Hikers Hut - Weekend Tryst in the Saratoga Mountains

Hikers Hut Weekend trip - San Mateo County, Northern California

7/16/06

Play this Video - The Loma Prieta Chapter Hikers' Hut, located in beautiful Sam MacDonald County Park, is a wonderful destination for those seeking a great outdoor experience close to home. Less than an hour's drive from most Bay Area locations - close to the city of Palo Alto, CA, you can experience the magic of a redwood forest and the open space vistas of the Coast Range hilltops in a moderate 1.5- mile hike from the parking lot to the Hikers' Hut

There weren't many detailed writeups on the HIKERS HUT that google found, even though it is perpetually sold out during the summer weekends. So here goes. Writing this, the night we got back from the hut, things are still fresh in my mind.

Bit of marketing speel The Sierra Club’s (Loma Prieta Chapter) Hikers' Hut, located in beautiful Sam MacDonald County Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains, is a wonderful destination for those seeking a great outdoor experience close to home. Less than an hour's drive from most Bay Area locations - west of Menlo Park and Skyline Blvd., near LaHonda / Palo Alto, CA, you can experience the magic of a Redwood forest and the open space vistas of the Coast Range hilltops in a moderate 1.5- mile hike from the parking lot at the Park entrance to the Hikers' Hut. The Hut is surrounded by 5,000 acres of public and semi-public land. . Try to be at the parking lot of Sam McDonald Park at around 4PM if in the evening, or 8AM if in the morning – in case you are expecting a hot day. The time between may be very strenuous for your body, you sweat like a pig during the hike, moreso if you are carrying stuff.

History Opened in December 1977, the Hikers Hut, costing all of $28,000 including shipping, was designed and prefabricated in Denmark and erected in only three weeks by two Danish carpenters (who could read the blueprints), flown in specially by the manufacturer. The Santa Cruz Mountains in San Mateo are the perfect locale for huts and trails from the ocean to the

creeks, the trees and the precious peace we find not so very far away from the hubbub of the Bayside cities.

How to make reservations: Read this http://lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/ to see details. After you book it, make sure you get the combination lock code – and take it with you for your trip.

How do we get there?? – Here are the directions we used. Start at 20300 HERRIMAN AVE, SARATOGA - go 0.1 mi. Turn on SARATOGA SUNNYVALE RD - go 0.6 mi Turn on BIG BASIN WAY[CA-9] - go 7.3 mi Turn on SKYLINE BLVD - go 6.4 mi Turn on ALPINE RD - go 7.3 mi Turn on PESCADERO RD - go 0.7 mi Arrive at 13435 PESCADERO RD, LA HONDA. Most of the drive is OK, but Alpine road, stretch of 7 miles is very bumpy and not comfortable at all. Watch out for motion sickness. Carry barf bags? Once you park, there is no option but to walk the 1.5 miles. Search for Hikers' Hut in Sam McDonald Park on this page http://lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/ to see details. Print Trail maps here

http://www.eparks.net/smc/department/home/0,,5556687_12313313_12345086,00.html

If you are staying for the weekend, do try to leave work early on Friday, so that you can be at the parking lot between 4 PM and 5 PM. It took us slightly more than two hours to get to the hut. We took a lot of breaks as we had too many things to carry, and we were so burnt out when we got to the hut.

Things you may need / not need during your stay:

Travel light, Travel light, Travel light, Travel light, Travel light, Travel light.

Some recommendations

a) If you are not a coolie – or would like to train to be one, pack light. Think, rethink and think again what you are taking, take only the bare essentials. A hikers backpack is highly recommended. If you don’t have one, about time to go to REI or Any Mountain and invest in one. Wives who like to pack the whole house, better listen to your hubbies.

b) We went in the summer 2nd weekend in July, and the hut was almost a furnace - specially on the 2nd level. So in retrospect, there was no need to take blankets. BUT, on the other hand, prior visitors have complained that it was freezing cold. So please check the weather forecast. We actually ended up sleeping on the 2^nd level without any covers, on top of our sleeping bag. Comforters, blankets – maybe a bit difficult to carry too. Take some warm clothing along for sure. The hut sleeps 14, but I think not more than 5 kids should be there at any time, so not more than 12 people – that includes 5 or 6 kids.

