Topo map showing the Blair Ranch on the lower right from Casa Loma Road to Uvas Road, Rancho Canada Del Oro on the upper left, and Calero County Park at the top center.




The hike was led by docents Bob Cicisly (left) and Woody Collins (right). Plant expert Tom Cochrane (center) identified and described the plants along the way. The hike began by the barn at about 680 feet elevation. The road on the left leads to the property still held by the Blair Family.


After hiking down the ranch road a short distance, we ascended the hill. Cattle were grazing ahead, but they moved as we got near them.


This is a view looking back downhill at the ranch buildings, which may be used as park office buildings when the ranch becomes a park.


We near the top of the hill.The grass has been cut short by grazing cattle.


Looking back to the east, we can see ranch roads, a little bit of Chesbro Reservoir, and El Toro Mountain (center).


We pause briefly for a rest in the shade of oak trees.


Wildflowers here are pink filaree, a yellow johnny jump-up, and blue bi-colored lupines.


Tom points out the flowers, which include white popcornflowers.


We head up the trail, shaded by oak trees.


Woody stops to look at some flowers.


In the clearing above the woods, we see a patch of rocks.


These rocks are a small serpentine out-cropping, where the soil conditions favor certain native wildflowers, like poppies.


The trail runs along the top of the ridge.


Checkerbloom


View looking south at ranches along Little Uvas Road.


View looking southwest across ranchlands towards Uvas Canyon and the summit of the southern Sierra Azuls. Remnants of the fire along the summit can still be seen.


View more to the west, showing the Sierra Azuls south of Mt. Loma Prieta.


The cattle have cropped the grass short here.






In the distance to the east, we can see Manzanita Ridge, Coyote Ridge, and the Mt. Hamilton Range.


Cattle are grazing below to the west. The round tanks are lick tanks, which can contain vitamins or supplements for the cattle.


We stop and rest by a log on top of a hill.


SCCOSA docent Carolyn Tucker rests on the log.


Across the valley to the east is Manzanita Ridge, which is private ranchland.


Looking east, we can see Chesbro Reservoir, with the sharp peak of El Toro Mountain in Morgan Hill behind it.


Looking west is antenna-topped 3790-foot Mt. Loma Prieta, the highest point in the Santa Cruz Mountains.


To the northwest, we can 3486-foot Mt. Umunhum, in the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. The white building on top of the mountain is a decommissioned Air Force radar station.


We reach the high point of the hike at about 1260 feet and begin the descent.


The hill to the left is covered with filaree.


We descend the hill and see large patch of serpentine ahead. It is less green as it is less hospitable to the annual non-native grasses that dominate the clay soils. We skirt around it to the left.


We walk past manzanita bushes filled with berries.


We ascend a steep section of trail. Cattle hoofprints in the soft soil make the footing tricky.


Patch of brilliant yellow goldfields.


This is a steep descent down the hill, lined with yellow California buttercups.


We turn a corner and see bright red Indian paintbrush.


Closeup of Indian paintbrush.


Prickly gooseberry fruit.


Heading down the steep rocky trail, we cross a small creek.


We enter a shady area and cross a dry creek.


We see a large farm pond and cross over the dam and spillway.


The farm pond


The southeast corner of the farm pond, near the spillway.


We ascend the hill on the south side of the farm pond.


We climb up the hill, on the other side of the ridge from our ascent.


We head back along part of our original route. The ranch buildings can be seen below. We take a loop to the left along the ranch boundary.


View down the hill of the ranch barns. There aren't any trails here, but it is like walking across a mowed lawn thanks to the cattle.


We cross over a small creek and head back to the barn at the start of the hike.


DeLorme Topo 8 Maps





Google Earth 3-D Images
(Click on the images for bigger pictures.)