- to a view site I had seen on Google(R) Maps.
- Although not shown on preserve maps, this
- official view site off Interstate 280 looked
- promising. It was at the top of the hill, and
- blessed by Caltrans. When I reached my
- objective, however, I found not one but
- two unclimbable fences blocking the view.
- Although the signs on the other side of the
- fences indicated they were keeping “viewers”
- inside the view site, they kept me in the “No
- trespassing” zone.
- When I saw some “view” visitors on the
- other side of the fence, I couldn’t resist.
- Putting my hands on the fence, I called to the
- couple, “Let me out.” They looked startled,
- then the man laughed, and said, “No, you
- have been bad.” I accepted his judgment, but
- vowed to see the view site after my hike.
- I walked back to the intersection with
- Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail. A sign said
- that the trail was named for some threatened
- woodrats. I walked the trail for about a
- mile, but not seeing woodrats and hearing
- too much traffic on nearby Interstate 280, I
- hiked back to the Hassler Trail, then down
- the single-track Polly Geraci Trail through a
- corridor of chaparral deep into the canyon. A
- small bridge took me to Cordilleras Trail, a
- flat, boring but easy trail back to the parking
- lot. (Be sure to watch for the connector trail,
- just past the private Redwood Center.)
- I hadn’t given up on seeing the view site,
- so I drove back via Edmonds, Crestview, and
- Edgewood to north Interstate 280, and found
- it at the next exit. The view was worth the
- stop, and since the only exit put me on north
- 280, I drove to the next view site entrance,
- which took me under the freeway and up
- another hill with views to the west, and an
- easy return to south 280. Th e view was less
- interesting, but I noticed that the parking lot
- was full of cars in mid-afternoon.
- Almost every car had one occupant—a
- man. I shot pictures along a walkway that
- surrounded the parking area for almost half
- an hour, but these men did not leave their
- cars and simply stared out at the view. Were
- they tired of driving, working, living? I don’t
- know, but they were still there when I left.
- They might have been happier going on a
- hike.
- Details
- Off-road parking is free. Maps should be
- available at the trailhead, but you can find them
- on the website—www.openspace.org. Horses
- and bicycles are not allowed in the preserve.
- Watch out for poison oak, ticks, rattlesnakes,
- and other pests. Preserves are open from dawn
- until one half-hour after sunset.
- While at Pulgas Ridge, you might enjoy
- a visit to the nearby Pulgas Water Temple,
- a monument built in 1934 to celebrate
- completion of the Hetch Hetchy water system.
- To get there, go west of Edgewood across
- Interstate 280 to Cańada Road, then turn
- north (right) about two miles to the temple.
- The temple and parking lot are open to the
- public on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Several other trail systems are nearby.
- Virtually across the road from Portola Ridge,
- Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve is famous
- for spring wildflowers. The 467-acre park is
- 1.5 miles from Interstate 280 on Edgewood.
- For more information about wildflower and
- bird walks, call 1-866-GO-EDGEWOOD.
- If you would like to be closer to Crystal
- Springs Reservoir, walk the six-mile, flat,
- paved Sawyer Camp Trail from the reservoir
- to San Andreas Lake. From Interstate 280,
- take Black Mountain Road/Hayne Road
- exit west to Skyline Boulevard. Go south
- on Skyline one mile to the trail entrance at
- Crystal Springs Road. For more information,
- call 650-589-4294.
-