c) You can even skip on the sleeping bags. The mattress upstairs are about an inch thick and serve their purpose well. There are two bunk beds, and even the danish sofas can sleep the little kids on their sleeping bags. There is a twin bed in one of the bedrooms and a bunk bed in the 2^nd bedroom. There is a sign that warns about sleeping upstairs as it is a potential fire hazard(?). It is hot in the upper level, but once you turn the lights off, the upstairs cools considerably. But it was very hot weekend in San Jose around +95 F when we visited the hut.

d) No need to carry any games – plenty in stock. They have a pictionary, Scrabble, a guitar, playing cards etc. Please keep the nature Gods happy and not take any electronics. Preserve the ambience. Cell phones do work due to the tower.

e) Music - The hut already has a guitar if someone in your group knows how to play one – which is perfectly in tune.

f) Food:

a. Breakfast we took simple cereal in zip lock bags. Take things for your tea / coffee – inclusive of milk, sugar etc

b. Lunch / Dinner - keep it simple. Pack nutritious meals - with a little reward too for long hikes. Carry food that does not weigh a ton. We catered food – was a little pain to carry up and we took plenty of ice to ensure storage – dry ice packs are particularly good. The fridge is small, but can hold chinese food boxes and small sized milk cartons.

c. Do not take water, there is a fountain right outside the hut. Take ~2 cold water bottles per person for the walk to the hut, incase the day is too hot. Once you are there, you can refill the water bottles and place inside the fridge. Take a small water cooler filled with the water and ice. The fridge does not cool very well but is adequate.

d. There are lots of firewood.

g) Mosquito repellant is a good idea and so is sun screen

h) Take a single camera. Tuck the camera in your pocket.

i) If you are squeamish about rats, carry some rat-traps with you.

j) Flashlights are very helpful.

k) Paper plates, napkins, forks and spoons are good. Remember, you have to carry the trash back yourself.

The walk to the hut: The first half hour may be hard depending on the shape you are in, but don’t give up – it gets moderately difficult after that J Travel light or take some hurly burly porters with you. After you have crossed the ranger station gate, you will hit a long open area which may be very hot due to no shade, depending on the time of the day. You will soon see the first sign for the hikers hut. At this point, you are very close to the hut. Make sure you hop onto a trail – follow the Hikers hut sign very closely. That is an uphill climb, but is a lot cooler amidst the trees, and you make it to the hut in less than 20 minutes. If you continue on the wider dirt path, you will eventually end up at the cell phone tower and eventually the hut, but will be drained off any semblance of moisture left in your limp body. We were very foolish (and brain dead) and continued up the wider dirt path, which curves, dips a million times and finally ends up at the cell phone tower and then you have to climb another steep 200 yards, go down another 100 yards before you hit the hut – which means about an hour of wasted effort. Foolish! Do NOT DO THAT. As you can tell, this is very important. Cut into the trail path and follow it up the incline – makes it a lot easier.

What you may contemplate carrying and leaving for other guests

a) Carbon Mono-Oxide detector. There is a wood burning stove inside, but if you do use it, it is probably a good idea to have a CO detector.

b) Paper napkins are good to leave there

c) Rat Traps

d) Brass plaque there needs to be cleaned – the one from 1977.

e) Any games you want to leave – that you feel are fun.

f) A dictionary for the Pictionary game

g) Air Freshners are good – there is a musty odor due to the rats or whatever, though the hut is quite clean

Warnings

a) Deck – one of the tables topples over like a see saw if you sit on one side, watch out for that, a few nails are popping out too, so take a hammer and hammer them in. Watch out for cracks in the deck through which your precious diamond rings may easily fall through. We lost the guitar pick and had to struggle to get it out.

b) Once you get there, the combination lock can be a hassle, try permutations and combinations if the one given to you does not work. We did!

c) Watch out for rats and rat droppings

d) Pack light

e) Seniors and toddlers might have a difficult time – unless they are used to trekking. If you are carrying a baby – make sure you have a baby carrier and be very careful.

f) There is lot of poison Oak on the walk to the hut – so stay away from folliage, particularly as you get close to the hut, that might very well spoil your weekend.

What we did

There are diaries of visitors left there, which makes very interesting reading. Someone needs to publish it on the WWW. Make sure you put in your comments. Make sure you skim through some of them.

