November can be a very peaceful time at Sugarloaf. Wet or dry, it’s the month for nature to take a moment. But the animals are still here. Birds call, Coyotes yip and if you turn over the wrong rock you may hear a rattle. However, for most, their presence requires a bit of sleuthing. A broken twig lets us know a Mule tail deer was browsing, some tootsie-roll like scat left by a Bobcat marks its territory, a dirt and fir needle tower tells us there is a Turret Spider lurking below. Join Certified California Naturalist John Lynch on a 4.1 mile, 3-hour hike from Lower Bald Mountain Trail over to the Vista Trail down to and back on Meadow Trail. For this hike we need to sharpen our senses and put on our deerstalker caps.
Tickets are $10 for the general public, $5 for students, youth (12-17 year-olds), Sugarloaf members, or Sugarloaf volunteers. Children between 7 and 12 can attend for free. Route not recommended for children under 7. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Meet at the White Barn parking lot. Bring at least a quart of water, sun protection, wear appropriate clothing and footwear for slippery and rocky trails, and if desired, a snack. Parking fees apply. Heavy rains cancel.
Ease of access: The White Barn parking area has one van-designed parking spot, one accessible porta-potty, and a potable water spigot adjacent to the information board. From there, a paved, fairly flat road leads to the Reobert Ferguson Observatory, where one of the Lower Bald Mountain trailheads ascends approximately 150ft from the group camp area. Lower Bald Mtn Trail is a single-track trail with an elevation gain of 450ft that connects with Bald Mtn Trail, a paved fire road that connects Lower Bald to Vista Trail. Vista is a single-track compacted dirt trail with an additional 300ft of elevation gain, seasonal wet crossings and multiple stairs descending down to the Gray Pine junction. Gray Pine is a dirt fire road that connects Vista Trail to Meadow Trail. It has a creek crossing with a plank. Meadow Trail is a fairly flat fire road accessible by wheelchair or stroller up to a mile from the Robert Ferguson Observatory.
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For more events at Sugarloaf, visit sugarloafpark.org/events
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