August 24, 2012, Sequoia Trail, Route C

Title: August 24, 2012, Sequoia Trail, Route C with extension

Trail head: Big Basin Park Headquarters

Hike Info:

Trail: Sequoia, Shadowbrook, East Ridge Trails

Destination: Loop

Distance: 6.4 miles

Travel Time: 3:16

Moving Time: 2:50

Elevation Rise: 919'

Maximum Elevation: 1,366'

Map of area

Profile of hike

Description:
You can go on three different routes with the Sequoia Trail. The first is straight out and back, the second is to connect it with the Skyline to the Sea trail, or the third is the longer connection with the Shadowbrook Trail, which is the one we want to go on. Well, Sherri and I took on a fourth option, and that was to miss the cut off to the park headquarters and pick up the East Ridge trail. But more on that later.



We were in Mountain View, visiting our parents when we decided that we would go back to Fresno via Big Basin. Big Basin has been one of those places we have enjoyed, but not visited enough. There are a splendid amount of hikes through some pretty big trees, in the cool coastal environment with mountain sides which are steep, but passable.



We get to Big Basin about 1:30 and start to hike pretty quickly after that. Your faithful scribe left a GPS on top of the car and needed to make a quick trip back to the car to retrieve it. The day is sunny and the temperature is moderate, low 70's. For us Fresnan's, it is cool--we welcome it.



Last year when we hiked the Sequoia Trail, we learned that it is one of the oldest trails in Big Basin, having its origins back in 1875. It was originally called the Rodger's Trail for one of the original homesteaders. This is a walk through an old growth forest in Big Basin.  The trail passes by several camp grounds, including the Wastahi Walk-In Campground, and comes close to the road on several occasions. The good side is about a mile and a third, there is a restroom which you can use. We ended this segment of the trail at Slippery Rock.  But before we get to Slippery Rock we made a side diversion to Sempervirens Falls. This Fall, when going well, presents a dreamy falls, under old-growth redwoods, with a fan-like fall. There was two things which spoiled this view: the falls were a mere fraction of its self and there was a sign at the base saying, do not stray from the trail.



Just beyond Slippery Rock, is the Founders Monument. In 1900 San Jose artist Andrew Hill took a group of local influential men to this place and here the Sempervirens  Fund was created, which eventually led to the creation of Big Basin State Park and the entire California State Park system.  They camped at Slippery Rock and would go to the Sempervirens Falls to admire its beauty. Slippery Rock is about 200 yards long and rests at a 30 degree angle.



The Sequoia Trail continues up Slippery Rock, but our loop at this point branches off to the Shadowbrook Trail. This continues north and eastward for a short distance, then crosses the road and starts climbing up toward Sky Meadow Group Campground. The trail is also the path for the sewer. This is the literal high point of the loop we are doing. The trail then starts a steep descent into Union Creek—it is much better to do this loop clock-wise as the climb is more gradual. But either way, hiking among the old growth redwood forest is wondering. The afternoon light is filtered through the tree branches onto the greenery surrounding the trail. Once we make it down to the creek, it weaves it way under logs and bush to re-appear. We pass by named redwood groves. We make it past a couple campgrounds exits, including Sempervirens Campground and the Bob Kirch Trail. This last one is a couple hundred yard trail back to the Sequoia Trail. The first is about a third of a mile down and would lead us around to the use trail back to park headquarters.

But have you ever noticed that a lot of times, one mistake can lead you on to a new adventure? That is what happened here. We got onto the East Ridge trail which then started paralleling Highway 236. We travel on this until we hit a wye where we hadthe option to continue up the ridge trail or cross the highway. We crossed the highway and Blooms Creek and then ascended a small slope. At this point we were at the edge of Big Basin. How did we know this? A sign said private property, but the trail turned into a dirt jeep track going westward. So we followed that, enjoying more of the walk. After about two-thirds of a mile, we hit a trail junction to Blooms Creek Campground. From here we knew what to do. Blooms Creek Campground is one of the few campgrounds where you can actually camp amongst old growth big tree redwoods—it is someplace for us to come back and camp someday. From here we grab the Use Trail and follow the highway to the Redwood Trail. We will grab this one another day as it is getting a bit late and we need to head back to Fresno tonight. We get back to the car around 5:30pm. Then it is back to Fresno we go. But not before a quick, be delicious stop at Marianne's Ice Cream.