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Comfort, Safety, and Etiquette

Most of the routes in this book can be traveled with a minimum of preparation and equipment, calling for nothing more than sturdy footwear and a bottle of water. Probably the biggest safety concern is driving around the Bay Area. And trail etiquette means simply being considerate of others and picking up after yourself (and your pet). However, the more detailed information that follows may enhance your outdoor experience.

Preparation and Equipment

A little common sense goes a long way when preparing for the outdoors. Be realistic about your level of physical conditioning—there are trips in this book to suit all abilities. None of the routes require anything more complicated than putting one foot in front of the other. Some, however, require you to do this for several hours or more, uphill and down. In addition to terrain, weather conditions such as heat, cold, and wind can affect individual performance.

A pocket chart of native species can help to identify plants and animals you may encounter.

Good hiking boots are worth their weight in gold, and that weight is decreasing year by year. Many of today’s light hiking boots combine running-shoe comfort with support, traction, and durability. Some are lined with Gore-Tex, making them waterproof yet breathable, helpful for rainy days and creek crossings. A good pair of hiking boots will protect your feet and ankles, and provide essential traction on steep slopes. Combine the boots with socks that wick moisture (avoid cotton) and cushion your feet, and you have a recipe for happy hiking.

Comfortable clothing will provide protection from sun, wind, cold, rain, poison oak, and ticks. Synthetic fabrics have the advantage over cotton because they wick moisture away from the skin and dry quickly when wet. Adjust easily to changing conditions by adding or removing an insulating layer. Hats, gloves, and insulating headbands are useful accessories. Carry a lightweight, waterproof/breathable jacket, and you’ll be able to brave both rain and wind.

Other items to take along include plenty of water, snacks, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, map and compass, flashlight, knife, and basic first-aid supplies. Many hikers use a walking stick or trekking pole for stability and comfort. Binoculars, a hand-lens for plant study, and a pad and pencil are also useful. Try leaving your heavy field guides at home and instead make notes and sketches of birds or flowers you wish to identify. Please do not collect plant or flower specimens.

Special Hazards

Outdoor travel in the Bay Area is relatively safe. Most of the trails covered by this book are well signed and easy to follow. Still, getting lost is possible, either by taking a wrong turn, venturing off the trail, or becoming disoriented. If you do lose your way, don’t panic. Retrace your steps to a known point, use landmarks to get oriented, and refer to a map and compass if you have them. Altimeters are very useful if you have a map with elevation lines. A GPS (Global Positioning System) device may also be useful, but only if you have programmed the route in advance. Also, GPS devices vary in their ability to record an accurate position if the view skyward is obstructed.

Poison oak is a common Bay Area plant that comes in three forms—herb, shrub, and vine. Contact with any part of the plant produces an itchy rash in allergic individuals. “Leaflets three, let it be,” is the rule. In fall the shrub’s leaves turn yellow and red, adding color to the woods. In winter, upward-reaching clusters of bare branches identify the plant. Avoid contact with poison oak by staying on the trail and wearing protective clothing. Wash anything that touches poison oak—clothing, pets—in soap and water.

Western black-legged ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, which, if left untreated, can cause serious health problems. These tiny insects are almost invisible, and often the victim doesn’t know he or she has been bitten. The best protection against ticks is to wear long pants tucked into your socks and a long-sleeved shirt, use an insect repellent containing DEET on your clothes, stay on the trail, and shower and launder your clothes after your hike. If you find a tick attached, grasp it with a tweezers as close to your skin as possible and gently pull it straight out. Squeezing a tick that is attached may cause it to inject the bacteria. Wash the area, apply antiseptic, and call your doctor.

Western rattlesnakes are present in the Bay Area but seldom seen. Most of the time, the snake moves away when it senses humans. However, if a foot or hand lands in the snake’s immediate vicinity, it may strike, sometimes without warning. If you do hear a rattling sound, stand still until you have located the snake, and then back slowly away. Protective clothing and boot material may absorb venom if the snake succeeds in biting. To avoid being bitten, stay on the trail, don’t put your hands or feet beyond your range of vision, and don’t handle snakes. If you are bitten, seek medical attention as quickly and effortlessly as possible, to avoid spreading the venom.

Mountain lions, though here, are rarely seen. These nocturnal hunters feed mostly on deer. If you do encounter a mountain lion, experts advise standing your ground, making loud noises, waving your arms to appear larger, and fighting back if attacked. Above all, never run. Report all mountain lion sightings to park personnel.

Trail Etiquette

Public lands belong to everybody. Treat them as precious, and they will remain unspoiled for all to enjoy. Small, thoughtless acts can have unintended consequences, because everything in nature is interconnected. Effects of carelessness may be sudden and dramatic, such as fires, or they may not show up for years. The rules of trail etiquette are simple and based on common sense. Obey all posted restrictions. Stay on marked trails and do not cut switchbacks. Pack out all trash, and do not disturb the park’s plants and animals. In short, tread lightly on the land.

The “trails” in the Bay Area are a combination of dirt roads, single tracks, and even paved paths. As you travel the routes described in this book, you will encounter other outdoor enthusiasts—hikers, runners, bicyclists, and equestrians. Most trails are open to hiking and equestrian use. In only a few cases are trails designated “hiking only,” which means no bicycles or horses are allowed. Some parks and preserves allow bicycling, but generally only on dirt roads (Annadel and China Camp state parks in the North Bay are notable exceptions).

If you see or hear equestrians approaching, step off the trail to give them the right of way and remain motionless until they pass. Bicyclists should slow down and call out when approaching hikers, and dismount when near horses. Whenever possible, if a route described in this guide has a segment closed to bicycles, alternate trails are suggested. Some agencies close their trails to bicycles and horses during wet weather, often with special gates that allow hikers to pass through. Call ahead, and have an alternate route selected. (Agency phone numbers and their website addresses are listed in Appendix 3.)

Dogs (and other pets) are not allowed on the trails in any Bay Area state park, and there are restrictions at other parks and open spaces as well. In areas where dogs are allowed, they generally must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet long. Some agencies allow dogs off-leash, but the dogs must be under immediate voice command of the person they are with, and must never be allowed to threaten or harm people or wildlife. People with dogs must clean up after their pets and obey all posted rules and regulations. Routes open to dogs are noted in this book.

Hikers and bikers enjoy the multi-use path that wanders through Sonoma Valley Regional Park.