Start of the Hidden Springs Trail leading to Coyote Peak.


Ithuriel's spears.


View from the Ridge Trail. What looks like a trail is a fire road, not a trail.


These rocks above the Ridge Trail look like a sleeping bear lying on its back.


This is the high point of the Ridge Trail, where it starts to go downhill.


Buttercups and claytonia bloom around the rocks above the Ridge Trail.


Tidytips.


Shooting stars and tidytips.


Looking down at the Hidden Springs Trail from near the start of the Ridge Trail.


California gilia and poppies on the hill above the Hidden Springs Trail. Below is the Ridge Trail junction.


California gilia and poppies.


Poppies and popcornflowers on the hill above the Hidden Springs Trail.


Poppies, fiddlenecks, and phacelia.


Poppies and Chinese houses


Closeup of phacelia, poppies, Chinese houses, and fiddlenecks.








This pond is by the Hidden Springs Trail, where it levels off. Normally, it should be full this time of year.


Poppies on the hill above the Hidden Springs Trail, near the Coyote Peak Trail, with IBM's Almaden Research Center in the background.


View of the Hidden Springs Trail from the Coyote Peak Trail junction (sign missing).


Variable checkerspot butterfly.




View of the flower-covered ridge above the Hidden Springs Trail.


Arroyo lupines.


Flowers on the slopes of Rocky Ridge, as seen from the Coyote Peak Trail.


Cattle grazing on IBM property next to the Coyote Peak Trail.


Big Oak Valley.


This is the view down from the top of Coyote Peak, showing poppies growing on the hill.


View from Coyote Peak, looking towards Bernal Hill, with IBM's Almaden Research Center on the left.


This is the Coyote Peak Trail leading to the Rocky Ridge Trail.


This is a view from the Coyote Peak Trail, looking back at Coyote Peak.


This is the Coyote Peak Trail heading towards the Rocky Ridge Trail.


At the dip in the trail, this is a closed volunteer trail that goes down Big Oak Valley.


From near the Rocky Ridge Trailhead, there are cattle grazing on IBM property next door. There are goldfields on the grazed field. The large house in the distance is part of the Calero Lake Estates, along Country View Drive.


This is a view looking down across IBM's property towards the west side of the Coyote Valley. The peak in the distance is El Toro Mountain in Morgan Hill. The Cinnabar Hills Golf Course is on the right.


Next to the Rocky Ridge trailhead, there used to be an abandoned and vandalized microwave relay station on this concrete pad before it was torn down.


This is the upper Rocky Ridge Trail. The pictures below show the wildflowers along the upper part of the trail, which has the most wildflowers. The serpentine soil on top promotes the wildflower growth.


Redmaids, popcornflowers, and poppies along the Rocky Ridge Trail.














Tidytips


Goldfields and dwarf plantain


The Rocky Ridge Trail runs through this rock wall. The hill in the distance is in Rancho San Vicente.


View of the Stile Ranch Trail and parking lot from the Rocky Ridge Trail.


This is the rockiest part of the Rocky Ridge Trail, just before it switches back..


There are tidytips on the slope below the turn in the Rocky Ridge Trail. Below on the left is the Mine Trail. On the right is the start of the Rocky Ridge Trail.


This is the rare streptanthus glandulosus, commonly known as the "most beautiful jewelflower."


Looking across the valley from the lower Rocky Ridge Trail is the actual Rocky Ridge, with the Rocky Ridge Trail running along the base of it. The trail passes through a serpentine area, which has endangered Santa Clara Valley dudleya.


Poppies are growing on the hill in the rocks above the trail.


Lots of tidytips are on the rocky part of the hill above the trail.


Rare hoita strobilina grow in this one spot in a seep under a tree. From here on, the trail runs through clay soil, which has less of different kinds of wildflowers and tends to get muddy.


Creamsac


Chick lupine


Arroyo lupine and chick lupine.


Early-blooming soaproot flowers, the only one seen on the trail.


The Rocky Ridge Trail flattens out, crosses over a small bridge, then makes a short, steep ascent into an area with serpentine rocks.


Endangered Santa Clara Valley dudleya grow at the base of these rocks.


Santa Clara Valley dudleya


The trail flattens out as it exits Big Oak Valley and approaches its end at the Mine Trail.

Page created by Ron Horii, 5/1/14