The Southbay Ramblers is a Bay Area hiking group that was formed in the South Bay with the goal of gathering people together to have fun, while getting plenty of exercise and making new friends.
Our hikes generally cover six to eight miles and can be fairly strenuous. Our group meets twice monthly and we post our hikes on our schedule.
Point Lobos State Reserve: We visited this beautiful reserve this fall. We walked along the coastal bluffs for never ending scenic views. Deriving its name from the offshore rocks at Punta de los Lobos Marinos, Point of the Sea Wolves, where the sound of the sea lions carries inland, the reserve has often been called "the crown jewel of the State Park System." Point Lobos has offered many things to millions of people who have visited it over the years. Click to view.
Foothills Park, Palo Alto: A beautiful fall hike at Foothills Park in Palo Alto. Foothills Park is a 1,400 acre preserve with rugged chaparral, woodland, fields, streams, a lake, and spectacular views of the bay area. Wildlife abounds, and it is common to see deer and coyotes; if you are lucky you might catch a glimpse of a bobcat.Our resident leader took us on the beautiful Los Trancos Trail which is the longest trail in the park. The hike is 7.39 miles and took us about 3.5 hours to complete. Click to View.
See the Horses at Calero County Park: Our first hike of 2010 was at the lovely Calero County Park in San Jose. It was a beautiful day and one of our hikers, Patrick Kneeland really captured the day with great photos. Calero County Park is one of Santa Clara County's most diverse regional park and recreational areas. This 3,476 acre park is nestled in the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Two distinct areas define this park: the reservoir and the adjoining back country. We enjoyed breathtaking views of the Santa Clara County and Santa Cruz Mountain ranges. Click here to view.
Pinnacles National Monument. Rising out of the chaparral-covered Gabilan Mountains, east of central California's Salinas Valley, are the spectacular remains of an ancient volcano. Massive monoliths, spires, sheer-walled canyons and talus passages define millions of years of erosion, faulting and tectonic plate movement. There are over 30 miles of hiking trails at Pinnacles National Monument, ranging from easy, flat walks to more challenging, all-day hikes. This park was so much fun, we visited it three times this year. Click here to see some of our pictures.