Summary: (approved 6-14-06)
Hike Valencia Peak: Great
exercise, great companionship, and spectacular ocean, mountain and canyon views.
On this vigorous hike, you will view Montaņa de Oro and Morro Bay from Valencia
Peak, while enjoying wildflowers, birds, and native vegetation.
Bring water and lunch. Wear hiking boots. Meet at bluff parking area
300' south of the Ranch House. 1347 foot elevation, 3.7 mi.,
2 hrs.
Outline/Plan -- longer description (rev.
6-14-06) Docents: Anita Zehnder, Mike Baird
Hike Valencia Peak: Great
exercise, great companionship, and spectacular ocean, mountain and canyon views.
On this vigorous hike, you will view Montaņa de Oro and Morro Bay from Valencia
Peak, while enjoying wildflowers, birds, and native vegetation.
Bring water and lunch. Wear hiking boots. Meet at bluff parking area
300' south of the Ranch House. 1347 foot elevation, 3.7 mi.,
2 hrs. Optional longer return through the valley and past the Campground.
Category: (H) "Hike -- Active to strenuous, no interpretation." (Strenuous)
Theme: We gain inspiration and fully appreciate nature by pooling insights with like-minded companions on active hikes.
Hike along a well-defined but at times steep single-track path, gaining about 1300 feet of elevation. In these coastal scrub and chaparral environments, you will discover many native shrubs and beautiful seasonal wild flowers. Optionally bring binoculars to better view birds and the magnificent distance views of the mountains, sea, and bay. By briskly hiking with other outdoor-loving companions, you will find that your knowledge and curiosity will mix with that of the others, and the expert training of qualified State Park docents, to provide an enriched unique experience, satisfying to both your body and your soul. You may well meet others on this hike that you will run across again and again on other docent-led walks, making the outdoor experience even more enjoyable and valued. When you are hiking and see something interesting in nature, you can appreciate it more if you can share and discuss your experience with others. Some guests may take photos and share them with others after these walks using Internet web sites and e-mail.
The docents will be prepared to discuss natural history topics as they come up, or may choose to give one or more short talks depending on the guests’ interests. However, the hike will generally proceed with only a few very brief rest or interpretation stops to make sure we maintain an aerobic and healthy experience. At the top of Valencia Peak we will rest for a snack for about 10-15 minutes, before returning on the same path to our starting point. The hike will be paced to meet the needs and abilities of the participants. This hike is conducted by two docents... one leading, and one following. In this way, if any hikers need to proceed at a slower pace, or need to return without completing the loop, the follow-docent is available to assist those guests. We invite suggestions for improving our hikes and walks, and we encourage your feedback and evaluation during and after the event. Our objective is to make sure that you thoroughly enjoy and benefit from the natural beauty of our State Parks, and learn the importance of, and your role in, preserving these precious resources.
A photo essay of Valencia Peak is online at http://morro-bay.com/outdoor/valencia/6-16-01hike.htm
Summary: (as approved 1-28-04)
Hike Barranca Loop: Great
exercise, great companionship, and spectacular ocean, mountain and canyon views.
On this vigorous hike, you will view Montaņa de Oro and Morro Bay from the Ridge
and Barranca trails while enjoying wildflowers, birds, and native vegetation.
Bring water and lunch. Wear hiking boots. Meet at Ridge Trail
parking lot 2.3 miles south of park entrance. 1000 foot elevation change, 8 mi.,
4.5 - 5 hrs.
Outline/Plan -- longer description (rev.
2-25-04, 4-12-04) Docents: Anita Zehnder, Mike Baird
Hike Barranca Loop: Great exercise, great companionship, and spectacular
ocean, mountain and canyon views. On this vigorous hike, you will view
Montaņa de Oro and Morro Bay from the Ridge and Barranca trails while enjoying
wildflowers, birds, and native vegetation. Bring water and lunch.
Wear hiking boots. Meet at Ridge Trail parking lot 2.3 miles south of park
entrance. 1000 foot elevation change, 7.3 mi., 4.25 - 4.5 hrs.
Category: (H) "Hike -- Active to strenuous, no interpretation." (Strenuous)
Theme: We gain inspiration and fully appreciate nature by pooling insights with like-minded companions on active hikes.
