Stile Ranch Trail, June 3, 2008
These
are pictures of the Mine and Stile Ranch Trails, starting from the
upper Bernal Road parking lot, going down the short section of the Mine
Trail to reach the start of the Stile Ranch Trail. They follow the
Stile Ranch trail to the west side of the second valley. These pictures
show the condition of the trails on June 3, 2008.
Start of the Mine Trail below the free parking lot on Bernal Road
The Mine Trail heading downhill
Turkeys on the hill above the Mine Trail
Teasels and thistles by the Mine Trail.
The dried and cracked surface of the Mine Trail leading to the start of the Stile Ranch Trail
The Stile Ranch Trail leading to the first bridge
The first bridge on the Stile Ranch Trail
Teasels in the gully by the first bridge.
The Stile Ranch Trail leading up the first hill.
The Stile Ranch Trail passing through the IBM property fence. From here on, the Stile Ranch trail is on an easement provided by IBM.
Near the top of the hill, the Stile Ranch Trail becomes narrower and rockier.
At the top of the first hill, the trail is very rocky.
Looking down from the top of the first hill into the "Valley of the Z's," with the Z-shaped switchbacks.
Hikers heading down the rocky Z-shaped switchbacks on the east side of the valley.
Hikers heading down to the bottom of the valley and the second trail bridge.
The rocky trail near the bottom of the east switchbacks.
The trail bridge at the bottom of the valley.
Hikers heading up the west switchbacks, biker heading down.
The trail at the bottom of the west switchbacks.
Looking up the trail at the bottom of the west switchbacks.
Looking up the trail in the middle part of the west switchbacks.
Looking back down the trail in the middle part of the west switchbacks.
Looking farther back down the trail in the middle part of the west switchbacks.
Looking back down the trail from the end of the middle part of the west switchbacks.
Looking up the upper part of the west switchback. The trail becomes rocky here.
Top of the switchback. The trail is very rocky from here on. This was the turn-around point.
The pictures below are from the return trip:
Queen Anne's lace, teasels, mustard, and thistles by the Mine Trail
Mustard and thistles by the Mine Trail
Thistles in the middle and the sides of the Mine Trail, looking towards Bernal Road
Created 6/3/08 by Ronald Horii