|
(Note: the trail route above was created post-hike using electronic maps and was not created
using GPS, so it might not be completely accurate. It's probably pretty close, though.)
It was another bright sunny day as we started our hike. Unlike the previous day's hike into
the hills, since this hike was flat and along the shore we'd encounter many people. Many of
them would be boating, fishing, or picnicking, but there were a few hikers as well.
Kayakers on the lake
We walked down to the boat ramp, then turned right to pass through a cattle gate and start the
hike. The wide gravel and dirt road closely follows the shoreline and is almost completely flat.
After 0.43 miles we reached Hetch Hetchy Camp. There are restrooms here, and reservable picnic
tables next to the water.
Lake Del Valle as viewed from our rest stop
We continued along the trail, looking for a good spot to rest and have a snack. The trail climbs
just a bit before reaching an intersection for the Ridgeline Trail, just 0.27 miles from the
Hetch Hetchy Camp. There's a small singetrack trail to the left just before this; we took this
trail for a few yards before settling down for a snack. This provides nice views of Lake
Del Valle through the trees. It would have been the perfect place to break out a bottle of
wine or settle down for a nap, except for the fact that we had three kids all under the age of 5
with us.
Spur trail
After a short break we packed up and turned around. If you have the time, you can take the
East Shore Trail all the way to the end (near the dam). Alternatively, you can take the Ridgeline
Trail and loop back to the parking lot that way (but it's much more strenuous). With kids in
tow on a Sunday, though, we kept it short.
Heading back down the trail
On the way back we ran into a woman who had picked up a King snake, literally. She said she'd
seen it on the trail and didn't want some bicyclist to run over it. So she had picked it up and
was holding it gently. She showed it to the kids before releasing it into the bushes. Obviously,
don't try this unless you know what you're doing.
Releasing a King snake back to the wild
| 
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter
RSS Feed
