “You get everything in such a small area: a grove of redwoods; blooming golden poppies, the state flower; and serpentinite, the state rock,” says Webster. Start from the patio atop Inspiration Point, advises Combs, and take it all the way down to the main post, with a side trip to El Polin Spring. “This quiet spot in a meadow surrounded by eucalyptus doesn’t get many visitors, so it’s one of my favorite places to pack a picnic,” says Combs. “On the way, keep your eyes peeled for the lavender-colored Presidio clarkia,” adds Elder. “Inspiration Point is one of only two sites in the world where you can see this endangered flower.” More information.

Activity
Hike, Relax
Region
San Francisco
Cat Taylor Sunol Regional Wilderness

Little Miss Wildflower

To catch spring’s wildflowers in all their technicolor glory, naturalist Cat Taylor favors hiking Sunol Regional Wilderness’s Canyon View Trail into Little Yosemite. “Sunol is really famous locally for its outstanding wildflowers,” she says. “The outcrops along this trail display almost pure stands of color: lavender hilltops of bird’s-eye gilia; brilliant yellow stands of goldfields; and hills of owl's clover, poppies, and lupine." The hike is a relatively easy three-mile loop on the Canyon View Trail and Camp Ohlone Rd. “There's such variety in this short hike," Taylor says. “I like to go up to the serpentinite outcrops; the colors are so beautiful that this is my favorite hike to lead in spring.” More information.

TIP: Flex your flower power at Sunol’s fifth annual Spring Wildflower Festival on Saturday, April 7, from 11 a.m. through 4 p.m. Activities include naturalist-led hikes, slide shows and live music. Call 925-862-2601 or visit the above link for more information. *Sunol is an off-leash, dog-friendly park.

Activity
Hike, Relax, Dog-friendly
Region
East Bay

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