We particulary enjoyed watching the stars sitting on the wooden bench which is ~20 yards away from the hut. The morning sunrise is very good and so is the sunset. The hut has some splendid folliage and we enjoyed taking pictures of that. It is definitely relaxing to be sitting out in the deck at any time of the day and just chatting about nothing. We did see a blue jay that is seemingly attached to the hut. The kids wanted to take GameBoy which was denied, and they eventually ended up discovering new games and one of them even declared that he was happy without his GameBoy. Another kid discovered one defining moment as we trekked up to the hut, that probably defines a lifetime, how perseverance is important to anything we do – probably not that drastic. But the kids didn’t want to chip in and carry stuff on the way to the hut, but on the return all the kids wanted to carry a backpack or something and get some porter training - never know when that would be of use.

We enjoyed playing the games, the guitar and songs added to the ambience.

The Heritage Grove trails sounds pretty good, We didn’t do it completely as it was a hot day. But it would be a nice trek. Be cognizant of the weather as you do this trek.

Return

For the return, some of us distraught due to the strenuous journey to the hut – (so lesson learnt travel real light.. Wives will want a porter service for the way back), called the ranger for some help to carry our stuff. We were politely informed “Ma’m that is why it is called hikers hut”. Don’t rely on a porter showing up there even if you have arranged for it. On the way back, some folks wanted to leave at 2PM on a 95 degree day, good thing we decided against it. We left at 4:30 and carrying the same amount of luggage sans 20%, we made it back in about 50 minutes which includes two breaks, that included kids. Much of the return walk is downhill and a breeze.

All in all, it is short and sweet weekend, cut away from the city, and very relaxing to say the least.

Some other Google links

http://www.eparks.net/smc/department/home/0,,5556687_12313313_12345082,00.html

http://www-us.flickr.com/photos/airplane_journal/23815334/

http://kevingong.com/Hiking/200304HeritageGroveTrail.html

http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/smcp.html

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=11216576&blogID=89249074&MyToken=7b47ccbe-6c6c-4c2d-8f22-a2a5563b50b9

Here is another writeup from the bahikers – quoted verbatim below.

http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/smcp.html

Sam McDonald's most unusual and prized feature (besides the redwoods) may be Hikers' Hut, operated by the Sierra Club. Perched near the high point of Towne Ridge, the A-frame building makes great, rustic accommodations for a group. The hut has a simple kitchen with drinking water, small common area, large wooden deck, and tiny upstairs loft. There are no beds, but 14 sleeping mats are included. Many hikers are fond of spending the night outside on the deck in agreeable weather, easing the strain of the limited indoor sleeping space. Vault toilets are located outside the hut.

The Loma Prieta Chapter Hikers' Hut, located in beautiful Sam MacDonald County Park, is a wonderful destination for those seeking a great outdoor experience close to home. Less than an hour's drive from most Bay Area locations, you can experience the magic of a redwood forest and the open space vistas of the Coast Range hilltops in a moderate 1.5- mile hike from the parking lot to the Hikers' Hut. Once there, you will find a furnished Danish "Hut," complete with sleeping accommodations for twelve, tables, chairs, a wood burning stove, microwave, (2) two-burner electric cooktops, and hot/cold running water. >From the large deck, visitors can see the Coast Range, Butano Ridge, and the ocean! A network of trails of varying degrees of length and difficulty are accessible from the Hut.

Jack Brook Trail offers hikers spectacular views west to the ocean. On Canyon Trail you'll look north to the hills and ridges west of Skyline Boulevard (State Highway 35). This fall, both trails are open to hikers only; horseback riders will also be welcome to use them next spring.

Anyone with small children who want to do a very short hike to show the kiddies big redwoods should consider Heritage Grove, right beside Alpine Road on the west side of Skyline. There is limited parking and a half mile trail to the lower grove and a slightly longer trail to the upper grove.