Hike along a well-defined but at times steep single-track path, crossing over several 1000 foot peaks on the Ridge and Barranca loop trials. In these coastal scrub and chaparral environments, you will discover many native shrubs, trees, and beautiful seasonal wild flowers. Optionally bring binoculars to better view birds and the magnificent distance views of the mountains, sea, and bay. By briskly hiking with other outdoor-loving companions, you will find that your knowledge and curiosity will mix with that of the others, and the expert training of qualified State Park docents, to provide an enriched unique experience, satisfying to both your body and your soul. You may well meet others on this hike that you will run across again and again on other docent-led walks, making the outdoor experience even more enjoyable and valued. When you are hiking and see something interesting in nature, you can appreciate it more if you can share and discuss your experience with others. Some guests may take photos and share them with others after these walks using Internet web sites and e-mail.
The docents will be prepared to discuss natural history topics as they come up, or may choose to give one or more short talks depending on the guests’ interests. However, the hike will generally proceed with only a few brief rest or interpretation stops to make sure we maintain an aerobic and healthy experience. At the one-third way point on top of Hazard Peak, and/or at the two-thirds-way point, as we transition from the Ridge Trail to the Barranca Loop Trail, we will rest for a snack for about 15 minutes, before continuing on to the Islay Creek Road leading back to our starting point. The hike will be paced to meet the needs and abilities of the participants. This hike is conducted by two docents... one leading, and one following. In this way, if any hikers need to proceed at a slower pace, or need to return without completing the loop, the follow-docent is available to assist those guests. We invite suggestions for improving our hikes and walks, and we encourage your feedback and evaluation during and after the event. Our objective is to make sure that you thoroughly enjoy and benefit from the natural beauty of our State Parks, and learn the importance of, and your role in, preserving these precious resources.
Summary: (as approved 2-11-04)
Hike Coon Creek: On this brisk hike get some good exercise with other outdoor-loving companions. While exploring the riparian landscape along Coon Creek, admire a variety of wild flowers, berries, shrubs, and trees. Meet in Montana de Oro State Park at the end of Pecho Road in the Coon Creek parking lot. Bring water and snack, sturdy walking shoes. (*Moderate) 4.7 mi., 3.0 hr. Optional return along Rattlesnake Flats Trail.
Outline/Plan -- longer description
(rev. 2-25-04, 4-12-04) Docents: Anita Zehnder, Mike Baird
Hike Coon Creek: On this brisk hike get some good exercise with
other outdoor-loving companions. While exploring the riparian landscape along
Coon Creek, admire a variety of wild flowers, berries, shrubs, and trees. Meet
in Montana de Oro State Park at the end of Pecho Road in the Coon Creek parking
lot. Bring water and snack, sturdy walking shoes. (*Moderate) 4.7 mi., 3.0 hr.. Long pants are recommended but not essential.
Category: (H) "Hike -- Active to strenuous, no interpretation." (Moderate)
Theme: We gain inspiration and fully appreciate nature by pooling insights with like-minded companions on active hikes.
Hike a well-defined wide fairly level path, crossing over six small shaded bridges along Coon Creek. In this riparian landscape you will discover many berries, shrubs, trees, and beautiful seasonal wild flowers. Optionally bring binoculars to better view the many birds. By briskly hiking with other outdoor-loving companions, you will find that your knowledge and curiosity will mix with that of the others, and the expert training of qualified State Park docents, to provide an enriched unique experience, satisfying to both your body and your soul. You may well meet others on this hike that you will run across again and again on other docent-led walks, making the outdoor experience even more enjoyable and valued. When you are hiking and see something interesting in nature, you can appreciate it more if you can share and discuss your experience with others. Some guests may take photos and share them with others after these walks using Internet web sites and e-mail.
The docents will be prepared to discuss natural history topics as they come up, or may choose to give one or more short talks depending on the guests’ interests. However, the hike will generally proceed with only a few brief rest or interpretation stops to make sure we maintain an aerobic and healthy experience. At the half-way point, at the end of the Coon Creek path, we will rest for a snack for about 15 minutes, before returning. The hike will be paced to meet the needs and abilities of the participants. This hike is conducted by two docents... one leading, and one following. In this way, if any hikers need to proceed at a slower pace, or need to return early, the follow-docent is available to assist those guests. We invite suggestions for improving our hikes and walks, and we encourage your feedback and evaluation during and after the event. Our objective is to make sure that you thoroughly enjoy and benefit from the natural beauty of our State Parks, and learn the importance of, and your role in, preserving these precious resources.
7-16-06 proposed fine tuning of above descriptions (awaiting approvals)
7-17-06 changes approved as shown below "Fast Hikes to..."