JACK LONDON STATE PARK
Hike Date: Saturday, March 12, 2022
Leader: Mark Kelleher
Leader Email: kelleher.mark@yahoo.com
Leader Phone: 415 235-8426
Meeting Location (ONLY IF you've arranged for a ride in SF): Whole Foods;
2001 Market St. @ Dolores (on the Dolores St. side); parking on the street or below.
Please only show up at Whole Foods if you've arranged to meet your ride or driver there.
Meeting Time: 8:30 AM
Departure Time: Shortly after 8:30 AM
Rating: Level 4
Mileage: 10.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1900'
Description: Jack London State Park, adjacent to the town of Glen Ellen, is located about 50 miles north of San Francisco. The park largely comprises the ranch formerly owned by renowned author, Jack London and his family. In addition to a varied array of hiking trails throughout the property, from orchard paths to sweeping ridges overlooking the surrounding valleys, hikers will experience stands of black oak, open meadows, wildflowers, ponds and deep redwood forests. Our planned hike is mostly wooded and single track, with a few lengths of “wild” ungroomed fire roads. We'll start out from the Mountain Trail walking past the London Ranch buildings (cottage, museum, old barns, paddocks, etc.) and its still-working vineyards, then skirt London Lake (now, more of a pretty reed-filled pond). Following a variety of old orchard trails, we’ll make our way to a rare and distinctive ancient candelabra specimen redwood, a famous landmark on the property. Circling back through the orchards, we’ll head up Upper Fallen Bridge Trail (about 1 mile of steeper elevation) through the redwoods, then down past Deer Camp, to the Wingnut Trail (aka, Cowan Trail) to stop for lunch on a ridge overlooking Napa Valley. After the lunch break, we’ll head back to Mountain Trail where it intersects with the Hayfields Trail and meadow. We’ll break off here to the west, through the meadow, for a jaunt up a half mile of moderately steeper trail to Park Summit, the highest ridge in the park with a view across Sonoma County. Doubling back to Mountain Trail, we’ll make our way down through the redwoods again, up and around London Lake, and return to the cars. Dogs are not permitted in the park.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED A RIDE AND/OR CAN TAKE A PASSENGER.
Bring / Wear: Please bring LOTS of water, lunch, sturdy hiking shoes. Dogs are not permitted.
Weather Policy: Hike will occur light rain or shine (unless very heavy rain compels cancellation by the hike leader via email by 7.30am). A seasonally sunny/partly sunny day in the mid-60s is anticipated.
Alternate Meeting Place: Jack London State Park parking lot is located at 2400 London Ranch Rd, Glen Ellen, CA 95442. Meet as close to the porta-potties as possible near the Mountain Trail trailhead. From SF, cross the GG Bridge on Rt 101 – or from the East Bay cross the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on Rt 580 meeting up with Rt 101 – proceed to Rt. 37 then 121/116 to Glen Ellen. In Glen Ellen village turn left off Arnold Drive onto London Ranch Road to the entrance of Jack London State Park, on the left. A $10 per car parking fee is required at the staffed kiosk to enter the park. Google Maps Link
Alternate Meeting Time: 10:00 AM
Alternate Meeting Departure Time: 10:15 AM
Total driving distance, there and back: 105
Passenger Carpool Fees incl Bridge Toll & $10 Entrance Fee: $18
Level-1
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Level-2
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Level-3 |
Level-4 |
Level-5 |
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easiest
< 5 miles
< 500' gain
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moderately easy
5-7 miles
< 1000' gain |
moderate
7-9 miles
< 1500' gain
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strenuous
9-12 miles
< 2000' gain
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very strenuous
12-15+ miles
>2000' gain |
