Peninsula Trails by Jean Rusmore

Author:Jean Rusmore
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Subject Value
ISBN: eBook ISBN: 9780899975658
Publisher: Wilderness Press
Published: 2004-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

A TRIP DOWN HISTORIC OLD PAGE MILL ROAD

Hike down to the western arm of Lambert Creek on the early logging route to Page’s Mill.

Distance: 3.6 miles round trip

Time: 1½ hours

Elevation Change: 650’ loss

From the preserve’s north entrance at the corner of Skyline Boulevard and Alpine Road walk 400 feet down Alpine Road to the trail entrance on the left. Take this multi-use trail, which passes west of Alpine Pond, to its intersection with paved Old Page Mill Road. Turn right here, heading downhill (northwest) under tall old firs and past some sculptured sandstone outcrops. You are soon in a clearing with splendid views southeast over a succession of forested ridges.

At this clearing the now unpaved road arcs left, winding around the forested east side of the canyon of intermittent West Lambert Creek. On the way it crosses Lambert Creek tributaries cascading over sandstone boulders on the steep mountainside. About a mile downhill the road goes through some chaparral on a south-facing slope. Blooming at road’s edge in summer are yellow bush poppies and magenta chaparral-peas. Around a sharp switchback look to your left to see the site of the former Glass Ranch, said to be a stagecoach stop on this route over the mountains to the Bay. No buildings remain today.

Back into the tall Douglas fir forest, you negotiate several more switchbacks to reach a bridge over the creek near the preserve boundary. Old Page Mill Road, long closed to the public, continues on to present-day Portola Redwoods State Park, where William Page milled logs that he transported up this canyon and on to Palo Alto’s embarcadero. At this writing, you can cross the bridge and continue another 0.5 mile along the east-facing hillside. After heavy rains MROSD built retaining walls and repaired the trail tread. Plans to extend this trail to Portola Redwoods State Park are under way.

To begin your upward trip, retrace your same route uphill on Old Page Mill Road. When you reach the junction with trails circling Alpine Pond, you can turn right and then left to reach the Nature Center. Nearby is a bedrock mortar used by Native Americans to grind acorns.

If you continue around the pond, the ranger office is a bit right, uphill on the site of the former ranch buildings. Or take the trail around the pond’s east side to enjoy its blue waters rimmed with reeds. Then follow the path through the underpass to the parking area.

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