Start at the south edge of the parking lot, near the picnic area. A large park sign indicates the mileage to several prominent destinations; it's 14 miles from here to Big Basin State Park. Towne Trail, open to hikers and equestrians, heads into a redwood forest, with huckleberry, thimbleberry, ferns, hazelnut, and currant in the understory. After about 300 feet, the trail reaches Pescadero Road. Carefully cross the pavement and rejoin Towne Trail on the other side. The trail widens to fire road width, and begins to climb somewhat steeply. A large water tank is visible, its squat shape a contrast to the towering redwoods. At 0.28 mile, Big Tree Trail breaks off to the left at a signed junction. Bear left onto Big Tree Trail.
The narrow hiking only path winds uphill, then rejoins the fire road. Turn left. The two run together for a short stretch, then Big Tree departs again, this time for good, on the left at a signed junction. Bear left. Big Tree Trail begins a steep descent into a gulch. Once at the forest floor, the trail winds at a more reasonable grade. Redwoods dominate the landscape, but look closer to the ground in spring for trillium, starflower, and redwood sorrel. At 0.72 mile, Heritage Grove Trail sets out to the right from a signed junction. Turn right on Heritage Grove Trail.
The narrow hiking only trail keeps a level pace through the dense, dark forest of redwoods. Banana slugs are common. Tanoak, huckleberry, and hazelnut manage to eek out enough light to accompany the Sequoia sempervirens. Orchid-like flowers including helleborine and shinleaf wintergreen lend an exotic air to the trailside flora in summer. Traffic noise from Alpine and Pescadero Roads fades as you wander through this very quiet section of the park. Rather abruptly, Heritage Grove Trail enters a mixed woodland, with California bay, coast live oak, Douglas fir, tanoak, and a few madrones lining the path. Poison oak, creambush, ferns, ceanothus, and wild rose bask in the dappled sunlight. Although redwoods quickly step back into the picture, their dominance is diminished as they are mixed with other trees and plants. Heritage Grove Trail crosses a creek and soon after reaches a signed junction at 2.43 miles. The trail straight visits Heritage Grove, an option if you'd like to extend the hike and see more redwoods. (The path ends at Alpine Road; from there retrace your steps to this junction.) Turn right and remain on Heritage Grove Trail, toward Hikers' Hut.
The hiking only trail climbs gently through a scenic stretch of woods. Coast live oak, Douglas fir, California bay, big leaf maple, and tanoak, along with thimbleberry, nettles, sticky monkeyflower, gooseberry, creambush, currant, hazelnut, and blackberry line the path. Look for hound's tongue in early spring, and the shiny red berries of baneberry (poisonous) in summer. The trail winds uphill like a slithering snake, but then takes a sharp turn to the right and climbs straight uphill. Just past a gate and stile, the trail steps out into a pretty meadow rimmed with Douglas fir. A few steps later, at 2.75 miles, Heritage Grove Trail ends at a signed junction with Towne Trail. Turn left, but instead of the fire road, take the slight but obvious trail that heads back into the woods.
The path winds uphill, passes a massive multi-limbed Douglas fir, then reaches Hikers' Hut at 2.86 miles. Unless you have a reservation, continue uphill on a path that dumps unto a wide dirt fire road, and keep climbing uphill. At 3.04 miles, the fire road ends at an unsigned junction and viewpoint. At elevation 1316 feet, there are unobstructed views of the forested ridges to the south. This is a nice place for a lunch break if it's not too hot. When you're ready, turn around, bear left and head downhill on the fire road. At 3.16 miles, you'll reach an unsigned junction with Towne Trail. Turn right.
The hiking and equestrian fire road descends easily, with creambush, coyote brush, poison oak, and a big leaf maple lining the way. At 3.44 miles, you'll reach a previously encountered junction with Heritage Grove Trail (and a connector to Brook Loop Trail). Continue straight on Towne Trail.
The trail bisects a pretty meadow, where even in summer a few California poppies enliven the blonde grass. Brook Loop Trail runs a few feet to the left, bordering a descending hillside of coyote brush. Towne Trail makes a brief foray through a mixed woodland, then reemerges into thistle-choked grassland. At 3.87 miles, Brook Loop Trail feeds into Towne Trail from the left. Continue straight on Towne Trail. (Brook Trail heads south into Pescadero Creek County Park.)
After a slight descent, you'll pass through/around a gate, and reach the junction with Horse Camp at 4.10 miles. Turn left, and then a few steps later, turn right at a signed junction, to "McDonald Ranger Station." (From here you could extend your hike into the northern section of the park. Continue straight on Ridge Trail, and once across Pescadero Road, look for Forest Loop to the right. Take this path back to the trailhead.)
You might see quail and deer along the trail, which quickly begins to descend back into a redwood forest. The steep slopes of a gulch fall away to the right. Traveling in this direction, you might notice blackened bark on only one side of the redwood trunks, evidence that a fire once ripped down the canyon to the north. As you make progress downhill, traffic noises from Pescadero Road drift uphill. Stay on the fire road as you pass two previously encountered junctions with Big Tree Trail, then retrace your steps back to the trailhead.

Total distance: 4.80 miles
Last hiked: Wednesday, June 28, 2001