March 5, 2014 - Wilder State Park

 Title: March 5, 2014 - Wilder State Park

Trail head: Wilder Ranch SP Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Old Cove Landing and Ohlone Bluff Trails

Destination: Three Mile Beach

Actual Destination: Strawberry Beach

Distance:  5.22 miles

Start Time:  10:01

End Time:     1:32

Travel Time: 3:30 (1.49 mph)

Moving Time: 2:24 (2.18 mph)

Elevation Rise: 391'

Maximum Elevation: 84'

Description:
Sherri and I stayed overnight at our parents place. Then made it over to Wilder Ranch State Park a little bit before 9. Our meetup group will be coming in in a little while. There is a minor scare when we see a sign saying the Park's trails are closed, but we find some State Park people who told us the bluffs were open. The mountain trails are closed due to mud and erosion.

On the Bluffs

Our group comes along around 9:30 and we are on the trail by 10.  There are fifteen of us going along this trail/dirt road, with Jerry K, John and Cathey leading us. As a trail, these trails are not very interesting, i.e., not much in the way of climbs and fancy footwork. But there are other things which can make a trail fun. Right from the get-go, we look out over a brussel sprout field and spot a coyote. Not a bad way to start a hike. (According to John McKinney, one out of every eight of the nation's brussel sprouts is raised around this park.)

The Old Cove Landing Trail leads from the parking lot to the ocean. How the day started, we should not get rain. But the fog sort of restricts any view, not thick and cold, but just enough atmosphere to say it will not rain. We hear the ocean before we see it; to the south of us is a restricted preserve. But I do not see any wildlife in the area.

Ocean and Land

The Ohlone Bluffs Trail takes over when we hit the ocean. We spend several minutes observing the ocean spray from 35' up. Even at our height, the spray reaches us. How mighty is the power of the ocean! Throwing it's waters in the air, showing its strength against the land. To us humans, though, this struggle between land and sea yields the beauty of the coastline. The bluffs being a bulwark against the hammer of the ocean. But eventually, the hammer finds a weakness and breaks down the cliff. We are only witnesses to this struggle.

Fern Grotto

Over time, the bluffs have yielded to the ocean, but there are expanses of flat, pocked rock where sheets of salt water collect. As each wave recede, we are treated to water falls flowing over edges. 

 
We head down to a beach area-there is several places where the bluffs fall away, leaving a narrow strip of sand. In this particular strip of sand, there is a small cave which goes back into the side of the bluffs. With ferns growing around the opening, it looks lush, particularly compared to the farmed areas on top of the bluffs. This cave is called Fern Grotto.

Ocean Falls

We continue our hike along the top of the bluffs. As has been said, there is a a narrow strip of where the trail, bordered by the ocean on one side, and farm land growing on the other. Some of our group examine the produce-not taking any-and find that there are artichokes, brussel sprouts and onions. A large group of people pass us. One of them tells us the farms encourage their workers to take a stretch break. So they walk the bluffs; take to the beach; and do stretches. I could think of worse breaks than walking this trail.

Farm and Scarecrow

After a ways, John calls a halt and we have lunch overlooking the ocean. We have not made it to Three Mile Beach, but there is a long drive back, so we turn around at 12:30. The trip is pretty much a reverse of our trip out. That is except we cut off about a quarter mile by going across a beach rather than a large detour around a small estuary. There is a little path, with a few interesting places, but we make it down, and back up the other side safely.

Canadian Geese

Egret

When we get back to the car, we go down to the old farm houses, where we hear a volunteer talk about the park, it's history and the culture of the area. Afterwards, the group decides to gather at Jardines de San Juan Baptista. Sherri and I encourage them to go to Marianne's Ice Cream in Santa Cruz, but no takers. So we stop, enjoy a scope a piece-our second indulgence of quality ice cream this week. Then meet the. Group at Jardines. We get back to Fresno a little after 7.

Seagulls in Formation

Rock and Birds